The New England Newspaper & Press Association has opened the 2026 New England Better Newspaper Competition, with updated categories, expanded opportunities and three divisions recognizing the breadth of work being done across New England news organizations: Editorial, College Journalism and Revenue Excellence.
This year’s competition has been refreshed to better reflect the work being done across today’s news organizations — from reporting, photography and digital storytelling to audience growth, advertising, revenue innovation and the work of the next generation of New England journalists.
Work published or produced between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026 is eligible for entry. The deadline for all three divisions is Friday, October 30, 2026.
New Opportunities in the Editorial Division
The professional Editorial competition features 84 categories and honors across reporting, opinion, design, digital journalism, photography and special recognition.
Four new categories have been introduced for 2026: Explanatory Journalism, Data Journalism, Nature & Wildlife Reporting and Digital Innovation. Several established categories have also been updated or broadened, including Breaking News Coverage, Investigative & Accountability Reporting, Community/Audience Engagement and Reporting on Diverse Communities & Issues.
The changes are designed to provide more opportunities to recognize the different ways journalists are reporting stories, serving their communities and connecting with audiences.
Download the 2026 Editorial Division Guidelines
College Journalism Reflects Today’s Student Newsrooms
The College Journalism Division has also been updated to reflect how student journalism is produced today — in print, online and across digital, visual, audio and social platforms — while continuing to recognize excellence in reporting, writing, editing, design and photojournalism.
Categories include News Story, In-Depth Reporting, Civic Issues Reporting, Digital Storytelling, Podcast, Video Journalism, Social Media Journalism and Newsletter, along with photography, design and special recognition categories. Top honors include Top College Journalist, College Rising Star and New England College Newspaper of the Year.
All New England colleges and universities are invited to enter. A $150 entry package includes up to 15 entries, with additional entries available for $15 each. Newspaper of the Year is included at no additional charge for schools purchasing the entry package.
Download the 2026 College Journalism Division Guidelines
Revenue Excellence Redesigned for 2026
One of the biggest changes this year is the redesigned Revenue Excellence Awards, created to better recognize the many ways news organizations generate revenue, grow audiences and build stronger businesses.
The competition continues to recognize outstanding advertising while expanding to include digital marketing, audience growth, client success, events, reader revenue, partnerships, new products, fundraising and business innovation.
Categories are now organized around four areas: Advertising Excellence, Sections & Publications, Audience Growth and Revenue Innovation. The division also places greater emphasis on measurable client results, reader revenue, partnerships and new product development, with new individual and team recognition including Salesperson of the Year and Revenue Team of the Year.
The idea behind the redesigned competition is simple: If it worked, enter it. News organizations are encouraged to consider not only great advertising, but also successful campaigns, products, events, partnerships and strategies that produced meaningful results for their businesses, audiences or advertisers.
Download the 2026 Revenue Excellence Awards Guidelines
Start Reviewing Your Best Work
NENPA encourages newsrooms, college publications and revenue teams to begin reviewing the work they produced during the contest year and identifying the stories, photographs, projects, campaigns and ideas they are proudest of.
Complete guidelines for all three divisions include category descriptions, judging criteria, eligibility and entry requirements. Entrants can also visit the Better Newspaper Competition page for complete competition information and access to the online entry portal.
Professional Editorial and Revenue Excellence entries are open to NENPA member news organizations in good standing, while the College Journalism Division is open to colleges and universities throughout New England.
Enter the 2026 Better Newspaper Competition
The entry deadline is Friday, October 30, 2026.
Winners will be recognized at the 2027 New England Newspaper Convention, with dates and location to be announced.
Your best work deserves to be recognized.