About the New England Newspaper of the Year Competition
Once again, this year, the New England Newspaper & Press Association will identify our region’s best daily, weekly, specialty and online newspapers, and recognize them with the prestigious “New England Newspaper of the Year” award. Winners will be named in a range of circulation categories. To be considered, editors simply fill out the entry form, a brief summary, and upload them along with two editions from the contest year (June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026). See below for information on eligible published edition(s).
This is a one-of-a-kind competition – it is the only distinction of its kind in the newspaper industry that is judged by audience members. New England newspaper readers will be appointed to evaluate the entries from a news consumer point of view and decide which deserve the honor of being named Newspaper of the Year.
Readers will evaluate your paper’s relative strengths and weaknesses, including:
- quality of reporting and writing
- use of photos
- design and presentation
- digital offering
- overall utility and value
- General impressions, such as: Does the newspaper inform, educate, entertain, inspire, motivate, lead? Does it reflect and care about the community it serves? Does it put the interests of the reader first? Is it unique or special in some way?
NENPA-member newspapers are invited to enter in five categories: Weekday newspapers, Sunday newspapers, Weekly community newspapers, Specialty Publications, and Online News Sites. Entries will be assigned to a competitive division within their category after all entries are received (i.e., small and large weeklies, small and large dailies, small and large Sunday/weekend publications, local and regional news sites.)
DOWNLOAD 2026 NEWSPAPER AWARDS GUIDELINES
All awards will be presented at the 2026 Fall Leadership Conference.
Questions? Please contact Linda Conway at l.conway@nenpa.com.
Eligible editions:
Weekday – One issue from the week of February 23-28, 2026 and One issue from any weekday June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026
Sunday – One issue from March 1, 2026 and One issue from any Sunday between June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026
Weekly and Specialty Publications – One issue from February 2026 and One issue from any time between June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026
Online News Sites – One link to an article or work from February 2026 and One link to an article or work any day June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026
Specialty Publications
Distinguished: The New Boston Beacon (New Boston, NH), Providence Business News (Providence, RI)
Newspaper of the Year: The North Star Monthly (Danville, VT)
Weekly Newspapers – Small Circulation
Distinguished: The Provincetown Independent (Provincetown, MA), The Vermont Standard (Woodstock, VT)
Newspaper of the Year: Martha’s Vineyard Times (Vineyard Haven, MA)
Weekly Newspapers – Large Circulation
Distinguished: The Inquirer and Mirror (Nantucket, MA), The Bay State Banner (Roxbury, MA), Seven Days (Burlington, VT)
Newspaper of the Year: The Ellsworth American (Ellsworth, ME)
Daily Newspapers – Weekday, Small Circulation
Distinguished: Gloucester Daily Times (Gloucester, MA), Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, MA)
Newspaper of the Year: The Keene Sentinel (Keene, NH)
Daily Newspapers – Weekday, Large Circulation
Distinguished: The Republican (Springfield, MA), The Day (New London, CT)
Newspaper of the Year: The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, MA)
Sunday Newspapers – Small Circulation
Distinguished: The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, MA), The Day (New London, CT)
Newspaper of the Year: Sunday Monitor (Concord, NH)
Sunday Newspapers – Large Circulation
Distinguished: Sunday Republican (Springfield, MA), The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, MA)
Newspaper of the Year: Maine Sunday Telegram (Portland, ME)
Specialty Publications:
Distinguished: New Boston Beacon (New Boston, NH), Valley Advocate (Northampton, MA)
Newspaper of the Year: Providence Business News (Providence, RI)
Online News Publications:
Distinguished: VT Digger (Montpelier, VT), Connecticut Inside Investigator (Hartford, CT)
Newspaper of the Year: Rhode Island Current (Providence, RI)
Weekly Newspapers (Small Circulation):
Distinguished: The Vermont Standard (Woodstock, VT), Monadnock Ledger-Transcript (Peterborough, NH)
Newspaper of the Year: The Provincetown Independent (Provincetown, MA)
Weekly Newspapers (Large Circulation):
Distinguished: Addison County Independent (Middlebury, VT), Ipswich Local News (Ipswich, MA), The Inquirer and Mirror (Nantucket, MA)
Newspaper of the Year: Seven Days (Burlington, VT)
Daily Newspapers (Small Circulation):
Distinguished: The Keene Sentinel (Keene, NH), Greenfield Recorder (Greenfield, MA)
Newspaper of the Year: Daily Hampshire Gazette (Northampton, MA)
Daily Newspapers (Large Circulation):
Distinguished: Republican-American (Waterbury, CT), The Day (New London, CT)
Newspaper of the Year: Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, MA)
Sunday Newspapers (Small Circulation)
Distinguished: The New Britain Herald (New Britain, CT), Eagle Times (Claremont, NH)
Newspaper of the Year: Sunday Monitor (Concord, NH)
Sunday Newspapers (Large Circulation)
Distinguished: The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, MA), Sunday Republican (Springfield, MA)
Newspaper of the Year: The Day (New London, CT)
Daily newspapers, small circulation division
Distinguished: The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH, Record-Journal, Meriden, CT
Newspaper of the Year: Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Daily newspapers, mid-size circulation division
Distinguished: The Recorder, Greenfield, MA, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton, MA
Newspaper of the Year: The Day, New London, CT
Daily newspapers, large circulation division
Distinguished: The Republican, Springfield, MA, Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, MA
Newspaper of the Year: Republican-American, Waterbury, CT
Sunday newspapers, small circulation division
Distinguished: Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, The Day, New London, CT
Newspaper of the Year: Concord Monitor, Concord, NH
Sunday newspapers, large circulation division
Distinguished: Sunday Republican, Springfield, MA, New Hampshire Sunday News, Manchester NH
Newspaper of the Year: Republican-American, Waterbury, CT
Weekly newspapers, small circulation division
Distinguished: Milton Times, Milton, MA, St. Albans Messenger, St. Albans, VT
Newspaper of the Year: The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT
Weekly newspapers, large circulation division
Distinguished: Mt. Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME, The Martha’s Vineyard Times, Vineyard Haven, MA, The Ellsworth American, Ellsworth, ME
Newspaper of the Year: The Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket, MA
Specialty Publications
Distinguished: New Boston Beacon, New Boston, NH, Worcester Magazine, Worcester MA
Newspapers of the Year: Providence Business News, Providence, RI
Daily newspapers, circulation of less than 10,000
Distinguished: Brattleboro Reformer, Gloucester Daily Times, Patriot Ledger
Newspaper of the Year: Keene Sentinel
Daily newspapers, circulation between 10,000 – 20,000
Distinguished: Berkshire Eagle, Daily Hampshire Gazette, The Day
Newspaper of the Year: Record-Journal
Daily newspapers, circulation of more than 20,000
Distinguished: The Republican, The Providence Journal
Newspaper of the Year: Republican-American
Sunday newspapers, circulation of less than 25,000
Distinguished: Eagle-Tribune, Record-Journal, The Day
Newspaper of the Year: Berkshire Eagle
Sunday newspapers, circulation of more than 25,000
Distinguished: The Providence Journal, Telegram & Gazette
Newspaper of the Year: The Republican, Springfield
Specialty Publication
Distinguished: New Boston Beacon, Worcester Magazine
Newspaper of the Year: Providence Business News
Weekly newspapers, circulation of less than 5,000
Distinguished: Mt. Desert Islander, Martha’s Vineyard Times
Newspaper of the Year: Vermont Standard
Weekly newspapers, circulation of more than 5,000
Distinguished: Seven Days, Inquirer and Mirror
Newspaper of the Year: Provincetown Independent
Weekday Newspapers
Daily newspapers with a weekday circulation of less than 10,000
Distinguished Newspapers: Gloucester Daily Times, Gloucester, MA and Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH
Newspaper of the Year: The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA
Daily newspapers with a weekday circulation between 10,000-20,000
Distinguished Newspapers: The Day, New London, CT and The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Newspaper of the Year: Record-Journal, Meriden, CT
Daily newspapers with a weekday circulation over 20,000
Distinguished Newspapers: The Republican, Springfield, MA and The Providence Journal, Providence, RI
Newspaper of the Year: Republican-American, Waterbury, CT
Sunday Newspapers
Sunday newspapers with circulation up to 25,000
Distinguished Newspapers: The Day, New London, CT and The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, MA
Newspaper of the Year: The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Sunday newspapers with circulation more than 25,000
Distinguished Newspapers: Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, MA and The Republican, Springfield, MA
Newspaper of the Year: Providence Sunday Journal, Providence, RI
Weekly Community Newspapers
Weekly newspapers with circulation less than 5,000
Distinguished Newspapers: Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME, Provincetown Independent, Provincetown, MA and Milton Times, Milton, MA
Newspaper of the Year: The Vermont Standard, Woodstock VT
Weekly newspapers with circulation more than 5,000
Distinguished Newspapers: and The Martha’s Vineyard Times, Vineyard Haven, MA, Seven Days, Burlington, VT and Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket, MA
Newspaper of the Year: Ellsworth American, Ellsworth, ME
Specialty Newspapers
Distinguished Newspaper: New Boston Beacon, New Boston, NH
Newspaper of the Year: Providence Business News, Providence RI
Weekday Newspapers
Daily newspapers with a weekday circulation of less than 10,000
Distinguished Newspapers: Gloucester Daily Times, Gloucester, MA and Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH
Newspaper of the Year: Concord Monitor, Concord, NH
Daily newspapers with a weekday circulation between 10,000-25,000
Distinguished Newspapers: The Day, New London, CT and Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton, MA
Newspaper of the Year: The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Daily newspapers with a weekday circulation over 25,000
Distinguished Newspapers: The Republican, Springfield, MA and Republican-American, Waterbury, CT
Newspaper of the Year: The Providence Journal, Providence, RI
Sunday Newspapers
Sunday newspapers with circulation less than 25,000
Distinguished Newspapers: Record-Journal, Meriden, CT and The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, MA
Newspaper of the Year: The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Sunday newspapers with circulation more than 25,000
Distinguished Newspapers: Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, MA and The Republican, Springfield, MA
Newspaper of the Year: Providence Sunday Journal, Providence, RI
Weekly Community Newspapers
Weekly newspapers with circulation less than 5,000
Distinguished Newspapers: Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME and the Provincetown Independent, Provincetown, MA
Newspaper of the Year: The Vermont Standard, Woodstock VT
Weekly newspapers with circulation more than 5,000
Distinguished Newspapers: Ellsworth American, Ellsworth, ME and The Martha’s Vineyard Times, Vineyard Haven, MA
Newspaper of the Year: Seven Days, Burlington, VT
Specialty Newspapers
Distinguished Newspaper: Worcester Magazine, Worcester, MA.
Newspaper of the Year: Providence Business News, Providence RI
Weekday Newspapers
Circulation up to 5,000:
The Bristol (CT) Press
Distinguished Newspapers –
Herald, New Britain, CT
the Chronicle, Willimantic, CT
Circulation 5,000-10,000:
The Daily News, Newburyport, MA
Distinguished Newspapers –
Record-Journal , Meriden, CT
Daily Times, Gloucester, MA
Circulation 10,000-20,000:
The MetroWest Daily News,
Framingham, MA
Distinguished Newspapers –
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Concord (NH) Monitor
Circulation 20,000-35,000:
Republican-American, Waterbury, CT
Distinguished Newspaper –
Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, MA
Circulation 35,000+:
The Republican., Springfield, MA
Distinguished Newspapers –
The Providence (RI) Journal
Hartford (CT) Courant
Sunday Newspapers
Circulation less than 10,000:
The MetroWest Daily News,
Framingham, MA
Distinguished Newspapers –
Record-Journal, Meriden, CT
The Sun Chronicle, Attleboro, MA
The Herald News, Fall River, MA
Circulation 10,000-20,000:
The Berkshire Eagle,
Pittsfield, MA
Distinguished Newspapers –
The Eagle-Tribune, N. Andover, MA
The Standard-Times, New Bedford, MA
Circulation 20,000-40,000:
Telegram & Gazette,
Worcester, MA
Distinguished Newspapers –
Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA
The Day, New London, CT
Circulation 40,000+:
The Republican.,
Springfield, MA
Distinguished Newspapers –
Courant, Hartford, CT
Sunday Journal, Providence, RI
Weekly Community Newspapers
Circulation less than 5,000:
Marshfield Mariner (MA)
Distinguished Newspapers –
Provincetown (MA) Banner
Milton (MA) Times
Circulation 5,000-9,000:
Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME
Distinguished Newspapers –
Addison Independent, Middlebury, VT
The Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket, MA
Circulation 9,000+:
The Martha’s Vineyard Times, Vineyard Haven, MA
Distinguished Newspapers –
The Ellsworth (ME) American.
Seven Days, Burlington, VT
Specialty Newspapers
UpCountry, The Berkshires of Massachusetts,
So. Vermont
Distinguished Newspapers –
Business News, Providence, RI
Mainebiz, Portland, ME
Weekday Newspapers
Circulation less than 8,000:
The Chronicle,
Willimantic, CT
Distinguished Newspapers – The Milford (MA) Daily News; The New Britain (CT) Herald
Circulation 8,000-14,000:
Concord Monitor (NH)
Distinguished Newspapers – The Herald News, Fall River, MA; The MetroWest Daily News,
Framingham, MA
Circulation 14,000-25,000:
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – Sun Journal, Lewiston, ME; The Day, New London, CT
Circulation 25,000-35,000:
The Patriot Ledger,
Quincy, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – Republican-American, Waterbury, CT; Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA
Circulation 35,000+:
Hartford Courant (CT)
Distinguished Newspapers – The Providence (RI) Journal; The Republican, Springfield, MA
Sunday Newspapers
Circulation less than 18,000:
The Sun Chronicle, Attleboro, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – Sunday Valley News, West Lebanon, NH; Sunday Monitor, Concord, NH; The MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA
Circulation 18,000-30,000:
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – The Eagle-Tribune, N. Andover, MA
Sun Journal, Lewiston, ME
Circulation 30,000-45,000:
Sunday Telegram, Worcester, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA; New Hampshire Union Leader
and Sunday News, Manchester, NH
Circulation 45,000+:
The Republican, Springfield, MA
Distinguished Newspaper – Providence (RI) Sunday Journal
Weekly Community Newspapers
Circulation less than 5,000:
Provincetown Banner (MA)
Distinguished Newspapers – Marshfield (MA) Mariner; Milton (MA) Times
Circulation 5,000-10,000:
The Source, Madison (CT)
Distinguished Newspapers – Vineyard Gazette, Edgartown (MA); The Ellsworth (ME) American
Circulation 10,000+:
Martha’s Vineyard Times, Vineyard Haven, MA
Distinguished Newspaper – Seven Days, Burlington, VT
Specialty Newspapers
Providence Business News, (RI)
Distinguished Newspapers – UpCountry Magazine; The Berkshires of Massachusetts and So. Vermont; Worcester (MA) Magazine
Weekday Newspapers
Daily News of Newburyport
Newbury, MA
Daily Hampshire Gazette
Northampton, MA
The Day
New London, CT
The Patriot Ledger
Quincy, MA
Hartford Courant
Hartford, CT
Sunday Newspapers
Sunday Monitor
Concord, NH
Sunday Eagle-Tribune
North Andover, MA
Sunday Republican-American
Waterbury, CT
Hartford Courant
Hartford, CT
Weekly Newspapers
Mount Desert Islander
Bar Harbor, ME
Provincetown Banner
Provincetown, MA
Martha’s Vineyard Times
Vineyard Haven, MA
Specialty Newspapers
Upcountry Magazine
Pittsfield, MA
Weekday Newspapers
Circulation less than 10,000:
Gloucester Daily Times (MA)
Distinguished Newspapers – Taunton (MA) Daily Gazette; The Westerly (RI) Sun
Circulation 10,000-15,000:
The MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA
Distinguished Newspaper – The Recorder, Greenfield, MA; Circulation 15,000-20,000:
The Standard-Times, New Bedford, MA
Distinguished Newspaper – Burlington (VT) Free Press
Circulation 20,000-35,000:
The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – The Day, New London, CT; Sun Journal, Lewiston, ME
Circulation 35,000+:
The Providence Journal (RI)
Distinguished Newspapers – The Republican, Springfield, MA; Republican-American, Waterbury, CT
Sunday Newspapers
Circulation less than 20,000:
Sunday Valley News,Lebanon, NH
Distinguished Newspapers – The MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA
Weekend Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton, MA
Circulation 20,000-30,000:
Sun Journal, Lewiston, ME
Distinguished Newspaper – Sunday Eagle-Tribune, N. Andover, MA
Circulation 30,000-45,000:
The Sunday Republican, Waterbury, CT
Distinguished Newspaper – Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA
Circulation 45,000+:
Sunday Telegram, Worcester, MA
Distinguished Newspaper – Hartford (CT) Courant
Weekly Newspapers
Circulation less than 3,500:
The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT
Distinguished Newspaper – The Foxboro (MA) Reporter; The Block Island (RI) Times
Circulation 3,500-8,000:
Andover Townsman (MA)
Distinguished Newspapers – Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME; The Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket, MA
Circulation 8,000+:
The Ellsworth American (ME)
Distinguished Newspaper – Vineyard Gazette (MA)
Specialty Newspapers
Worcester Magazine (MA)
Distinguished Newspapers – Providence Business News (RI); Banker & Tradesman, Boston, MA
Weekday Newspapers
The Republican
Springfield, MA
Republican-American
Waterbury, CT
The Day
New London, CT
Daily Hampshire Gazette
Northampton, MA
The Daily News
Newburyport, MA
Sunday Newspapers
The Republican
Springfield, MA
Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, MA
The Day
New London, CT
Valley News
Lebanon, NH
Weekly Newspapers
The Ellsworth American.
Ellsworth, ME
The Inquirer and Mirror
Nantucket, MA
The Vermont Standard
Woodstock, VT
Specialty Newspapers
Worcester Magazine
Worcester, MA
Weekday Newspapers
The Republican
Springfield, MA
The Patriot Ledger
Quincy, MA
The Day
New London, CT
Valley News
Lebanon, NH
Portsmouth Herald
Portsmouth, NH
Sunday Newspapers
Sunday Telegram
Worcester, MA
Republican-American
Waterbury, CT
The MetroWest Daily News
Framingham, MA
Valley News
Lebanon, NH
Weekly Newspapers
The Ellsworth American.
Ellsworth, ME
The Vermont Standard
Woodstock, VT
North ° East Independent
North Kingstown / East Greenwich, RI
Specialty Newspapers
Providence Business News
Providence, RI
Weekday Newspapers
New Hampshire Union Leader
Manchester, NH
The Day
New London, CT
The Standard-Times
New Bedford, MA
Daily Hampshire Gazette
Northampton, MA
Gloucester Daily Times
Gloucester, MA
Sunday Newspapers
Sunday Telegram
Worcester, MA
Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, MA
The MetroWest Daily News
Framingham, MA
The Telegraph
Nashua, NH
Weekly Newspapers
The Ellsworth American.
Ellsworth, ME
Marshfield Mariner
Marshfield, MA
North ° East Independent
North Kingstown / East Greenwich, RI
Specialty Newspapers
Providence Business News
Providence, RI
Weekday Newspapers
Bristol Press
Bristol, CT
The Recorder
Greenfield, MA
The MetroWest Daily News
Framingham, MA
The Standard-Times
New Bedford, MA
Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, MA
Telegram & Gazette
Worcester, MA
Sunday Newspapers
Foster’s Sunday Citizen
Dover, NH
Record-Journal
Meriden, CT
The MetroWest Daily News
Framingham, MA
Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, MA
The Republican
Springfield, MA
Weekly Newspapers
Wayland Town Crier
Wayland, MA
The Inquirer & Mirror
Nantucket, MA
The Ellsworth American
Ellsworth, ME
Specialty Newspapers
The Catholic Transcript
Bloomfield, CT
Weekday Newspapers
Sentinel & Enterprise
Fitchburg, MA
Concord Monitor
Concord, NH
The Day
New London, CT
Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, MA
Telegram & Gazette
Worcester, MA
Sunday Newspapers
Foster’s Sunday Citizen
Dover, NH
Concord Monitor
Concord, NH
The MetroWest Daily News
Framingham, MA
Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, MA
The Republican
Springfield, MA
The Sunday Telegram
Worcester, MA
Weekly Newspapers
The Narragansett Times
N. Kingstown, RI
The Inquirer and Mirror
Nantucket, MA
The Ellsworth American
Ellsworth, ME
Specialty Newspapers
Vermont Woman Newspaper
South Hero, VT
Alternative Weekly Newspapers
The Boston Phoenix
Boston, MA