Each year, the New England Newspaper & Press Association honors the most courageous and consequential reporting in our region through the Publick Occurrences Award. Named after the first newspaper published in America in 1690, this prestigious honor celebrates journalism that exposes injustice, drives reform, and uplifts the role of a free press in civic life.
Entries that receive this award exemplify the best of our profession — investigations that uncover systemic problems, stories that challenge the status quo, and coverage that sparks real-world change.
🗓️ Entries are $125 each and are open now through Friday, July 18, 2025.
You can view award submission guidelines and winning entries from past years on the Publick Occurrences page:
🔗 https://www.nenpa.com/awards-recognition/publick-occurrences
This year, all Publick Occurrences entries will also be considered for the A-Mark Prizes, a new awards program that includes up to $90,000 in cash prizes across New England. These prizes are designed to further elevate and reward ambitious, accountability-focused journalism.
If your newsroom has produced reporting that has made a difference — in your community or beyond — don’t miss the chance to enter.