Each year, as part of our New England Newspaper Awards Program, we have the honor of recognizing individual journalists, educators, and vital contributors whose commitment to our industry uplifts us all.
These awards aren’t about accolades for their own sake. They exist to shine a spotlight on people who have, in most cases, dedicated their professional lives to journalism in front of or behind the scenes in a support role, telling the stories that matter, strengthening their communities, supporting investigative work, and passing on their knowledge to the next generation.
This summer, we invite you to nominate outstanding individuals for these four special honors:
AP Sevellon Brown New England Journalist of the Year
This award honors the region’s most accomplished journalist—someone whose exceptional work embodies the best of our profession. It celebrates consistently high-quality reporting, storytelling skills, journalistic ethics, and impact on the public’s right to know.
✅ Nominate a peer or colleague whose work you admire.
✅ Let’s recognize the professionals setting the standard for New England journalism.
✅ Nominations are $60 each.
Learn more & nominate
Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award
Named for a champion of local news, this award honors a journalist who exemplifies dedication to community journalism. It recognizes meaningful, impactful coverage that strengthens civic life and empowers local readers.
✅ Know someone who has gone the extra mile for their town or region?
✅ Help us highlight the essential role of community-focused reporting.
✅ Nominations are $60 each.
Learn more & nominate
The Cornerstone Award
Journalism is a team effort, and some of the most critical contributions happen behind the scenes. The Cornerstone Award honors an individual whose work supports and strengthens a news organization in indispensable ways.
✅ This could be someone whose research powers investigative reporting, who provides outstanding production support, or who consistently helps deliver excellent journalism without always being in the spotlight.
✅ If you know someone who is truly a cornerstone of your newsroom’s success, please consider nominating them.
✅ Nominations are $50 each.
Learn more & nominate
New England Journalism Educator of the Year
Journalism doesn’t thrive without the people who teach it. This award honors an outstanding journalism educator in a university or college classroom. Many of the best journalism teachers in New England are “professors of practice”, experienced journalists who bring real-world wisdom to their students while continuing to work in the field. Others are dedicated instructors shaping the next generation with care and rigor.
✅ We’re asking for your help: If you know someone teaching journalism today whose commitment and mentorship deserve recognition, please nominate them.
✅ Universities and colleges, encourage your faculty to apply or nominate a colleague!
✅ Let’s honor those keeping our profession alive by investing in the future.
✅ Nominations are free.
Learn more & nominate
Why Your Nominations Matter
These awards exist because journalism is, at its heart, a profession of people—storytellers, investigators, educators, and community advocates. By recognizing outstanding individuals, we celebrate not only their achievements but also the values that make journalism essential to a healthy democracy.
We need your help to ensure these awards reflect the true excellence across New England. Take a few minutes today to think about who you’d nominate—and make sure their contributions don’t go unnoticed.