Journalism leaders from across New England gathered at the Publick House Historic Inn in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, on October 9 for the 2026 NENPA Leadership Summit, a day of conversations about artificial intelligence, innovative newsroom leadership and the future of local journalism. The event also included NENPA’s annual Awards Luncheon, celebrating outstanding journalism, leadership and service across the region.
The Summit opened with “AI & What’s Next: Building the AI-Ready News Organization,” featuring participants in the NENPA–Google News Initiative AI Growth Lab. Moderated by Suzanne Perron of Google, the session highlighted practical projects developed by participating news organizations, including experiments with AI-powered news quizzes at both Maine Trust for Local News and The Keene Sentinel, audience dashboards, and new ways to make newsroom content and data more accessible.
Maine Trust also shared its work using AI to explore survey data for its newly launched quality-of-life reporting project. Developed around a statewide survey of 824 Maine residents conducted by the Siena Research Institute, the project examines how Mainers feel about housing, healthcare, affordability and other issues affecting their communities.
Aimee Rinehart of Frontier Collective, formerly of The Associated Press, followed with a broader vision for how news organizations should approach AI—not simply as a collection of new tools, but as an organizational priority requiring thoughtful planning, infrastructure, training and editorial oversight.
The morning continued with “Innovative Newsroom Leadership: Leading Local News Through Change,” featuring P.J. Browning of The Post and Courier, Lauren Gustus of The Salt Lake Tribune and Karen Bordeleau of The New Bedford Light. Facilitated by Liz White Notarangelo of Local Media Association, the lively discussion explored new approaches to sustainability, audience engagement and newsroom leadership, with a candid look at what’s working, what hasn’t and what news organizations are trying next.
The panelists shared examples of how their organizations are rethinking traditional approaches to local news. Browning discussed The Post and Courier’s expansion into seven additional South Carolina markets and the development of reporting initiatives focused on investigative journalism, climate, education and arts and culture. Gustus described The Salt Lake Tribune’s decision to remove its paywall, making its journalism accessible to everyone, along with an initiative to expand high school reporting across Utah’s 29 counties. Bordeleau highlighted The New Bedford Light’s emphasis on investigative and explanatory journalism and its efforts to measure community impact rather than simply tracking clicks.
Throughout the conversation, the panelists emphasized the importance of listening to communities, embracing change and finding new ways to sustain meaningful local journalism.
NENPA extends its sincere thanks to the Google News Initiative, Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 Fall Leadership Summit, for its generous support and partnership in helping New England news organizations explore new technologies and opportunities for innovation.
We’re also grateful to The Lenfest Institute for Journalism for sponsoring this year’s Awards Luncheon. The Lenfest Institute shares NENPA’s commitment to strengthening local journalism and supporting the news organizations that serve our communities. Watch the special message from The Lenfest Institute for Journalism.
Together, their support helped make the summit an opportunity for news leaders from across New England to exchange ideas, explore the future of local news, and celebrate outstanding journalism.
Celebrating Excellence in New England Journalism
The 2026 NENPA Awards Luncheon recognized exceptional journalism and service to the profession across the six New England states.
Eight publications received New England Newspaper of the Year honors across weekday, Sunday, weekly, specialty and digital categories: the Gloucester Daily Times, Portland Press Herald, The Keene Sentinel, Maine Sunday Telegram, The Martha’s Vineyard Times, The Ellsworth American, Providence Business News and The New Bedford Light. Additional publications earned Distinguished Newspaper of the Year recognition in their respective categories.
View and Download the Complete 2026 NENPA Fall Awards Winners
The luncheon also recognized 18 Publick Occurrences Award-winning entries, celebrating some of the most outstanding journalism produced in New England during the past year.
2026 Publick Occurrences Award Winners
- Seven Days — Ice at the Doorstep
- The Berkshire Eagle — Hinsdale Police Shooting Investigated
- Portland Press Herald — Bath’s Hyde School
- New Hampshire Bulletin — A System of Harm
- Seven Days — Dividing Line
- MassLive — Gabriel House Fire
- MassLive — Hidden Hunger
- Provincetown Independent — Community of Jesus
- The Berkshire Eagle — Legionnaires Disease at Berkshire Medical Center
- The Daily Item — Where Have All the Good Men Gone?
- Seven Days — Up in the Air
- Seven Days — I’m Not Well
- Provincetown Independent — ICE Arrests Defendant Outside Orleans
- The Keene Sentinel — Unfinished Business
- The Providence Journal — FM Global Investigation
- Seven Days — Ways and Means
- Seven Days — Empty Desks
- The Concord Bridge — Confronting Antisemitism
A-Mark Prizes Recognize Outstanding Public-Service Journalism
The luncheon also celebrated the 2026 A-Mark Prize winners, recognizing outstanding public-service journalism across New England. The prizes provide up to $90,000 annually, with awards presented in each of the six New England states. First-place winners receive $5,000 for the journalist or reporting team and $2,500 for their news organization.
This year’s first-place winners were:
- Connecticut: Katherine Revello and Brandon Whiting, Inside Investigator, for Sexual Misconduct at CSCU and UConn.
- Rhode Island: Antonia Noori Farzan and Jonny Williams, The Providence Journal, for Hospital Dumping.
- Vermont: Greta Solsaa, VTDigger, for Nursing Homes.
- Massachusetts: Hadley Barndollar and Greta Jochem, MassLive/The Republican, for Death Under Watch.
- Maine: Emily Duggan, Portland Press Herald, for Parents Rights Groups.
- New Hampshire: William Skipworth, New Hampshire Bulletin, for A System of Harm.
Second-place winners receive $3,000 for the journalist or team and $1,500 for the outlet; third-place winners receive $2,000 for the journalist or team and $1,000 for the outlet.
View and Download the Complete 2026 NENPA Fall Awards Winners
Additional 2026 NENPA Award Honorees
- AP Sevellon Brown New England Journalist of the Year: Callie Ferguson, Bangor Daily News
- New England First Amendment Award: Rick Green, The Keene Sentinel
- Allan B. Rogers Editorial Award: The Inquirer and Mirror, “Strengthening the Net”
- Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award: Abby Remer, The Martha’s Vineyard Times
- The Cornerstone Award: Nicole Jackson, The Martha’s Vineyard Times
Explore the 2026 Leadership Summit Program & Awards Book
Learn more about this year’s Summit speakers, their presentations, and the outstanding journalists and news organizations recognized at the Awards Luncheon. Browse the 2026 Leadership Summit Program & Awards Book in the interactive flipbook below, or download a copy to explore speaker biographies, award winner highlights, and more.