Looking to recharge your newsroom strategy and celebrate the best in New England journalism? Join us for the 2025 Fall Leadership Conference, September 25–26, at the historic Hotel Northampton. Presented by NENPA and the New York Press Association, this conference brings together publishers, editors, and journalists for training, peer-to-peer insights, and an awards luncheon you won’t want to miss!

⚠️ Important Updates:

• Hotel Room Block Extended: Special rate available until September 5. Secure your stay at the conference hotel before the block sells out.

• Awards Notifications Sent: Recipients of Newspaper of the Year, Publick Occurrences, the A-Mark Prizes, and other honors have been notified. Join us in celebrating the winners!

This year’s program (see highlights below) is packed with strategies and peer-to-peer insights designed to help you tackle the industry’s biggest challenges, from AI in the newsroom to boosting subscriptions, building smarter tech stacks, and growing audience engagement.

🏆 All Newspaper Awards – including Newspaper of the Year, Publick Occurrences, and the new A-Mark Prizes – will be presented at a special Awards Luncheon on Friday, September 26.

👉 Register today to:

• Reserve your spot at the conference

• Guarantee your seat at the awards luncheon

• Lock in your hotel room at the best rate before the Friday, Sept. 5 deadline

If you have any questions about the Conference or Awards notifications, please email info@nenpa.com.

Session Highlights

Thursday, September 25

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Elevate Audience Engagement & Subscription Renewals
Aaron Kotarek – The Spokesman Review
Bill Bradley – Subtext

2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
AI in the Newsroom: Enhancing Human Intelligence with AI Tools
Rick Rogers – BLOX
Discover how AI can streamline workflows, SEO headlines, transcription, summarization, and more, while keeping journalists focused on meaningful reporting.

4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Tech Stacks: Enabling Success, Not Hindering It
Chris Prinos – Indigo Trigger
Learn best practices for optimizing your “Lead-to-Cash” ecosystem and making technology work for you.

Friday, September 26

9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Going Beyond Email: Newsletters that Drive Engagement & Revenue
Matt Gross – Digital Initiatives

10:45 – 12:00 p.m.
Getting Started with AI Tools for News
Iain Christie – Google News Initiative
Explore AI-powered tools like Gemini, Fact Check Explorer, Pinpoint, and NotebookLM—designed to boost productivity, uncover stories, and grow audience revenue.

The journalist meetup series rolls into September with a spirited Trivia Night at The Dubliner—a great chance to unwind after work, swap ideas, and show off your trivia chops with colleagues from across the region.

Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025
The Dubliner, 2 Center Plaza, Boston
Meetup begins at 6 p.m. · Trivia starts at 7 p.m.

Sponsors: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists (NLGJA), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), Boston Association of Black Journalists (BABJ), and the New England Society of News Editors (NESNE), with support from the New England Newspaper & Press Association (NENPA).

Next up: October Meetup

📍 Tuesday, October 14 – Tiki Tuesday at Tiki Rock
Join fellow media pros from 6–8 p.m. at Tiki Rock on Broad Street, Boston for a tropical-themed evening of conversation and cocktails.

These events are open to all journalists and media professionals in the region and are hosted by a coalition of journalism organizations: New England Society of News Editors, Boston Association of Black Journalists, AAJA-New England, NAHJ-New England, and NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, with support from NENPA.

Whether you’re a veteran reporter or just launching your career, these meetups offer a welcoming space to connect, collaborate, and build community.

📩 RSVP or questions? Contact Emily Sweeney at emily.sweeney@globe.com.

This October, journalists from across New England have a special opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together at Radically Rural 2025: Rural Resonance in Keene, New Hampshire.

For the first time, the summit is offering an entire day dedicated exclusively to journalism programming. On Tuesday, October 7, attendees can take part in a full schedule of journalism-specific sessions and networking events designed to strengthen reporting skills, deepen community connections, and inspire fresh approaches to covering rural life.

Why Attend?

• All-day journalism track: Focused sessions tailored to the needs of community and local journalists.

• Networking with peers: Meet fellow reporters, editors, and publishers who share your passion for rural and community journalism.

• Affordable professional development: With sliding-scale registration, the event is accessible for newsrooms of all sizes.

• Part of something bigger: In addition to Tuesday’s journalism track, Radically Rural features two more days of cross-sector collaboration, plenaries, field trips, and creative programming that explore the year’s theme: Rural Resonance.

Now in its ninth year, Radically Rural is known for sparking new ideas and collaborations among people who believe in the power of small communities. The 2025 summit will highlight storytelling, resilience, and cross-sector innovation, with dynamic plenary sessions and creative exchanges that extend far beyond traditional conference formats.

Details at a Glance:
📍 Location: Keene, New Hampshire
📅 Dates: Tuesday, October 7 – Thursday, October 9, 2025
🎟 Registration: Sliding-scale pricing makes this a truly affordable professional development opportunity

Whether you’re an editor looking for strategies to engage readers, a reporter eager to sharpen your craft, or a publisher exploring new approaches to sustainability, Radically Rural’s journalism track offers tools and inspiration for you.

Register today and be part of this energizing gathering of journalists and community leaders: https://whova.com/portal/registration/3rw6EDJMiYB-ewxsRdTV/

The Academy of New England Journalists is now accepting nominations for the Yankee Quill Award, the region’s highest individual honor in journalism. The award recognizes the lifetime achievements of those who have made broad and enduring contributions to the practice of journalism in New England.

Editors, publishers, educators, colleagues, and members of the public are encouraged to nominate individuals whose careers reflect a lasting commitment to the ideals of a free press and service to their communities. Nominees may be working or retired journalists, journalism educators, or others who have made special contributions to the field. Posthumous and historical figure nominations are also welcome.

At the 2024 awards ceremony in Portland, Maine, the Academy honored Mike Bello, Randy Capitani, Gloria Negri (posthumously), Jacqueline Smith, and historical figures Henry and Benjamin Lindsey. Their induction highlighted the diverse achievements that define the Yankee Quill tradition.

Nominations are now being accepted for the Yankee Quill Award through Friday, October 17, 2025.

Nominations may be emailed to: L.Conway@nenpa.com, or hard copies may be mailed to:
Yankee Quill
c/o NENPA
PO Box 2505
Woburn MA 01801
Download Nomination Form

Details on how to submit a nomination, including deadlines and instructions, are available at the Yankee Quill Award page.

Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate a journalist whose career has left a lasting mark on New England.

The Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications is offering a lineup of free and low-cost classes on topics such as writing about personal milestones, making sense of Substack, learning how to make use of AI, and First Amendment rights around protest and assembly.

Classes begin September 17.

Pre-registration is required, and class sizes are limited

FREE IN-PERSON CLASSES 

Turning Points: Writing about milestones and how they shape our lives
Four Wednesdays: September 17 and 24, October 1 and 8 | 6-7:30 p.m.| Free
Explore and write about defining life moments through essays, fiction, or poetry.  Great for new and experienced writers alike with instructor Kimberly Marlowe Hartnett.

Getting Started With Substack
Two Wednesdays: September 17 and 24 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Free
Learn how to use Substack to share your writing, grow an audience, and create interactive blog posts using simple, free tools with Instructor Zac Little.

New Hampshire Politics: The State Sport
Wednesday, September 17 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Free
Explore NH’s special role in presidential elections, polling trends, and grassroots politics and why civic engagement matters with Instructors Andrew Smith and Josh McElveen. 

AI Essentials for Small Biz & Nonprofits: Work Smarter, Connect Better
Four Thursdays: September 18 and 25, October 2 and 9 | 5:30-7 p.m.| Free
Use AI like ChatGPT to write faster, boost outreach, save time and streamline tasks. No tech skills needed. Ideal for nonprofits and small businesses with Instructor Gail Zona.

FREE ONLINE CLASSES

How to Become a Local Government Watchdog
Two Thursdays: September 18 and 25 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Free
Learn to track issues you care about, access information, get involved locally, build networks, and learn how to influence change through civic engagement with Instructor Miranda Spivack.

Marches and Media: First Amendment Freedoms in Action
Thursday, October 9 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Free
Understand your First Amendment rights at protests, what you can record, and how laws impact speech, press, and assembly in real-life events with Attorney Kathleen Sullivan. 

PRO SERIES

For those looking to deepen their professional skills, the Loeb School offers the following Pro Series options providing in-depth, in-person training at an affordable price.

Lights, Camera, Scroll: Creating Video Content That Connects
In person | Four Wednesdays: September 17 and 24, October 1 and 8 | 6-7:30 p.m.| $39
Learn to create short- and long-form video that boosts engagement, builds trust, and works with your brand across YouTube, Instagram & more with Instructor Victoria Carrington Chavez.

Public Relations Workshop, sponsored by the Yankee Chapter of PRSA
In person |Friday, November 14 | 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon | $59 (includes light breakfast)
Build PR skills in this half-day workshop covering strategy, crisis communications, media relations, and internal/external best practices in this half-day workshop with Instructor Robin Schell. 

In-person classes are at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College, 5 St. Anselm Drive, Manchester (GPS address). Email loebschool@loebschool.org with any questions. 

The Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications, Inc. is a nonprofit with a mission to promote and defend the First Amendment and fosters interest, integrity and excellence in journalism and other forms of communication by educating students of various backgrounds and providing them with the tools and knowledge to improve their skills. Learn more about the School and register for classes at loebschool.org.

The NENPA Press Freedom and Local News Committee is taking its next major step in protecting press freedom and strengthening local journalism: launching a region-wide public education campaign on Constitution Day, Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

The campaign — Know Your News: Understanding Press Freedom and the Value of Local News — will roll out a series of in-depth, reader-friendly stories and ready-to-use social media content designed to inform the public about their rights, the role of the press, and the essential role local news plays in civic life.

The effort is aimed at giving newspapers across New England the tools to educate their audiences on topics ranging from “What the First Amendment Really Says About the Press” and “How You Can Request Public Records” to “How to Spot Trustworthy News” and “What If Your Town Lost Its Local News?”

A Month-Long, Four-Week Series
The campaign will unfold over four themed weeks:

• Week 1 – Press Freedom and Why We Should Care
  Stories explaining First Amendment protections, open meetings and records laws, and what’s at stake when press access is denied.
• Week 2 – Building News Literacy and Trust
  Coverage on identifying credible sources, understanding bias, and how schools and parents can teach media literacy.
• Week 3 – Understanding Local News
  Insight into how local newsrooms work, how editorial decisions are made, how AI is used, and why local journalism matters.
• Week 4 – Solutions for the Future
  Reporting on communities rebuilding news coverage, innovative funding models, and ways readers can support their local outlets.

How to Participate

Editors, publishers, and marketing managers are invited to join the NENPA Press Freedom and Local News Collaborative, which will serve as the distribution hub for the full series of stories and social media assets. Participants will receive:

• Weekly story packages with art and social media posts ready for print and digital publication
• Coordinated launch timing to maximize regional impact
• Opportunities to share your own local reporting connected to press freedom and local news

Please complete this short sign-up form for interested publications to join the Collaborative and be ready to start publishing content on Constitution Day.

By working together, we can make this campaign a powerful, unified call to protect press freedom and support the local news organizations that keep our communities informed, engaged, and strong.

The New England First Amendment Coalition is launching a legal fund to provide support for journalism and open government cases.

The fund is being established with a new investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

“For nearly 20 years, our coalition has been the region’s leading advocate for First Amendment freedoms and open government. We educate New Englanders about the vital roles journalism and government transparency play across the nation,” NEFAC President Gregory V. Sullivan said. “With the help of Knight Foundation, we can now expand our litigation efforts and better serve democracy in the region.”

The need for a regional legal fund is growing. Journalists are encountering more obstacles in their pursuit of essential public-interest reporting. Accessing public records or court documents, protecting confidential sources and obtaining information from public officials are all growing more complex, time-consuming and expensive. In many cases, legal action becomes the only viable option. For local newsrooms and individual journalists, however, the costs are often prohibitive.

Read more

We’re excited to invite you to the 2025 Fall Leadership Conference, hosted jointly by NENPA and the New York Press Association, happening September 25–26 at the beautiful Hotel Northampton in Northampton, Massachusetts.

This event offers invaluable networking opportunities for news leaders from across the North East. It is designed for publishers, editors, and senior staff, and will feature:

• Integrating AI tools into newsroom workflows
• Elevate audience interaction and improve subscription renewals
• Leveraging AI assistance tools to boost your news organization’s human intelligence
• Going beyond email – gaining audience engagement and revenue with newsletters
• Tech stacks and how they can enable success and not be a hindrance
• Publishers’ Roundtable for candid idea sharing and collaboration

Now is the time to register and secure your hotel room before space fills up. Rooms are limited!

All awards from our recent Newspaper Awards program—including New England Newspaper of the Year, Publick Occurrences, and the new A-Mark Prizes—will be presented at a special luncheon on September 26 during the conference.

Visit the conference page for full details and to register today:

https://www.nenpa.com/new-england-newspaper-conference/

We can’t wait to see you in Northampton this fall!