Spotlight on Connecticut’s A-Mark Prize Winners for Investigative Journalism

The New England Newspaper & Press Association is proud to highlight the Connecticut journalists honored with A-Mark Prizes for Investigative Journalism at our Fall Leadership Conference on September 26, 2025. These awards celebrate extraordinary reporting that brings accountability, transparency, and reform to the forefront of public life.

The A-Mark Prizes—funded by the A-Mark Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit supporting investigative reporting—recognize ambitious, deeply researched journalism that exposes hidden truths, challenges the powerful, and helps audiences better understand the complex issues shaping their communities.

Each year, up to $15,000 is awarded in each of the New England states.

This year’s Connecticut recipients exemplify the purpose of the A-Mark Prizes—courageous, impactful journalism that informs and empowers communities. Please follow the links to read the award-winning work.

Connecticut Winners

🥇 1st Place — $5,000 to the journalists | $2,500 to the outlet
Jenna Carlesso, Dave Altimari, Katy Golvala & Andrew Brown — The Connecticut Mirror
Priced Out
The Connecticut Mirror’s yearlong investigation into the state’s long-term-care insurance industry exposed how soaring rate hikes and lax oversight left thousands of older residents facing financial hardship. Reporters uncovered a pattern of exorbitant premium increases—some exceeding 150%—alongside questionable business practices, executive bonuses tied to price hikes, and political inaction at the Capitol. The team built original data analyses and reviewed more than 700 consumer complaints, revealing how systemic failures have jeopardized care for Connecticut’s aging population. The series sparked widespread public outrage and inspired more than a dozen reform bills aimed at protecting policyholders and increasing accountability within the insurance industry.


🥈 2nd Place — $3,000 to the journalist | $1,500 to the outlet
Marc E. Fitch — CT Inside Investigator
Power Struggle
Senior Investigative Reporter Marc E. Fitch exposed a major power controversy inside Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), revealing that its chairwoman secretly issued thousands of decisions under another official’s name—adding millions to ratepayers’ bills. His reporting uncovered self-investigations, withheld evidence, and backroom political maneuvers surrounding the chair’s reappointment and an attempted last-minute legislative change that would have legalized her actions. The series prompted lawsuits from the state’s largest utilities, legislative scrutiny, and widespread public debate about transparency and accountability in state regulation.


🥉 3rd Place — $2,000 to the journalists | $1,000 to the outlet
Dave Altimari & Ginny Monk — The Connecticut Mirror / ProPublica
On the Hook
This joint investigation by The Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica uncovered how a century-old Connecticut law allowed towing companies to seize and sell thousands of vehicles without owners’ consent—often targeting low-income residents. Reporters revealed that the Department of Motor Vehicles approved these sales with minimal oversight, that cars were routinely undervalued to skirt legal thresholds, and that proceeds from sales were never returned to the state or rightful owners. The team’s data-driven reporting exposed systemic abuse, including a DMV employee profiting from insider deals. Within days of publication, state leaders announced an internal review, and lawmakers passed sweeping reforms to overhaul Connecticut’s towing laws.


These stories represent the very best of Connecticut journalism—fearless investigation, meticulous research, and an unwavering commitment to public service. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners whose work shines a light on the issues that matter most to New England communities.

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2024-2025 Obituaries

You will notice a change in the format of our obituaries. Our obituary program, dedicated to honoring the lives and legacies of those who shaped the New England newspaper industry, is experiencing some technical difficulties. We are working on addressing these to ensure it continues to serve as a valuable resource for the community. In the meantime, if you have any information about a recently deceased journalist, photographer, editor, publisher, or anyone who worked in the New England newspaper industry, please let us know so that we can list the information for friends and colleagues. Send any information or links to t.cleary@nenpa.com.

Mike Rosenberg, The Bedford Citizen’s first staff reporter and a community legend, dies while on the job

Journalist, writer, and photographer Phyllis “Pam” Muzeroll passes away at 69

Providence Journal journalist Shirley Anne Utterback passes away at 99

Hall of Fame Member, Christopher Eddings, passes away at 75

Yankee Quill Award Winner Ed Bell passes away at 84

Former longtime Courant reporter Barbara Carlson dies at 95

Charles Sutton, New England journalist and publisher, passes away at 93

Journalist and author Arthur E. (Ted) Rowse, died Jan. 6 at the age of 104

Abbie Roberts, former editor, The Lincoln County News, dies at 94

Robert Mellis, journalist, former publisher, world traveler dies at age 84

Tom Condon, Yankee Quill and Hall of Fame member, has died at 78

Newspaper Hall of Fame member Selma Williams passes away at 93

Larry Laughlin, longtime AP bureau chief for northern New England, dies at 75

Catherine O’Kane, founder and publisher of the Vermont County Sampler newspaper, died Sept. 26

Nicholas Daniloff, dies at 89, after a storied career in journalism

Steve Morse, Music Critic at The Boston Globe for Three Decades, Dies at 76

Dan Dunn, three-time winner of NENPA Photographer of the Year, passes away at 73

Longtime NH journalist and former Concord Monitor publisher Mark Travis passes away

Saralee Perel, beloved columnist on Cape Cod, passes away August 16

John Celestino, regional executive for CNHI newspapers in New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, recalled as community-minded newspaper leader

Stanley Thomas DeCoster, 80, a respected, highly decorated news reporter and editor at The Day

Paul Demoorjian, over 44 years in the Composing Department at the Manchester Union Leader

Joseph Fitzgerald, longtime Boston Herald columnist

Ross Gelbspan former Globe reporter

Anthony Hill journalist, writer, documentarian and videographer

John Kuhns Obituary (1947 – 2024) – Etna, NH – Valley News (legacy.com)

Harvey Schoenberg freelance journalist Rhode Island

Steve Sherman prolific writer, journalist, photographer

Jim Sunshine, who spent decades at The Journal as a reporter and editor, dies at 99

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Check Out New Award Categories – 2025 New England Better Newspaper Competition

Entries are now open for this year’s New England Better Newspaper Competition, and this year’s contest is bigger and better than ever!

To reflect the evolving landscape of journalism, we’ve added eight new award categories designed to showcase innovation, community impact, and diverse storytelling. These new additions recognize the creative ways journalists are connecting with audiences — from social media and lifestyle writing to coverage of critical issues shaping our region.

New award categories (descriptions below):

  • Social Media Portfolio
  • Home & Garden Writing
  • Housing News
  • Critics Award
  • Good News Award
  • Protest and Demonstration Coverage
  • Immigration Reporting
  • 250th Celebration Coverage

Whether you’re an investigative reporter, a feature writer, a student journalist, or part of a newsroom team, there’s a place for your work in this year’s competition. We can’t wait to see the stories, photos, and projects that have made a difference in your communities.

The Better Newspaper Competition remains New England’s largest and most prestigious journalism awards program, honoring the skill, passion, and dedication that fuel outstanding local news coverage across all platforms.

Work published by NENPA member news organizations during the contest year, August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025, is eligible for this competition.

The competition has three divisions:

Download the information packets, where you will find all of the information necessary to prepare your entries, including a list of competitive categories, complete rules and guidelines, and the criteria that each contest category will be judged upon.

To get started, follow these easy steps:

  1. Go to www.newspapercontest.com/nenpa to register.
  2. The portal resets each year, so you’ll need to register even if you entered last year.
  3. Create a password. (We don’t store last year’s password, so you’ll need to set a new one. You can reuse the same password if you wish.)
  4. Enter the Association Code: NENPA

Deadline for entries is Friday, October 31, 2025.

We wish you the very best of luck in this year’s competition! If questions come up while preparing your entries, please email L.Conway@nenpa.com or T.Cleary@nenpa.com.

New Award Categories

Social Media Portfolio – This category recognizes consistent outstanding storytelling published on your newsroom’s social media channels. Judges will consider creative and effective use of multimedia elements such as video, audio, photography, graphics, and more. Submit three examples from platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or others that show your best work.

Home & Garden Writing – This award honors home and garden writing that combines creativity, service, and storytelling to inspire and inform readers. It recognizes work that offers fresh perspectives on how people live, design, and grow—whether through practical advice, design features, cultural insight, or profiles of local homes and gardens. Entries should demonstrate excellence in writing, visual presentation, and relevance to contemporary lifestyles.

Housing News – This category highlights impactful coverage of housing-related issues such as affordability, development, zoning, homelessness, displacement, tenants’ rights, and the politics and economics of housing. It recognizes journalism that delivers clear, in-depth coverage relevant to the local community.

Critics Award – An article, essay, column or review on any entertainment or culture topic, including (but not limited to) theatre, book, music, movie, and dining reviews. Entries must be written by full- or part-time members of the newspaper staff, or written exclusively for the newspaper submitting the entry

Good News Award – For outstanding journalism that highlights the uplifting, heartwarming, and hopeful stories that remind us of the good in the world. Whether spotlighting acts of kindness, everyday heroes, resilient communities, or creative solutions, these stories should be thoughtfully reported and beautifully told. Judges will look for originality, emotional resonance, and storytelling that goes beyond clichés—leaving readers informed, inspired, and maybe even smiling.

Protest and Demonstration Coverage – Honoring excellence in local journalism that covers protests and civil demonstrations with depth, integrity, and impact. It recognizes journalists and newsrooms that bring attention to community voices, uncover the roots of civic unrest, and provide accurate, courageous, and ethically sound reporting—often under challenging or high-risk conditions. Entries should reflect a strong commitment to fairness, context, and storytelling that elevates public understanding.

Immigration Reporting – This award honors outstanding journalism that illuminates the complexities of immigration with accuracy, depth, and humanity. It recognizes work that elevates underrepresented voices, holds institutions accountable, and deepens public understanding of immigration issues through ethical, impactful, and innovative storytelling. Entries will be judged on quality and clarity of writing, and importance to the local community.

250th Celebration Coverage – This award celebrates outstanding journalism that explores and illuminates the significance of America’s 250th anniversary. Entries should demonstrate journalistic excellence while offering meaningful insight into the nation’s history, identity, and future. Submissions may address themes such as democracy, civil rights, civic engagement, local or national unity and division, or underrepresented narratives that shape the American experience. Judges will consider work that is accurate, original, impactful, and inclusive—using powerful storytelling to connect past and present as the country marks this historic milestone.

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New England Newspaper Hall of Fame: Nominations Now Open

2025 Inductees (from right to left): Stephen Kurkjian, The Boston Globe, Paul Pronovost, Cape Cod Times, and Naomi Schalit and John Christie, Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting

The New England Newspaper & Press Association (NENPA) is now accepting nominations for the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame, honoring exceptional individuals whose talent, hard work, and lasting contributions have strengthened journalism and the communities it serves across our region.

“Each year, the Hall of Fame recognizes people who elevate the craft and the public’s right to know, on deadline, in the newsroom, and out in the community,” said Linda Conway, NENPA executive director. “We invite colleagues, publishers, educators, and community members to help us celebrate the leaders, mentors, and innovators who make New England journalism thrive.”

Who’s Eligible

  • Individuals from any area of newspaper operations—editorial, advertising, circulation, production, administration, and more.
  • Active, retired, and posthumous nominations are welcome.
  • NENPA membership is not required.

How to Nominate

Submit a letter of nomination describing the nominee’s achievements and why they merit induction, and include any supporting materials (testimonials, work samples, clippings, links, or other documentation).

Send nominations to Linda Conway at l.conway@nenpa.com. Please use the subject line: “Hall of Fame”.

Nominations may also be mailed to:
New England Newspaper Hall of Fame
c/o New England Newspaper & Press Association
P.O. Box 2505
Woburn, MA 01801

Recent Inductees

The 2025 class honored:

  • Stephen Kurkjian, three-time Pulitzer Prize winner renowned for investigative reporting with The Boston Globe’s Spotlight team.
  • Paul Pronovost, former editor of the Cape Cod Times, recognized for leadership and dedication to community journalism.
  • Naomi Schalit and John Christie, co-founders of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, celebrated for their commitment to investigative journalism and public service.

Key Dates

  • Nomination deadline: Friday, Dec. 5, 2025
  • Nominees selected will be inducted at a celebration during the annual New England Newspaper Convention, Spring 2026 (location and dates to be announced soon).

Complete details are available at: nenpa.com/awards-recognition/new-england-newspaper-hall-of-fame/

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Next Journalist Meetup in Boston On Oct. 14 – Tiki Tuesday at Tiki Rock

A great time was had by all at The Dubliner in Boston during the September journalist meetup, where a lively crowd of media professionals gathered for trivia, conversation, and plenty of laughs. The event brought together journalists from across New England to connect, collaborate, and unwind in a relaxed and friendly setting.

Next up, the series continues with a return to Tiki Tuesday at Tiki Rock on Tuesday, October 14, from 6–8 p.m. Join fellow journalists and media pros at Tiki Rock on Broad Street in 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 — the 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 the New England Newspaper & Press Association (NENPA).

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

Also happening this week, all are welcome to attend the Boston Association of Black Journalists Fall Networking Mixer at Savvor Restaurant and Lounge, located at 180 Lincoln St, Boston, MA, on Thursday, October 16, from 7-10 pm.

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10th Anniversary Celebration of InDepthNH.org – Oct. 22 Featuring Steve Taylor, Dick Tofel & George Bald

The New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism invites you to celebrate InDepthNH.org’s 10th anniversary on Tuesday, Oct. 22, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the McAuliffe/Shepard Discovery Center in Concord.

This special evening will highlight our past, present, and future with:

  • Guest speaker Dick Tofel, former president of ProPublica, the nationally recognized nonprofit investigative news outlet.

  • Steve Taylor, independent scholar, farmer, journalist, longtime public official, and former New Hampshire agriculture commissioner, now serving on our board.

  • George Bald, former NH Commissioner of the Department of Resources and Economic Development and board member, who has dedicated his career to public service.

Guests will enjoy a meet-and-greet with our writers, board members, and friends, along with light refreshments, a cash bar, complimentary bumper stickers, and a few surprises—including a skit.

🎉 Join us for an evening of conversation, community, and celebration of independent journalism in New Hampshire.

Tickets are still available: Eventbrite Link

We look forward to seeing you on Oct. 22!

Nancy West

Learn more

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2025 New England Better Newspaper Competition Open For Entries!

We’re thrilled to announce the opening of this year’s New England Better Newspaper Competition! We are introducing eight new award categories to spotlight emerging voices and honor excellence across a broader range of reporting and storytelling.

Whether you’re an investigative journalist, a feature writer, or a rising student reporter, there’s a category for you. Submissions are now open, and we can’t wait to see the impactful journalism you’ve produced this year.

The Better Newspaper Competition is New England’s largest journalism recognition program. This prestigious competition celebrates the skill, passion, and determination it takes to produce top-quality publications. It offers an exciting opportunity for talented newspaper professionals to be recognized for their exceptional work.

Work published by NENPA member news organizations during the contest year, August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025, is eligible for this competition.

The competition has three divisions:

Download the information packets, where you will find all of the information necessary to prepare your entries, including a list of competitive categories, complete rules and guidelines, and the criteria that each contest category will be judged upon.

In the Frequently Asked Questions page at the end of this packet, you can find additional information on preparing entries, such as how to make PDF files smaller, extract particular pages, and combine several PDF files.

To get started, follow these easy steps:

  1. Go to www.newspapercontest.com/nenpa to register.
  2. The portal resets each year, so you’ll need to register even if you entered last year.
  3. Create a password. (We don’t store last year’s password, so you’ll need to set a new one. You can reuse the same password if you wish.)
  4. Enter the Association Code: NENPA

New award categories for this year:

  • Social Media Portfolio
  • Home & Garden Writing
  • Housing News
  • Critics Award
  • Good News Award
  • Protest and Demonstration Coverage
  • Immigration Reporting
  • 250th Celebration Coverage

Deadline for entries is Friday, October 31, 2025.

Awards will be presented at the annual New England Newspaper Convention, happening in Spring 2026.

We wish you the very best of luck in this year’s competition! If questions come up while preparing your entries, please email L.Conway@nenpa.com or T.Cleary@nenpa.com.

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Celebrate National Newspaper Week October 5-11

This year marks the 85th celebration of National Newspaper Week, October 5-11, 2025, sponsored by Newspaper Association Managers since 1940. The celebration recognizes the essential role newspapers play in keeping our communities informed, connected, and engaged. NENPA is proud to complement this national effort through the Know Your News campaign, which gives newsrooms ready-to-publish content and social media assets to help amplify the message and make it local.

Local journalism is the heartbeat of civic life. It informs citizens with the news they need to make everyday decisions, from voting to attending town meetings. It holds local institutions accountable, shines a light on neighborhood stories and people often overlooked by national outlets, and strengthens the economy by supporting small businesses through advertising and partnerships.

To build on this important work, thank you to all the newsrooms that have already signed on to the Know Your News campaign. If your newsroom hasn’t yet participated, there’s still time to get involved. NENPA membership is not required. The campaign provides materials that align with the goals of National Newspaper Week and help you demonstrate the value of a free press in your own community.

By taking part in both National Newspaper Week and the Know Your News campaign, your newsroom can make the celebration local and relevant for readers. Consider focusing on:

  • Your role as a government watchdog

  • Your coverage of local events, issues, and people

  • Your dedication to publishing timely public notices

  • Any other ways your paper contributes meaningfully to civic life

Together, these efforts reinforce the power of association — when newspapers across the region and nation speak with one voice, the message about the vital role of journalism becomes stronger.

👉 Access National Newspaper Week materials
👉 Get Know Your News content

Don’t miss the chance to be part of this united effort—sign on today and help show your readers why local journalism matters more than ever.

For assistance signing up for the campaign and accessing the content, please email Tara Cleary at t.cleary@nenpa.com.

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Freedom Forum Survey Finds 90% of Americans Believe the First Amendment is Vital, yet Only 1 in 10 Can Name All Five Freedoms

Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to fostering First Amendment freedoms for all Americans, recently released the 2025 edition of “The First Amendment: Where America Stands.” The annual survey measures what Americans know, believe and experience about the First Amendment — and how those views have shifted over time.

This year’s survey, conducted in partnership with McKee Wallwork from Aug. 1-8, polled Americans on their knowledge of First Amendment freedoms, their personal experiences with free expression and their views on issues ranging from campus protests and AI censorship to religious liberty, hate speech and the role of the press.

Freedom Forum’s 2025 “Where America Stands” survey reveals that while Americans overwhelmingly believe in the importance of the First Amendment, confusion and gaps in understanding persist, especially around the freedoms it guarantees and how they apply to everyday life.

95% of Americans have heard of the First Amendment, and nine in 10 agree it is vital. Yet only 10% can name all five freedoms it protects — religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition — without prompting. A quarter of respondents couldn’t name a single freedom.

 Other key findings from the 2025 survey:

  • Without help, 73% of Americans could identify freedom of speech, while only 13% could identify freedom of petition.
  • 65% of Americans say they are afraid to speak freely for fear of violence, job loss or tension with family and friends. This is down from 71% in 2024.
  • Young people (Gen Z) are the most likely to self-censor, with 82% saying they’re afraid to speak freely.
  • Millennials are the generation most likely to see President Donald Trump as a First Amendment protector; baby boomers are most likely to see him as a threat.
  • Only 26% could identify freedom of assembly unaided, despite a year of high-profile protests.
  • 28% of respondents say they were unclear on how the First Amendment affects their daily lives, a 5-point increase from last year.
  • 52% of Americans are concerned about being censored by artificial intelligence.
  • 49% believe parents should be able to opt their elementary school children out of reading certain books based on religious beliefs.
  • Support for the press as a government watchdog has grown to 61%, up from 56% in 2024.

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Fred Rutberg to step down as publisher of The Berkshire Eagle; Gary Lavariere named successor

After nearly a decade at the helm of The Berkshire Eagle, Fredric D. Rutberg will step down as publisher Oct. 1, passing the baton to Gary Lavariere, the company’s chief revenue officer. GILLIAN HECK — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
After nearly a decade at the helm of The Berkshire Eagle, Fredric D. Rutberg will step down as publisher Oct. 1, passing the baton to Gary Lavariere, the company’s chief revenue officer. GILLIAN HECK — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

After nearly a decade at the helm of The Berkshire Eagle, Fredric D. Rutberg will step down as publisher Oct. 1, passing the baton to Gary Lavariere, the company’s chief revenue officer.

Rutberg, 79, will remain president of The Eagle and continue to play an active role in the paper’s operations. He will remain a member of the editorial board, serve as liaison to the company’s advisory board and lead philanthropic efforts such as The Berkshire Eagle Local Journalism Fund.

“This is a propitious time to pass the reins to the next generation,” Rutberg said in a letter to readers. “The Eagle is stronger now than at any time since we bought it.”

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