Applications are open for the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference, June 21-26, 2026, in Washington, D.C. One student from each state and the District of Columbia will be selected for the skill-building, networking-growing, and all-expenses-paid trip. 

Now in its 25th year, the annual conference, established to honor Al Neuharth, founder of Freedom Forum and USA TODAY, is designed to inspire and encourage high school juniors to pursue careers in journalism, multimedia storytelling, and the media industry.

Students will:

• Go behind the scenes in some of D.C.’s top newsrooms
• Hear from leading journalists about their work, learn from Free Spirit alumni, and be inspired by honorees at Freedom Forum’s Free Expression Awards
• Receive a $1,000 college scholarship
• Tour the sites of the nation’s capital
• Make connections with students from around the country who are passionate about journalism and multimedia storytelling
• Join the Free Spirit Scholar community, which includes a network of over 1,700 alumni who have gone on to work for organizations including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, ESPN, network-affiliated TV stations, the “This American Life” podcast, entrepreneurial media outlets like The Juggernaut, and more.

The application deadline is March 15, 2026.

APPLY HERE

As we close out the year, the staff and Board of Directors of the New England Newspaper & Press Association extend our warmest wishes to you and your families for a joyful holiday season and a peaceful, healthy, and hopeful New Year.

This has been another year marked by both challenge and resilience for journalism and the media. At a time when the work of local news is too often questioned, criticized, or under fire, we are continually inspired by the journalists, editors, publishers, photographers, designers, students, and newsroom professionals across New England who show up every day with integrity, courage, and a deep commitment to public service. Your work matters. Your voices matter. And your role in strengthening informed, connected communities has never been more essential.

Even in uncertain times, we remain optimistic about the future of local journalism—because of you. The creativity, collaboration, and dedication we see across our region give us reason for hope, and we are proud to stand with you as an advocate, partner, and supporter of your work.

Please note that the NENPA office will be closed on December 25 and 26, as well as January 1. Our weekly eBulletin will take a brief holiday break and will return on Friday, January 9, with industry news, resources, training opportunities, and updates from across the region.

We are deeply grateful for your continued engagement, support, and trust. It is truly a privilege to represent and serve the daily, weekly, specialty, and online news organizations that make up New England’s vibrant local news ecosystem.

We wish you time to rest, reflect, and recharge during the holiday season, and we look forward to working alongside you in the year ahead—continuing to support strong, independent journalism and to gather, learn, and celebrate together in the months to come.

Warmest regards,

The NENPA Team

Planning to attend the 2026 New England Newspaper Convention in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, March 13–14? Now is the time to book your hotel accommodations, as the official convention hotel room block is open and rooms are currently available.

Attendees can reserve rooms at the Hampton Inn & Suites Portsmouth Downtown, in Portsmouth, NH, through the convention’s booking link below at the following discounted rates: rooms with two queen beds are available for $169 per night, and king rooms are available for $209 per night, plus standard hotel taxes and fees. All room rates include a hot breakfast each day. Participants are encouraged to book early to secure their preferred room type.

NENPA Room Block March 13-14, 2026

The 2026 convention will bring together journalists, editors, publishers, educators, and newsroom leaders from across New England for two days of learning, connection, and celebration in historic downtown Portsmouth. This year’s theme, “Honoring the Past. Celebrating the Present. Inspiring the Future.” reflects both the legacy of New England journalism and the innovation shaping its future.

The convention will once again feature the Better Newspaper Competition Awards Banquet on the evening of Saturday, March 14, recognizing outstanding work from newsrooms across the region. This year’s competition saw one of the strongest participation levels in recent years, highlighting the continued strength and creativity of local journalism.

Two of New England’s most respected lifetime journalism honors will also be presented during the convention. The New England Newspaper Hall of Fame Induction Dinner will take place on Friday, March 13, honoring individuals whose careers have made a lasting impact on journalism in the region. The Yankee Quill Awards Luncheon, held on Saturday, March 14, will recognize distinguished service to journalism, civic life, and community leadership.

Additional details, including convention registration, programming, speakers, and networking events, will be released soon. In the meantime, attendees are encouraged to secure hotel reservations now and mark their calendars for a memorable gathering of New England’s journalism community.

The Associated Press introduced AP Verify this week, a verification dashboard combining AI-powered features with established digital verification tools to transform the way newsrooms authenticate online photos, videos, and other digital content.

The unified web-based interface features:

• AI-driven capabilities such as geolocation, object and landmark detection, and transcription
• An AI chatbot assistant
• Generative AI text detection
• Core verification tools including reverse image search, frame-by-frame video analysis and social listening
• Ability to store work and share across teams

AP Verify was developed by AP journalists to meet growing demands for digital verification in newsgathering. AP Verify is used daily across AP’s global news operations, supporting teams covering breaking news, misinformation and investigative reporting.

Read more

The Boston Globe announced that Brian McGrory will rejoin the organization as editor, effective January 5, 2026.

McGrory brings a distinguished record of leadership, innovation, and journalistic excellence from his prior tenure at the Globe, along with expanded experience from academia and the nonprofit news sector. He shares a deep and lasting commitment to The Boston Globe and to the communities it serves.

Previously, McGrory spent 34 years at the Globe, beginning in 1989 as a reporter in the former South Weekly before holding a wide range of roles, including general assignment reporter, roving national reporter, White House correspondent, signature metro columnist, editor of the Metro department, and editor of the Globe from 2012 to early 2023.

While editor, McGrory led the Globe newsroom through a period of dramatic industry transformation while overseeing coverage of major regional and national stories. Under his leadership, the Globe reinvented its coverage with new beats, a renewed editorial outlook, and a stronger emphasis on digital journalism, while winning multiple Pulitzer Prizes and significantly expanding its digital subscriber base.

Since leaving the Globe, McGrory has remained deeply engaged in journalism and media leadership. As chair of the Journalism Department at Boston University and a professor of the practice, he launched the Local News Initiative, an ambitious effort designed to foster collaboration among local nonprofit and independent news organizations across New England. A central component of that effort is the BU Newsroom, which McGrory launched last year, hiring an editor in chief and producing more than 400 student-written stories, all professionally edited and published in partnership with local nonprofit and independent news organizations. McGrory plans to continue his involvement with the initiative.

Read more

The New England High School Journalism Collaborative is excited to announce that we will hold our all-expense-paid summer workshop for students interested in journalism for the 39th year.

The workshop dates are June 20-27, 2026.

The program is intended to reach out to inner-city students and others in underserved communities. Some preference is given to current juniors and seniors in high school.

Students will be housed and work out of a newsroom at Simmons University in Boston, and learn to report, write, edit for a newspaper, and produce multimedia projects for a website. They will be assigned stories, conduct interviews, and will be exposed to working on a deadline to create their own newspaper.

The New England Newspaper and Press Association will be assisting with the application process. Application guidelines are as follows:

1. Only students who attend high school in the New England states (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) are eligible.
2. Only students currently in high school may apply, including graduating seniors. The program is not accepting students who have already taken part in the program.
3. Students must be recommended by a teacher.
4. A letter of recommendation from the sponsoring teacher must accompany the application.
5. A transcript from the school with the student’s most recent grades must accompany the application.
6. An essay of no more than 500 words must accompany the application. The applicant can write about why they should be selected to participate in this program OR how writing has helped the applicant explore and understand a problem in their life.
7. Students will need to upload a headshot.
8. PLEASE NOTE: You will receive an email confirming the receipt of your application with a link to a Dropbox folder to upload the required documents (letter of recommendation, transcript, personal essay, and headshot).

If you have problems using the form or uploading documents, you should email students@nenpa.com.

The deadline for applications is Friday, April 3, 2026.

Students will be notified of their status by the end of April.

Don’t miss the chance to take part in this unique program established more than 39 years ago and funded by the Carole C. Remick Foundation. We are looking forward to training the next generation of journalists.

If there are additional questions or if the applicant needs special accommodations to submit information, please email Leah Lamson, NEHSJC managing director, at lamsonleah@gmail.com.

Summer Workshop Application

We’ve heard from several of you that you could use a little more time to prepare your nomination materials for the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame award, which recognizes the most outstanding newspaper professionals from across our six New England states.

To make sure you don’t miss the chance to honor a deserving colleague, the deadline for nominations has been extended to Friday, January 2, 2026.

Your nominee could join more than 100 individuals (see the full list below) who have already been inducted into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame for their talent, hard work, and exceptional accomplishments, which continue to inspire colleagues throughout the region. As you review the list, you’ll see that Hall of Fame members represent every corner of newspaper operations — a reminder to think broadly about whom you might nominate.

This year’s inductees will be honored during the annual New England Newspaper Convention in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, March 13–14, 2026, with the Hall of Fame induction dinner taking place on Friday, March 13.

Who is eligible?

• Nominees should be people who have made extraordinary contributions to their newspaper(s), the newspaper industry, and their communities.
• People who have excelled in any area of newspaper operations are eligible — editorial, advertising, circulation, production, administration, and more.
• You may nominate those still working in the industry or those who have retired. Posthumous nominations are also welcome.
• NENPA membership is not required to be eligible for the award.

To nominate a colleague in honor of their professional achievements and lifetime of contributions, please prepare a letter describing your nominee’s accomplishments and why you recommend they be appointed to the Hall of Fame. Include any supplemental material, testimonials, or supporting documents that strengthen your nomination.

Email your nomination letter and supporting material to l.conway@nenpa.com, and please use “Hall of Fame” in the subject line.

Nominations can also be mailed to:

New England Newspaper Hall of Fame
c/o NENPA
P.O. Box 2505
Woburn, MA 01801

For further information, please contact NENPA executive director Linda Conway at (781) 281-7648 or l.conway@nenpa.com.

New England Newspaper Hall of Fame Members:

• Jonathan M. Albano, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
• Jack Authelet, The Foxboro Reporter
• Alan L. Baker, The Ellsworth American.
• Nelson Benton, The Salem News
• Ellen Beveridge, The Trumbull Times
• Robert Bissonnette, York County Coast Star
• Louis Bleiweis, The Call
• Roswell Bosworth, Jr., East Bay Newspapers
• Roswell Bosworth, Sr., East Bay Newspapers
• Chris Braithwaite, the Chronicle
• George Brennan, The Martha’s Vineyard Times
• Mary Dodge Brewer, Boothbay Register
• David Brickman, The Homesteader-Newton
• Alexander Bacon Brook, York County Coast Star
• David Brooks, Concord (NH) Monitor
• Judith Brown, The Herald
• Dorothy Whipple Burgess, The Observer
• Ann Burghardt, Independent Granite Publishing
• Jacob Burghardt, Independent Granite Publishing
• Phillip C. Camp Sr., The Vermont Standard
• Peter J. Caruso Sr., Caruso & Caruso, LLC
• John Christie, Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting
• Curtiss Clark, The Newtown Bee
• William T. Clew, Telegram & Gazette
• Tom Condon, The Hartford Courant
• Ross Connelly, Hardwick Gazette
• Timothy Cotter, The Day of New London
• Kevin Crosbie, the Chronicle
• Lucy B. Crosbie, the Chronicle
• David Cutler, Stonebridge/Salmon Press
• Nicholas Daniloff, Northeastern University
• Oreste D’Arconte, The Sun Chronicle
• Ed DeCourcy, Argus Champion
• Paul Dietterle, Jr., Sanford News
• Frank Dingley, Sun Journal
• Rodney G. Doherty, Foster’s Daily Democrat
• William P. Dole, Cambridge Chronicle
• John Donoghue, Burlington Free Press
• Michael Donoghue, St. Michael’s College
• Chazy Dowaliby, The Patriot Ledger/ The Enterprise
• John Drysdale, The Herald of Randolph
• Dickey Drysdale, The Herald of Randolph
• Christopher A. Eddings, North Shore Weeklies
• Robert Estabrook, The Lakeville Journal
• James D. Ewing, The Keene Sentinel
• Katherine Fanning, The Christian Science Monitor
• Robert H. Foster, Foster’s Daily Democrat
• Winifred B. French, The Quoddy Tides
• Bernard Gallagher, Eagle-Tribune/Haverhill Gazette
• Ted Gay, Jr., Taunton Daily Gazette
• David D. Gearhart, The Wilton Bulletin
• George Geers, Plaidswede Publishing
• Peter Gelzinis, Boston Herald
• Suzanne Gillis, Vermont Woman Newspaper
• Charles “Chuck” Goodrich, Newspapers of New England
• Marcia Green, Valley Breeze Newspapers
• Raymond Gross, Courier-Gazette
• Loren Ghiglione, Southbridge (MA) Evening News
• William Hannan, The Sun Chronicle
• John Dennis Harrigan, Coos County Democrat
• Ruth Haskins Bass, The Berkshire Eagle
• Joseph P. Heaney, Boston Herald
• Frank J. Heinrich, International Circulation Managers Association
• Rudolph A. Hempe, No. Kingston Standard Times
• Donald Hersam, New Canaan Advertiser
• Thomas E. Heslin, Providence Journal
• John I. Howell, Beacon Communications
• Phyllis Hughes, Memorial Press Group
• Vincent M. Igo, The Foxboro Reporter
• Virginia Jackson, The Spectator
• Henry E. Josten, Pictorial Gazette
• Anne Karolyi, Republican-American

• Robert “Bob” Katz, New England Press Association
• Bob Katzen, Beacon Hill Roll Call
• Tom Kearney, The Stowe Reporter
• Jonathan Kellogg, Republican-American
• William B. Ketter, Eagle-Tribune Publishing Co.
• Stephen Kurkjian, The Boston Globe
• Martin Langeveld, New England Newspapers, Inc
• Harry J. Lally, Brooks Community Newspapers
• Leonard I. Levin, The Providence Journal
• Linda Lotridge Levin, University of Rhode Island
• Hal Levy, Shore Line Newspapers
• Angelo Lynn, Addison County Independent
• Emerson Lynn, St. Albans Daily Messenger
• W. Zachary (Bill) Malinowski, The Providence Journal
• Warren McClure, Burlington Free Press
• Morgan McGinley, The Day
• Lincoln McKie Jr., Journalist & Journalism Teacher
• Gerald McLaughlin, Springfield Reporter
• Joseph W. McQuaid, Union Leader
• Melvin B. Miller, The Bay State Banner
• Stephen Mindich, Boston Phoenix
• John Mitchell, The Times Argus
• Robert Mitchell, Rutland Herald
• Rocco Molinari, The Sun Chronicle
• David A. Morse, The Hardwick Gazette
• Karl S. Nash, The Ridgefield Press
• John Nash, Westfield Evening Citizen
• Kendall Nye, The Sun Chronicle
• John A. Osborn, The Harvard Press
• Susan Ovans, The Hull Times
• Candace Page, Burlington Free Press
• Russel Pergament, TAB Newspapers Boston Metro
• John C. Peterson, The Peterson Group
• Morley L. Piper, NE Newspaper Association
• William L. Plante, Jr., MNPA
• Pamela Polston, Seven Days
• Greg Popa, Vermont Community Newspaper Group
• Paul Pronovost, Cape Cod Times
• Douglas H. Reed, The Free Press
• Paul A. Rixon, The Sun Chronicle
• Samuel E. Roberts, The Lincoln County News
• Irving E. Rogers, III, Eagle-Tribune
• Walter Robinson, The Boston Globe
• William B. Rotch, The Cabinet Press
• Paula Routly, Seven Days
• Mary Pat Rowland, Foster’s Daily Democrat
• Bob Ryan, The Boston Globe
• Richard Saltonstall, Jr., Norumbaga Publishing
• Jack Sanders, The Ridgefield Press
• Naomi Schalit, Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting
• William J. Slator, Addison County Independent
• Scudder Smith, The Newtown Bee
• Paul Scudder Smith, The Newtown Bee
• Gordon Smith, Caledonian-Record
• James H. Smith, Connecticut Journalist
• Albert B. Southwick, Telegram & Gazette
• George Speers, New England Press Association
• Albert Spendlove, The Telegraph
• Marianne Stanton, The Inquirer and Mirror
• Albert E. Sylvia, Sr., North Reading Transcript
• Elsie M. Talanian, The Salem Observer
• Jeanne Tempest, Granite State News
• Lisa Tuite, The Boston Globe
• Mark E. Vogler, The Eagle-Tribune
• Bob Wallack, New England Press Association
• Daniel J. Warner, Eagle-Tribune
• William Wasserman, North Shore Weeklies
• Peter Watson, Gloucester Daily Times
• Julia Wells, Vineyard Gazette
• Alan White, Eagle -Tribune
• Eliot White, Record-Journal Media Group
• John Widdison, Worcester Gazette
• James Russell Wiggins, The Ellsworth American
• Selma Williams, North Shore Weeklies
• Frederick J. Wilson, III, So. County Newspapers
• George Wilson, Concord Monitor
• Carol J. Young, Providence Journal

The Poynter Institute has partnered with Internet Archive and Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) to bring preservation and web archive training to 300 news organizations throughout 2026 and 2027, with ‘Today’s News for Tomorrow,’ a project to help newsrooms preserve their digital footprint.

This Press Forward-funded initiative was developed to preserve vital local online news content that often vanishes when publications cease to exist or technology changes. Beginning March 2026, participating organizations will receive online and in-person training, including free access to tools, services, and networking opportunities to support the sustainability of digital news.

The project will create a national framework for digital preservation that serves newsrooms’ “immediate internal needs and communities’ future information needs,” according to Press Forward.

Successful applicants will be placed into cohorts based on characteristics such as geographic location and media type. They will receive training on Internet Archive’s digital preservation and web archiving services, share local news resources through a local news access portal, and participate in knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities centered around local news preservation.

The program application is now open until Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.

Read more

The New England Newspaper & Press Association is excited to announce that the 2026 New England Newspaper Convention will take place March 13 and 14 in beautiful Portsmouth, New Hampshire—a city rich with history, coastal charm, and a thriving downtown perfect for gathering our region’s journalism community.

This year’s theme is Honoring the Past. Celebrating the Present. Inspiring the Future reflecting the full scope of our industry’s journey: from the legacy of New England’s storied newsrooms, to the creativity and resilience shaping journalism today, to the bold ideas preparing us for the years ahead.

We are in the process of creating the program and would love your input! Please send your session and topic ideas to Linda Conway at l.conway@nenpa.com.

We’re also thrilled to share that the response to this year’s Better Newspaper Competition has been our strongest in recent years. Thank you to every newsroom and journalist that submitted entries—your work illustrates the unwavering strength and innovation of local journalism across New England. Winners will be recognized at our annual Awards Banquet on the evening of Saturday, March 14, one of the most anticipated highlights of the convention.

In addition to the Better Newspaper Awards, the convention will also feature two of New England’s most distinguished lifetime honors. On Friday, March 13, we will host the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame Induction Dinner, celebrating journalists and news leaders whose remarkable careers have left a lasting impact on our region’s media landscape. On Saturday, March 14, we will gather for the Yankee Quill Awards Luncheon, honoring individuals who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to journalism, civic life, and the communities they serve.

Hotel room reservations and convention registration will open soon, along with details on programming, speakers, workshops, and networking events. Stay tuned—and mark your calendar now for two days of learning, celebration, and community.

We look forward to seeing you in Portsmouth!