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’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!

The Journalism Education Foundation of New England (JEFNE) is once again opening the door for the next generation of reporters, editors, photographers, and multimedia storytellers. Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 New England Journalism Scholarship Program, offering scholarships of up to $2,000 to outstanding student journalists across the region.

Administered by the New England Newspaper & Press Association, this annual program supports up to ten high-potential students who are committed to pursuing a career in journalism or a related field. The program also includes the prestigious MacGregor Fiske Award, presented each year to an exceptional student journalist who demonstrates great promise in the profession. Eligible applicants include high school seniors and undergraduate students who are residents of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont.

Applicants will be required to submit a cover letter, transcript, résumé or biography, letter of recommendation, and a portfolio of at least three published or class-produced journalism pieces. Full application details and links are available on the NENPA website.

To be considered, a completed application must be submitted by March 27, 2026. Please review the qualifications below. For any questions or more information, contact students@nenpa.com.

Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your journalism future — apply and take the next step toward shaping the news landscape in New England.

Journalism Scholarship Program Information
https://www.nenpa.com/scholarships/

Journalism Scholarship Application:
https://www.nenpa.com/scholarship-application/

Qualifications for JEFNE Scholarships

• Must be a resident of New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, or VT).
• Applicants may attend a college or university outside New England — residency determines eligibility, not school location.
• Must be a high school senior or undergraduate college student planning to attend college in Fall 2026, studying journalism or a related field. At this time, we are not accepting graduate students.
• Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Must demonstrate a strong interest in a journalism career by submitting:
  • Cover letter
  • Transcript
  • Résumé or biography
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Must submit a minimum of three pieces of published or class-produced journalistic work.
    
• You will receive an email confirming receipt of your application, including a link to a Dropbox folder where you will upload your materials.

The New England Newspaper & Press Association is proud to recognize the Vermont journalists honored with A-Mark Prizes for Investigative Journalism at the Fall Leadership Conference on September 26, 2025. Their work reflects the best of local accountability reporting — investigations that expose hidden truths, give voice to the vulnerable, and push for reform.

Funded by the A-Mark Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to advancing investigative reporting, the A-Mark Prizes celebrate deeply researched, high-impact journalism across New England. Each year, up to $15,000 is available in every state to recognize stories that hold the powerful accountable and strengthen public trust in the press.

This year’s Vermont winners uncovered critical issues affecting everyday life in the Green Mountain State — from a statewide housing crisis and an embattled county prosecutor to the growing threat of financial scams targeting seniors.

🥇 1st Place

Carly Berlin — VTDigger and Vermont Public
“Emergency Shelters”

In 2024, as Vermont’s emergency housing policies shifted and more than 1,500 residents — including nearly 400 children — were forced out of temporary motel housing, reporter Carly Berlin of VTDigger and Vermont Public documented the crisis with persistence, compassion, and precision. A Report for America corps member jointly shared by the two outlets, Berlin blended public-records analysis, extensive field reporting, and deep community engagement to reveal the human toll of policy decisions that left families without shelter as winter approached.

Her coverage made a measurable impact. After her stories exposed the consequences for families with children, 91 Vermont legislators publicly urged the governor to declare a state of emergency, leading to the opening of three new emergency family shelters later that fall. Berlin also dismantled a long-held myth that Vermont’s homelessness crisis was driven by out-of-state migration, using data and personal stories to reshape public understanding.

The reporting — featured across VTDigger and Vermont Public’s “Brave Little State” series — stands as a model of collaborative, solutions-driven journalism. Berlin’s work not only informed and galvanized policymakers but also demonstrated how local reporting can directly improve lives.

🥈 2nd Place

John Flowers — Addison County Independent
“County Prosecutor, Eva Vekos”

In a two-part investigation, Addison County Independent senior reporter John Flowers examined growing concern over the performance and professionalism of Addison County State’s Attorney Eva Vekos. After her 2024 DUI charge and reports of hostile interactions with law enforcement, Flowers went deeper — uncovering a broader pattern of mismanagement inside her office that raised questions about how justice was being served.

Drawing on confidential interviews, court filings, and internal correspondence, Flowers revealed strained relationships with victim advocates, lenient plea deals used to clear case backlogs, and widespread frustration among survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence who felt dismissed by the system. His reporting also shed light on the absence of any state mechanism to remove an elected prosecutor short of impeachment, underscoring a structural flaw in Vermont’s system of accountability.

Flowers’s tenacity and deep institutional knowledge produced an unflinching portrait of a justice system in crisis — one that prompted statewide discussion about oversight, victims’ rights, and the ethical responsibilities of those who hold public trust.

🥉 3rd Place

Derek Brouwer — Seven Days
“Bilked and Bereft”

As part of Seven Days’ “This Old State” series exploring the challenges of Vermont’s aging population, reporter Derek Brouwer investigated how increasingly sophisticated scammers — many now using artificial intelligence — are targeting older Vermonters. His story revealed that these schemes often wiped out victims’ life savings and triggered unexpected tax bills on funds withdrawn from retirement accounts, compounding their financial ruin.

Through detailed interviews and clear, empathetic storytelling, Brouwer showed how victims’ sense of betrayal extended beyond the scammers themselves to the government systems that taxed them again after their losses. Readers praised the investigation for its clarity and urgency, with many sharing the piece to warn family members. Brouwer’s reporting helped raise awareness about a growing threat and equipped Vermonters to better recognize and prevent financial exploitation.

These Vermont journalists exemplify the highest standards of investigative reporting — determined, humane, and unafraid to ask difficult questions. Their work reveals how local journalism can inform public debate, safeguard communities, and drive meaningful change across the state. Congratulations to all of this year’s A-Mark Prize winners for advancing truth and accountability in Vermont.

For the first time in more than 100 years, Gannett Co., Inc. has rebranded as USA TODAY Co., aligning the company’s identity with its most recognizable national news brand. Announced at ADWEEK’s Brandweek 2025 in Atlanta, executives said the change reflects a broader shift toward digital media and stronger brand recognition.

The rebrand is particularly noteworthy for many NENPA member publications—including daily and weekly newspapers across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut—that are part of the USA TODAY Network.

CEO Mike Reed said the decision was driven by the brand’s wide public recognition and a commitment to the company’s digital transformation.

Read the announcement to learn more about what this shift means for USA TODAY Co. and its local news affiliates.