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Celebrate National Newspaper Week October 6-12

2024 marks the 84th celebration of National Newspaper Week. Since 1940, Newspaper Association Managers has sponsored and supported National Newspaper Week, a week-long promotion of the newspaper industry in the United States and Canada.

As we prepare to celebrate 2024 National Newspaper Week, we find ourselves reflecting on the unique role newspapers play in our communities. This year, we are inviting you—the publishers, editors, and journalists who make up the heart of our industry—to share your stories about why you are in the newspaper business.

Every one of us has a story about what led us to this profession. Maybe it was the thrill of chasing a breaking news story, the joy of telling the untold tales of our community, or the drive to hold the powerful accountable. These are the stories that define us, inspire us, and keep us committed to the work we do every day.

We are asking you to take a moment to reflect and share your journey. Why did you choose this path? What keeps you motivated through the challenges? What impact have you seen your work have on the community? By sharing our experiences, we can celebrate the vital role that newspapers continue to play in our society.

Use this National Newspaper Week as an opportunity to remind your readers—and yourselves—why journalism matters. Whether it’s a personal essay, a column, or a special feature, let’s come together to highlight the passion, dedication, and resilience that drive us. Share your story with your readers and join the conversation using the hashtag #TellingOurStories2024.

Our voices are powerful, and our stories are worth telling. Let’s celebrate what it means to be a part of the newspaper business and inspire the next generation of journalists to carry the torch forward.

Thank you for your dedication to the truth, and for the stories you tell every day.

Below you will find promotional print ads, social media ads, web ads, guest columns and editorial cartoons, all available for download at no charge to daily and non-daily newspapers across North America.

PLAN TO CELEBRATE National Newspaper Week by downloading these materials and devoting as many column inches as possible to reinforce the importance of your newspaper to your communities, and also by sharing the message on your social media platforms over the course of the week.

MAKE IT LOCAL by editorializing about your newspaper’s unique relevance. This can be about your duties as government watchdog, your coverage of community events, publication of timely public notices, etc.

Thank you for supporting National Newspaper Week. You already know there is power in association. And the same principle holds when associations like ours band together to provide even greater impact — both directly to newspaper members locally and collectively to the overall industry nationwide.

DOWNLOAD/VIEW ALL OF THE 2024 NATIONAL NEWSPAPER WEEK DELIVERABLES HERE

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2024 NENPA Awards: Celebrating Excellence in New England Journalism

The New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) honored top-performing newspapers and journalists in various categories on September 21 during a luncheon at the NENPA/NYPA Fall Publishers’ Conference in Providence, RI. The awards spotlighted distinguished publications, individual stories, and outstanding achievements in community journalism.

DOWNLOAD AWARDS PRESENTATION

Here are the winners of this year’s awards:

Newspapers of the Year

Specialty Publications:
Distinguished: New Boston Beacon (New Boston, NH), Valley Advocate (Northampton, MA)
Newspaper of the Year: Providence Business News (Providence, RI)

Online News Publications:
Distinguished: VT Digger (Montpelier, VT), Connecticut Inside Investigator (Hartford, CT)
Newspaper of the Year: Rhode Island Current (Providence, RI)

Weekly Newspapers (Small Circulation):
Distinguished: The Vermont Standard (Woodstock, VT), Monadnock Ledger-Transcript (Peterborough, NH)
Newspaper of the Year: The Provincetown Independent (Provincetown, MA)

Weekly Newspapers (Large Circulation):
Distinguished: Addison County Independent (Middlebury, VT), Ipswich Local News (Ipswich, MA), The Inquirer and Mirror (Nantucket, MA)
Newspaper of the Year: Seven Days (Burlington, VT)

Daily Newspapers (Small Circulation):
Distinguished: The Keene Sentinel (Keene, NH), Greenfield Recorder (Greenfield, MA)
Newspaper of the Year: Daily Hampshire Gazette (Northampton, MA)

Daily Newspapers (Large Circulation):
Distinguished: Republican-American (Waterbury, CT), The Day (New London, CT)
Newspaper of the Year: Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, MA)

Sunday Newspapers (Small Circulation)
Distinguished: The New Britain Herald (New Britain, CT), Eagle Times (Claremont, NH)
Newspaper of the Year: Sunday Monitor (Concord, NH)

Sunday Newspapers (Large Circulation)
Distinguished: The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, MA), Sunday Republican (Springfield, MA)
Newspaper of the Year: The Day (New London, CT)

Publick Occurrences Awards

This prestigious award category celebrates individual and team merit for remarkable journalism in New England. This year, 14 awards were presented to the following winners:

Concord Monitor (Concord, NH)

“Planning the End”: A profound and timely series on a bone cancer patient’s journey with medical aid-in-dying as New Hampshire debates related laws.

Seven Days (Burlington, VT)

“The Loss of Grace”: A deeply engaging narrative on the deficiencies of Vermont’s youth treatment system.

“Robbie Mafuta: A young man’s path through the mental health care system”: A powerful story about a mentally ill homeless immigrant facing the criminal justice system.

“Vermont’s Relapse”: A well-crafted exposé on the drug crisis in Vermont, highlighting evolving issues with substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine.

“The Fight for Decker Towers”: This report gave a voice to the elderly and disabled residents of Decker Towers battling against drug users and squatters.

“This Old State”: The series takes a comprehensive, long-overdue look at the aging population in Vermont and the ramifications, everything from an 82-year-old US Senator to the importance of an aging workforce, to lack of transportation and the effects of loneliness.

The Maine Monitor (Hallowell, ME)

“Maine’s Long-Term Challenge”: An investigation into the inadequate oversight and enforcement in Maine’s residential care facilities.

“Maine’s Part Time Court”: A series uncovering the lack of oversight in Maine’s probate courts, exposing financial abuse and wrongful deaths.

The Keene Sentinel (Keene, NH)

“Covering the LGBTQ+ Community”: A comprehensive package examining legislative proposals in New Hampshire that could limit LGBTQ+ rights.

Rhode Island Catholic (Providence, RI)

“Israel at War Series”: A remarkable 4-part report on the conflict in Israel and Gaza, written from firsthand observations.

The Providence Journal (Providence, RI)

“Nursing Home Investigation”: An in-depth report uncovering severe abuse and neglect in Rhode Island’s nursing homes, accompanied by a unique database of incidents.

VT Digger (Montpelier, VT)

“A False Narrative”: An exploration of the dispute between Canadian and Vermont Abenaki groups regarding state recognition of Indigenous status.

“Following the Floods”: An exemplary response to Vermont’s 2023 floods, providing life-saving information and highlighting inequities related to the disaster.

Maine Trust for Local News (Lewiston, ME)

“Lewiston Mass Shooting”: Journalists who are part of the Maine Trust launched continuing, extraordinary efforts to report what had happened, the hunt for the killer, the communities in mourning, and how the murders had affected Maine, even though nearly all records for public records were denied.

Allan B. Rogers Editorial Award

Awarded to The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, MA) for its editorial, “When police search classrooms for books,” which called out police overreach during a search for LGBTQ+-related literature in a middle school.

New England First Amendment Award

This year’s winner, Maine Trust for Local News, was recognized for its relentless pursuit of public records related to the Lewiston mass shooting, shining a light on investigative failures.

Cornerstone Award

Susan Leggett, production manager at Addison County Independent (Middlebury, VT), was honored with the inaugural Cornerstone Award for her nearly 50 years of dedication to production, community connections, and unwavering loyalty to the paper.

Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award

Kris Craig of The Providence Journal (Providence, RI) received the award for his 39-year career capturing the essence of Rhode Island through powerful photojournalism.

These awards exemplify the commitment to journalistic excellence across New England, with winners contributing significantly to their communities and the field of journalism at large.

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

Tom Condon (second from left) at the New England Academy of Journalists 2022 Yankee Quill Award induction luncheon.

Thomas J. Condon, a newspaperman who for more than 50 years told Connecticut’s stories, fought injustices and challenged public policies with grace and unimpeachable authority, died early Tuesday. He was 78.

He died after a recurrence of cancer.

Condon’s career in journalism was almost entirely conducted at The Hartford Courant, where he started work in 1970 after a short tour in Vietnam. He retired from The Courant at the end of 2015 and wrote regularly for The Connecticut Mirror since then.

Condon was the rare journalist who was deeply respected and admired by colleagues, readers and elected officials alike. He won award after award, including the Yankee Quill and membership in the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame.

Read more at CT Mirror

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Still time to register – NENPA / NYPA Fall Conference!

Good news! There’s still time to register for the Fall Publishers’ Conference, but hurry, registration closes on Sunday, September 15.

By registering today, you help us plan for the group breakfasts and dinners, Awards luncheon, and program sessions. It’s essential that we get an accurate headcount to make this an amazing event!

This year’s Fall Publishers’ Conference, the first-ever joint venture between the New England Newspaper and Press Association and the New York Press Association, is happening September 19-21 in Providence, RI. It’s packed with presentations from industry leaders, plenty of networking opportunities, and moments to celebrate excellence in journalism.

Curious if you’ve won an award? All notifications were sent out last week, so check your email! We’ll celebrate journalism excellence on Saturday, September 21, with the announcement of major awards, including the New England Newspapers of the Year, Publick Occurrences, Allan B. Rogers Editorial Award, New England First Amendment Award, Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award, and The Cornerstone Award.

Don’t miss the chance to meet your colleagues from New York, join us in Providence for an unforgettable event!

If you have any questions or need assistance with registration, please contact Linda Conway at l.conway@nenpa.com or Tara Cleary at t.cleary@nenpa.com.

Visit our conference page for the full program with session descriptions.

Click here to register for the conference.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with colleagues from seven states. Register today and secure your spot. We hope to see you there!

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Register Today for NENPA NYPA Fall Conference!

Great news! We were able to get an extension on the special hotel rate until tomorrow, Friday, September 6 at 5:00 pm. Reserve your room now before it’s too late, the hotel will not give another extension.

Please also register now for the Conference so we can plan accordingly for the group dinners, the Awards luncheon, and the program sessions. You can choose your meal options while registering. Complimentary conference registration is provided to spouses and guests.

Register here for the Fall Publishers’ Conference, the first-ever joint venture between the New England Newspaper and Press Association and the New York Press Association, September 19-21 in Providence, RI. We’re excited to invite you to an engaging and informative event that will provide opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate excellence in journalism! The conference program is filled with presentations by industry leaders and experts.

Click here to book your room at OMNI Providence for $209 per night. The cut-off date for our special rate is September 6 at 5:00 PM!

Wondering if you won an award? Check your email! All award notifications were sent this week. We’ll celebrate excellence in journalism on Saturday, September 21, with the announcement of our most prestigious awards, including the New England Newspapers of the Year, Publick Occurrences, Allan B. Rogers Editorial Award, New England First Amendment Award, Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award, and The Cornerstone Award.

Come meet your colleagues from New York – we can’t wait to see you!

If you have any questions or issues registering please contact, Linda Conway at l.conway@nenpa.com or Tara Cleary at t.cleary@nenpa.com.
Visit our conference page for the full program with session descriptions.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with colleagues from seven states. Register today and secure your spot. We hope to see you there!

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NAHJ New England Journalism Awards Sponsorships Available Now!

Help NAHJ New England celebrate at the NAHJ New England Journalism Awards, recognizing Hispanic/Latinx journalists across the region. The ceremony will be held virtually on Tuesday, Oct. 15, during Hispanic Heritage Month, announcing the winners of several journalism categories for professional and student journalists chosen by 14 volunteer judges from outside of New England. 

The New England board will bestow the NAHJ New England Impact Award to a journalism professional in New England who has demonstrated leadership in promoting fair coverage of Latinos and the advancement of Latino/a/x journalists in the news industry. They are excited to launch these new awards in New England to elevate the accomplishments of Latino/a/x journalists and showcase exemplary coverage of Latino issues in our region. 

Your investment allows NAHJ New England to produce this event and fund new initiatives central to our mission. NAHJ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and all contributions are tax-deductible. 

Click here to see sponsor levels and benefits.

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

Saralee Perel and her husband Bob Daly. Photo credit Cape Cod Times

Saralee Perel, the Cape Cod Times funny and fearless columnist who wrote monthly for 27 years, died Friday at Cape Cod Hospital after a brief illness.

Saralee collected new friends wherever she went and found ways to keep them in her life. She threw a 44th anniversary party for her husband, Bob Daly, and this year, in February, hosted a birthday party for herself at Nonno’s, a new pizzeria in Hyannis. It was packed. She gave out party bags with bubbles, Slinkys and Saralee cakes.

Saralee often chronicled her new friendships in her column that ran on the first Friday of the month.

Saralee pulled no punches in her column, which won nearly every year at New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) in the humor or serious category or both. Her first column appeared in the Cape Cod Times on Sept. 1, 1997.

Read more at Cape Cod Times

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Register today NENPA and NYPA Fall Publishers’ Conference Sept 19-21

Register now for the first-ever joint venture between the New England Newspaper and Press Association and the New York Press Association at the Fall Publishers’ Conference, September 19-21 in Providence, Rhode Island.

We’re excited to invite you to an engaging and informative event packed with opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate excellence in journalism.

The networking and learning opportunities will be worth the trip with our dynamic conference program filled with presentations by industry leaders and experts in all areas of publishing!

Saturday at noon, we’ll celebrate excellence in journalism with the announcement of our most prestigious awards, including the New England Newspaper of the Year, Publick Occurrences, Allan B. Rogers Editorial Award, New England First Amendment Award, AP Sevellon Brown New England Journalist of the Year, Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award, and The Cornerstone Award.

Did we mention the food? We have made arrangements for group dinners. Gracie’s is a storied Providence institution and Hemenway’s is a renowned seafood favorite. WaterFire sets the river ablaze on Saturday night, featuring scenic gondola rides, cocktails, your choice of food trucks, seafood restaurants, unlimited Italian choices on Providence’s famous Federal Hill, and more.

Click here to register for the conference.

Click here to book your room at OMNI Providence for $209 per night. The cut-off date is September 4th.

Visit our conference page for the full program with session descriptions and times.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with colleagues from seven states. Register today and secure your spot!

Program Highlights Include:

  • Thursday, Sept 19:
  • NENPA Board of Directors meeting followed by a “Getting to know you/Great idea exchange” networking session.
  • Enjoy cocktails and dinner at Gracie’s.
  • Friday, Sept 20:
  • Start the day with breakfast, followed by sessions on organizational excellence, AI in local journalism, effective newsletters, and promoting civil discourse.
  • End the day with a cocktail reception and dinner at Hemenway’s.
  • Saturday, Sept 21:
  • Explore strategies for digital revenue, adapting to evolving consumer preferences, setting a community-centric strategy, and mastering audience growth amid new challenges.
  • Celebrate excellence in journalism at the NENPA Awards luncheon.
  • Wrap up with an evening of fun at WaterFire, featuring cocktails, food trucks, and entertainment.

This conference is a must-attend for anyone passionate about the future of journalism. We hope to see you there!

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The Marshall Project Launches Investigate This!

The Marshall Project is launching a new initiative called Investigate This! to empower criminal justice journalism in local communities. We want to connect journalists and other newsrooms with resources and data to help with their creation of strong, original stories that have the potential for significant local impact.

Our team of reporters and editors has created story toolkits filled with reporting resources, data downloads, multimedia assets, shareable illustrations, FOIA guidance, expert sources, style guidance, and more. Each toolkit will include a live webinar and video demos to surface insights into the nuances and opportunities around covering the criminal justice system, incarcerated people and their loved ones.

Investigate This! is launching with toolkits that can help local newsrooms examine:

Read more

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Two things that will never change in advertising

John Foust Advertising
John Foust has conducted training programs for thousands of newspaper advertising professionals. Many ad departments are using his training DVDs to save time and get quick results from in-house training. Email for information: john@johnfoust.com.

Luke told me about a business panel discussion in which he participated. He represented the ad department of the local newspaper, and others represented industries like banking, accounting, and various office services.

The moderator asked each panelist to introduce themselves, identify their company and position, and then give a brief, one or two-sentence statement of one thing they would like the audience to know about their specialty. 

The brevity requirement was broken immediately. The accountant’s statement was several minutes long and, according to Luke, completely forgettable. The banker rambled for a minute or two and ended up saying how much she liked her job. The other panelists were equally vague and unmemorable until it was Luke’s turn. After introducing himself, he said, “People don’t buy features, they buy benefits.” 

That was it: People don’t buy features, they buy benefits. In one sentence, he summed up the most important thing that a salesperson needs to know – whether it’s selling through advertising or selling in a one-to-one conversation. 

Luke’s strategy was right on target. “My kickoff statement was easy to remember,” he said.  “Some of the people in the audience had never considered the concept of seeing products in terms of features and benefits. As the meeting progressed, their interest gave me a chance to cover important details about advertising. Some of them even wanted to set appointments.” 

His experience reminds me of the story of the old sea captain who was famous for his years of success in always delivering the ship’s cargo on time. In the face of countless storms and dangerously high seas, he never lost a ship, a crew member, or a passenger. 

Every morning, the old captain went through a strange ritual. He opened the safe in his quarters, opened an envelope, and pulled out a small piece of paper. After staring at the paper for a few minutes, he locked it up again and went about the day. 

When he retired, the first mate said, “Captain, we feel the secret to your success is on the piece of paper in your safe. May we see it?” The captain smiled and handed the key to him. A few minutes later, the first mate opened the envelope in front of the entire crew. 

They were stunned when they learned that the paper read, “Port left. Starboard right.” 

The old captain’s focus was on the most basic of sailing basics. From a canoe to a battleship, port is always the left side and starboard is the right side. That will never change. 

In advertising – as in any kind of selling – people don’t buy product features, they buy what those products can do for them. That’s the most basic of advertising basics. And that, too, will never change. 

As long as advertising people remember that in every sales presentation – and as long as they remember that in every ad they create – they’ll stay on course.

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