Page 12

Fall Awards Program Open For Entries – Newspaper of the Year, Publick Occurrences, A-Mark Prizes and more!

We are pleased to announce that entries for the NENPA New England Newspaper Awards Program are open now through July 18, 2025. This year, in addition to our long-standing honors recognizing editorial excellence, transparency, and public service, we are introducing an exciting new series of awards—the A-Mark Prizes, which will provide up to $90,000 in monetary awards to journalists and newsrooms.

All Publick Occurrences and First Amendment entries will automatically be entered for consideration in the A-Mark Prizes.

All awards will be presented at the 2025 Fall Leadership Conference in Northampton, MA, on September 25-26, 2025, at the Hotel Northampton.

Newspaper of the Year Awards:

New England Newspaper of the Year
Celebrates overall excellence in reporting, design, photography, and public service. Judged holistically across all areas of newspaper production.

Publick Occurrences Awards
Honors journalistic work that has made a profound impact on the public or initiated important civic discussions, echoing the spirit of America’s first newspaper.

Allan B. Rogers Editorial Award
Recognizes editorial writing that makes a compelling, reasoned argument and contributes to the editorial voice of a publication.

New England First Amendment Award
Presented to individuals or organizations that champion freedom of the press and the public’s right to know, often at great personal or institutional risk.

AP Sevellon Brown New England Journalist of the Year
Awarded to an individual journalist for outstanding reporting, ethics, and leadership in news coverage over the past year.

Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award
Highlights a story, series, or body of work that strengthens connections within a community and elevates local voices.

The Cornerstone Award
Recognizes extraordinary service to the newspaper industry through innovation, mentorship, advocacy, or long-term leadership.

New England Journalism Educator of the Year Award
Recognizes a professor at a university or college in the six-state region who is doing outstanding work to prepare journalists to lead our newspaper organizations into the future.

A-Mark Prizes
Recognizes and honors outstanding investigative journalism that reveals hidden truths, holds power to account, or drives public awareness or reform. The awards will reward ambitious, well-researched reporting that may expose a wrong, hold powerful individuals accountable, or explore a complex problem, issue, or subject.

Enter Newspaper of the Year Awards
Share:

NENPA Joins National Call to Protect Journalists Covering Protests

Read the full letter from NENPA and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press here.

As protest activity spreads throughout New England and across the country, the New England Newspaper & Press Association (NENPA) has joined with 59 other press freedom and journalism organizations in calling on government leaders to ensure law enforcement personnel are properly trained to respect journalists’ First Amendment rights during mass demonstrations.

The joint letter — organized by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) — was sent to federal, state, and local officials following multiple reports of journalists being injured, detained, or possibly targeted while covering protests in Los Angeles. Such actions, the coalition warns, may violate constitutional protections for newsgathering and free speech.

The letter outlines a series of best-practice protocols for law enforcement agencies to adopt when interacting with journalists at mass demonstrations. These include ensuring officers understand the legal rights of journalists, providing designated law enforcement contacts for press-related issues at protest sites, and preventing unnecessary arrests or interference with reporters performing their jobs. The coalition emphasizes that protecting journalists’ ability to cover these events serves both public safety interests and the public’s fundamental right to access information.

NENPA, which represents more than 450 daily, weekly, and specialty newspapers across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, continues to advocate for strong press protections as journalists cover fast-moving developments throughout the region.

Read the full letter from NENPA and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press here.

Share:

Registration Now Open for the 2025 NENPA/NYPA Fall Leadership Conference – September 25-26

Registration is now open for the NENPA/NYPA Fall Leadership Conference, taking place September 25-26, 2025, at Hotel Northampton in Northampton, Massachusetts.

This joint conference brings together publishers, editors, and newspaper leaders from across New England and New York for two days of networking, roundtable discussions, and leadership sessions focused on the critical issues shaping the future of local journalism.

Reserve Your Spot:
Click here to register for the conference.

Hotel Reservations:
To book your hotel room, please call the Hotel Northampton directly at 413-584-3100 and reference the block name: NE/NY Press Association.

For additional conference information and updates, visit:
https://nynewspapers.com/fall-conference-2025/

We look forward to seeing everyone in Northampton this September!

Share:

Journalism Education Foundation of New England Announces 2025 Scholarship Recipients

WOBURN, MA – Each year, the New England Newspaper and Press Association awards several scholarships to aspiring journalists through the Journalism Education Foundation of New England (JEFNE). The foundation aims to support and encourage young people who wish to pursue a career in journalism.

College students and high school seniors from New England who are studying and gaining work experience to prepare for a career in journalism are eligible to apply for JEFNE scholarships. This year, five students will receive $2,000 scholarships.

We are proud to introduce the recipients of the 2025 Journalism Scholarships:

Madeleine Goli Ahmadi, UNC-Chapel Hill
“I am honored to receive support from the JEFNE and the New England Newspaper & Press Association to continue pursuing my passion for journalism. Growing up in Vermont has shown me the importance of local media. Communities need people willing to share their stories – work that often begins in local high schools and universities. I am so grateful to my two favorite high school teachers who believe in this mission and are continuing to build journalists in Vermont, all my mentors at UNC-Chapel Hill who recognize the importance of innovative storytelling and the JEFNE who are generously supporting my mission to make a difference through impactful reporting.”

Cally Gudroe, University of New England
“I’m incredibly honored to receive the JEFNE Scholarship. Growing up in a rural town and tight-knit community, I saw firsthand how journalism can bring people together and how powerful it is when local stories are told with care and purpose. That early understanding shaped my commitment to sharing the voices and experiences that often go unheard. As a journalism student at the University of New England, I’ve reported for local news outlets on small businesses, school programs, and youth initiatives—stories that reflect the heart of a community. I’m also currently working on a documentary titled Rural Dreams, which focuses on rural teens and aims to empower their voices through storytelling. This scholarship allows me to continue doing the work I believe in by uplifting others, exploring underreported issues, and contributing to the future of local journalism. I’m deeply grateful to JEFNE and the New England Newspaper & Press Association for supporting my journey.”

Maren Halpin, Suffolk University
MacGregor Fiske Scholarship recipient
“Over the last three years of developing my skills as a journalist both in the classroom and student and professional newsrooms, I’ve gained such a deep passion for telling the stories and amplifying the voices of those in my community. At such a pivotal time, I am so honored to get to be part of such a talented and driven generation of journalists who are both defending a strong press and innovating what its future will look like. I am so grateful for this support from the Journalism Education Foundation of New England, the New England Newspaper and Press Association, and the Fiske family. I’ve been so lucky to have so much support from my family, friends, professors, mentors, and this industry at large, and this scholarship will further enable me to remain focused on my final year of my undergraduate degree and pursue more opportunities to learn in professional newsrooms across Boston and New England.”

The MacGregor Fiske Scholarship honors the late Mac Fiske, a fourth-generation newspaperman, who died in 2009 at the age of 75.

Jackson Kitts, Duke University
“The JEFNE scholarship will help me pursue my college education at Duke University. I plan to major in public policy and minor in journalism. I look forward to engaging more in the journalism community while in college through the Duke Chronicle and other opportunities.”

Emily Tarinelli, Stanford University
“I’m grateful to be one of JEFNE’s scholarship recipients. Next year, I will attend Stanford University and work towards my master’s degree in Journalism. JEFNE’s support will help me offset the cost of attendance. At Stanford, I intend to hone my skills in reporting stories about gender/LGBTQ+ issues and sports. After graduating in June 2026, I hope to return to New England and begin my professional journalism career.”

Download Student Headshots
Download Press Release

About the Journalism Education Foundation of New England
The Journalism Education Foundation of New England encourages and supports high school seniors and college students in the six-state region who aspire to pursue a career in journalism. The JEFNE scholarship is available to New England residents studying journalism or related fields at the college level.

Member newspapers of the New England Newspaper & Press Association join in sponsoring the scholarship program by promoting it to readers in their communities.

For more information about the JEFNE scholarship program, please contact Linda Conway at l.conway@nenpa.com.

Share:

NENPA to Open Fall Awards Program Next Week, Introducing New Monetary Prizes

We are pleased to announce that entries for the NENPA New England Newspaper Awards Program will open next week. This year, in addition to our long-standing honors recognizing editorial excellence, transparency, and public service, we are introducing an exciting new series of awards—the NENPA A-Mark Awards for Investigative Journalism, which will provide up to $90,000 in monetary awards to journalists and newsrooms.

All awards will be presented at the 2025 Fall Leadership Conference in Northampton, MA, on September 25-26, 2025, at the Hotel Northampton.

Newspaper of the Year Awards:

New England Newspaper of the Year
Celebrates overall excellence in reporting, design, photography, and public service. Judged holistically across all areas of newspaper production.

Publick Occurrences Awards
Honors journalistic work that has made a profound impact on the public or initiated important civic discussions, echoing the spirit of America’s first newspaper.

Allan B. Rogers Editorial Award
Recognizes editorial writing that makes a compelling, reasoned argument and contributes to the editorial voice of a publication.

New England First Amendment Award
Presented to individuals or organizations that champion freedom of the press and the public’s right to know, often at great personal or institutional risk.

AP Sevellon Brown New England Journalist of the Year
Awarded to an individual journalist for outstanding reporting, ethics, and leadership in news coverage over the past year.

Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award
Highlights a story, series, or body of work that strengthens connections within a community and elevates local voices.

The Cornerstone Award
Recognizes extraordinary service to the newspaper industry through innovation, mentorship, advocacy, or long-term leadership.

New England Journalism Educator of the Year Award
Recognizes a professor at a university or college in the six-state region who is doing outstanding work to prepare journalists to lead our newspaper organizations into the future.

Introducing the A-Mark Awards for Investigative Journalism

New for 2025, NENPA is proud to launch the A-Mark Awards, a high-impact initiative to recognize and reward outstanding investigative journalism that:

  • Reveals hidden truths

  • Holds powerful institutions or individuals accountable

  • Drives public awareness or catalyzes reform

  • Explores complex problems through ambitious, well-researched reporting

Who’s Eligible:

  • News media organizations and freelance journalists based in one of the six New England states whose primary medium is the written word.

  • Work must have been published in print and/or online during the upcoming contest period

Prize Structure for each New England state:

  • 1st Place: $5,000 to journalist(s), $2,500 to the news outlet

  • 2nd Place: $3,000 to journalist(s), $1,500 to the outlet

  • 3rd Place: $2,000 to journalist(s), $1,000 to the outlet

This competition is open to both member and non-member newspapers and
online news publications. All Publick Occurrences and First Amendment submissions will automatically be entered for A-Mark Prize consideration.

Newsrooms and journalists across New England are encouraged to prepare their best work for submission. With award categories spanning editorial, investigative, and community-focused work, the NENPA New England Newspaper Awards remain a cornerstone for celebrating journalism’s most important mission: serving the public.

Entries for all awards will open next week. Stay tuned for updates and guidelines.

Share:

Save the Date: NENPA & NYPA Fall Leadership Conference September 25–26, 2025 in Northampton

The New England Newspaper and Press Association is once again partnering with the New York Press Association to host a joint leadership conference for senior newspaper executives. This two-day event will take place on Thursday and Friday, September 25-26, 2025, at the historic Hotel Northampton in Northampton, MA.

Programming will include engaging workshops on newsroom innovation and revenue strategy, as well as a luncheon to present the top journalism awards in New England!

In addition to the professional development sessions, there will be ample time for networking, including a cocktail reception and dinner on Thursday evening.

Northampton offers a vibrant backdrop for the conference, with historic charm, lively arts and music, eclectic shops, and outdoor activities in every season.

Hotel and registration links will be available in June.

Share:

Protecting Press Freedom: Introducing the NENPA First Amendment Collaborative

At our recent New England Newspaper Convention, a standing-room-only town hall session made one thing clear: the challenges facing the First Amendment, access to public information, and trust in the media are top of mind for journalists across the region. The energy and urgency in that room inspired the creation of a new initiative designed to keep the conversation going and provide concrete tools for action.

The New England Newspaper and Press Association is proud to introduce the First Amendment Collaborative—a platform dedicated to strengthening press freedom, defending access to information, and restoring public trust in journalism.

This collaborative will serve as a story and resource sharing hub for NENPA members and news organizations around New England, offering:

  • Editorials, commentaries, and op-eds that can be reprinted or localized

  • Reporting and case studies that highlight threats to press freedom

  • Legal resources and First Amendment advocacy tools

  • Specialized training and professional development opportunities

In addition to ongoing content and tools, the Collaborative will host quarterly town halls to continue the dynamic exchange of ideas and solutions sparked at our convention. The next session will be held in June. Stay tuned for registration details.

To preview the kind of programming the Collaborative will champion, we invite you to register for our upcoming NENPA U webinar:

Silencing the Fourth Estate: Legal Tactics Threatening U.S. Press Freedom
🗓 Thursday, May 29 at 1:00 PM
Join award-winning journalist and New York Times Deputy Investigations Editor David Enrich for a timely discussion on the growing use of legal pressure tactics to silence the press. Drawing on years of investigative experience, Enrich will examine how these methods are eroding the foundations of a free press and what journalists can do to protect their rights.
🔗 Register here

We hope you’ll join us in building this Collaborative into a powerful regional force for First Amendment protection and media trust. If you are interested in learning more about the Collaborative, please email Linda Conway at l.conway@nenpa.com.

Share:

Exciting New Awards and Cash Prizes Coming This Fall!

We are thrilled to announce the addition of a new series of awards to our annual Fall Awards Program, which already includes prestigious honors like 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.

This year, we are introducing new awards with cash prizes totaling up to $90,000. These awards will celebrate excellence in investigative journalism, impactful reporting, and the pursuit of truth. The criteria for these new prizes are still being finalized, but we are excited to share more information soon.

All awards will be presented at our Fall Conference, with the location to be announced shortly.

Submissions for all awards will open in early June, so keep an eye out for more details.

Stay tuned for more updates, and start thinking about the powerful stories you’ve brought to light this past year.

Share:

Kick Off Your Summer Learning with NENPA University’s Webinar Series

The New England Newspaper & Press Association (NENPA) is excited to announce the launch of its 2025 Summer Webinar Series, presented by NENPA University, designed to provide practical insights, hands-on training, and expert guidance for media professionals across the region. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your sales strategy, explore emerging journalism trends, or enhance your digital media skills, these sessions are designed to keep your newsroom ahead of the curve.

These sessions are free to NENPA members and are available to non-members at a reasonable cost of $15 per attendee, or a group of 4 or more people for $45.

Upcoming Webinars

  • Silencing the Fourth Estate: Legal Tactics Threatening U.S. Press Freedom – Thursday, May 29, 1:00 p.m. EDT
    Join award-winning journalist and New York Times Deputy Investigations Editor David Enrich for a timely discussion on the growing use of legal pressure tactics to silence the press. Drawing on years of investigative experience, Enrich will examine how these methods are eroding the foundations of a free press and what journalists can do to protect their rights.
    Register here
  • Make a Media Kit That Sells in 2025 – Tuesday, June 10, 1:00 p.m. EDT
    Join Kenny Katzgrau, publisher of RedBankGreen and creator of Broadstreet, for a hands-on workshop that will walk you through the essential elements of a high-impact media kit. Learn the seven must-have components, see real-world examples, and get a ready-to-use template to jumpstart your next media kit refresh.
    Register here

What’s Coming Up Next?

The series will continue throughout the summer with sessions on:

  • Journalists Becoming Influencers – How the role of influencers differs from traditional journalists and what this shift means for newsrooms.
  • Solidarity Journalism – Exploring the principles and practice of journalism that centers community voices and marginalized perspectives.

Stay tuned for more details as additional sessions and speakers are confirmed. We hope you’ll join us for one or all of these engaging and informative webinars!

For more information, visit the NENPA University page.

If you have suggestions for a new training session, would like to be contacted about future workshops, or have any questions or problems registering for these webinars, contact Tara Cleary at t.cleary@nenpa.com.

Share:

Maine Community Foundation launches local press initiative, led by Lisa DeSisto

The Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF) announced Wednesday the launch of a new initiative to strengthen Maine communities by ensuring strong, local news coverage in all parts of the state. MaineCF applied and has been selected by the nonpartisan philanthropic initiative Press Forward to become one of 36 independent chapters nationwide.

Press Forward and Press Forward Maine share the goal of strengthening communities by reinvigorating local news. Press Forward Maine will be housed within MaineCF and led by Senior Advisor Lisa DeSisto, former CEO of Maine Today Media and the Maine Trust for Local News. The initial focus will be building a broad-based advisory panel to identify and prioritize the best ways to reimagine and expand access to local reporting.

“Our own research and the ‘Strengthening Maine’s Civic Life’ report we funded last year tell us two things,” said MaineCF CEO Deborah Ellwood. “One, most people in Maine are interested in reading and learning about their communities but, two, may encounter barriers for understanding how they can engage and participate locally. Press Forward Maine will bring people and resources together to close that gap because quality reporting means people can learn about any issue, understand how to get involved, have their voice heard and find solutions together. We are very pleased Lisa DeSisto is joining to help lead this effort as senior advisor and excited to get to work with our donors and partners.”

DeSisto, who also worked at the Boston Globe for 17 years before leading Maine’s largest media organization through many changes over 13 years, said, “I know all too well that these are changing times in the news business. This is important work and am glad to continue as senior advisor to Press Forward Maine. We are committed to contributing to a vibrant media ecosystem by partnering with large and small news organizations. As a nonprofit community foundation with a 42-year record of working in communities across all 16 Maine counties, Maine Community Foundation is the perfect institution to convene media partners and craft new models for collaboration and innovation to better engage with Maine people.”

Read more

Share:
1...111213...177Page 12 of 177
© 2025 New England Newspaper & Press Association. All rights reserved.