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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

The final deadline for all entries is Friday, November 14, 2025.

Awards will be presented at the annual New England Newspaper Convention in Spring 2026 (location and dates to be announced soon).

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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Reporters From Across Region to Attend 2025 Gloria L. Negri First Amendment Institute

The New England First Amendment Coalition is pleased to announce the incoming class of fellows for its 2025 Gloria L. Negri First Amendment Institute.

Named after the late trail-blazing Boston Globe journalist, the Negri Institute (formerly the New England First Amendment Institute) is an annual, multi-day, intensive training program on freedom of information law and investigative reporting techniques. It is offered each year exclusively to 25 working New England journalists and a select group of students.

The 15th annual Institute — provided at no cost to those who attend — consists of local workshops, online classes and in-person instruction at Boston University from Oct. 24-26.

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NPF Names 30 Journalists for 2025 Federal Action, Local Impact Journalism Fellowship – Two From New England!

The National Press Foundation has selected 30 journalists for its 2025 Federal Action, Local Impact Journalism Fellowship to be held in Washington, D.C., Oct. 7-9. The journalists selected include two from New England:

  • Charlotte Matherly | Concord Monitor / Monadnock Ledger-Transcript | New Hampshire
  • Ethan Weinstein | VTDigger | Vermont

The new cohort of fellows will learn from a roster of top experts, insiders and veteran journalists about how to follow the massive shifts happening at the federal level and what that means for their own communities. The journalists will bring their knowledge back to serve the public in 25 states, reporting for public media, local newspapers and digital nonprofit newsrooms.

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New England Newspapers and Journalists Honored at 2025 Awards Luncheon

The New England Newspaper & Press Association (NENPA) brought together journalists and industry leaders from across the region on September 26 for its annual New England Newspaper Awards luncheon at the Hotel Northampton. The event honored the outstanding work of daily, weekly newspapers, specialty publications, and online newsrooms, as well as the individuals who power them — from publishers and editors to reporters and educators. During the afternoon, attendees celebrated excellence in reporting, community service, and education. Reflecting on the vital role local journalism plays in keeping New England’s communities informed and connected. Watch the presentation and download the program book for more information, and see the full list of winners below.

Watch the presentation on YouTube

Download the Awards Program Book

2025 Newspapers of the Year

Each year, NENPA honors the region’s best publications through the prestigious New England Newspaper of the Year awards — the only industry competition judged by readers. Multiple newspapers are named Distinguished Newspapers, and one publication in each category receives the top honor of New England Newspaper of the Year.

Specialty Publications

Weekly Newspapers – Small Circulation

Weekly Newspapers – Large Circulation

Daily Newspapers – Weekday, Small Circulation

Daily Newspapers – Weekday, Large Circulation

Sunday Newspapers – Small Circulation

Sunday Newspapers – Large Circulation

2025 Publick Occurrences Awards

This award recognizes the best work that New England newspapers produce each year— whether it’s individual or team stories, series, spot news coverage, columns, or photojournalism published in print or online during the contest period. Established in 1990 to mark the 300th anniversary of Publick Occurrences, America’s first newspaper, these awards recognize New England’s most outstanding journalism of the year. Click on the name of each file to read this exceptional work!

2025 A-Mark Prizes

The A-Mark Prizes, generously sponsored by the A-Mark Foundation, recognize and honor outstanding investigative journalism that reveals hidden truths, holds power to account, or drives public awareness or reform. The awards reward ambitious, well-researched reporting that may expose a wrong, hold powerful individuals accountable, or explore a complex problem, issue, or subject. In addition to professional recognition, the winning journalists and newsrooms received monetary prizes:

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

Connecticut

  • 3rd Place: Dave Altimari & Ginny Monk — The Connecticut Mirror, “On the Hook”

  • 2nd Place: Marc E. Fitch — CT Inside Investigator, “Power Struggle”

  • 1st Place: Jenna Carlesso, Dave Altimari, Katy Golvala & Andrew Brown — The Connecticut Mirror, “Priced Out”

Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Vermont

Additional Honors

Please download the awards program book to learn more about each award and why this year’s recipients were chosen.

  • Allan B. Rogers Editorial Award: The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, MA) for its leadership on Massachusetts’ consent law.

  • New England First Amendment Award: Connecticut Inside Investigator and reporter Katherine Revello for extensive coverage of FOI and First Amendment issues.

  • Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award: Robert Lowell, Portland Press Herald, for 25 years of service covering southern Maine communities.

  • Cornerstone Award: Maile Hulihan, CEO of The Concord Bridge, for her pivotal behind-the-scenes role.

  • New England Journalism Educator of the Year: Lara Salahi, Distinguished Professor of Journalism at Endicott College, for advancing journalism education and student reporting partnerships.

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