You’ve likely noticed a growing number of partnerships between universities and local news outlets, but a new initiative out of Arizona State University called NEWSWELL is taking this type of collaboration to the next level. The school officially launched the nonprofit last month with a $5 million investment from Knight, aiming to take news outlets and transform them into sustainable businesses by providing operational support.

NEWSWELL will provide back-end operations and business strategies to help news sites become or remain sustainable. Local journalists report the news. NEWSWELL offers the support. They don’t just want to sustain local news, they want to transform it.

As NEWSWELL Executive Director Nicole Carroll—the former editor-in-chief of USA Today—explained in Poynter, NEWSWELL will support news outlets by assisting with finance, IT, human resources, and legal services, along with expertise in audience development, membership, and advertising.

How? With a team of experts offering advice, ASU Enterprise Partners managing the back end, and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication providing student interns.

“While no student funds go to these news sites, NEWSWELL editors act as master teachers to Cronkite interns, giving students a jumpstart on their careers and providing newsrooms with an unmatched talent pipeline,” Carroll wrote.

Read more

Check your email – notifications have started going out! Congratulations to all the newspapers being recognized in the 2024 New England Better Newspaper Competition!

Winners will receive an award for placing first, second, or third in their respective categories, and the final placements will be revealed at the Better Newspaper Competition Awards Banquet, happening Saturday, March 29, at 6:00 PM at the Portland Regency Hotel in Portland, Maine.

This is our biggest event of the year—a night to celebrate outstanding journalism, connect with industry peers, and honor the best work across New England. Secure your tickets now and make sure your team gets the recognition they deserve!

Join Us for the 2025 New England Newspaper Convention!

The convention runs March 28-29, 2025, featuring expert-led sessions and workshops designed to help your newsroom stay ahead. We’ll be adding more details about the program to the convention website in the coming weeks!

Don’t Wait—Book Your Hotel!

Lock in the discounted rate of $199/night by March 11, 2025, before rooms sell out! This special rate cannot be extended.

Celebrate Your Team in the Program Book!

Recognize your staff and promote the extraordinary work and achievements of your organization by placing an ad in the Program Book! Your recognition increases staff morale and also supports our efforts at the convention.

If you have any questions, please email info@nenpa.com. Use the links below to find out more information. We can’t wait to celebrate with you next month!

| CONVENTION HOME | REGISTRATION | SPONSORS | HOTEL RESERVATIONS |

Join Boston-area journalists for its second-annual UNIFY Career Summit, a workshop for college students from historically marginalized backgrounds seeking work in the journalism field. Together, we will empower these aspiring journalists seeking to build careers in news as they hear from recruiters and get one-on-one advice from professional journalists. 

The event is seeking sponsors and volunteer journalists. Your investment allows the organizing committee to produce this event and fulfill our collective mission of supporting journalists from historically marginalized communities and improving coverage of our communities.

WHAT: UNIFY Career Summit
WHEN: Saturday, March 1, 2025
WHERE: Bordy Theater at Emerson College, 216 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02116
WHO: Boston-area students, volunteer journalists. 

• Organized by the New England chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the Boston Association of Black Journalists, the Asian American Journalists Association New England chapter and the Boston chapter of NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists. 
• Student attendees do not need to be members of the aforementioned organizations to participate. Registration is required. 

Event timeline, March 1
11AM-12PM: Networking mixer with pizza and coffee for students, volunteers and prospective employers.
12PM-12:50PM: How to land a journalism job panel.
1PM-1:45 5PM: Freelancing panel
2PM-3PM: Meet local professional journalists who will give you feedback on your résumés and career advice.

• A professional photographer will be on site to take free headshots of student journalists from 2PM-5PM. 

Click here for more information about sponsoring

Click here for more information on volunteering

The New England Newspaper and Press Association is pleased to announce that four New England journalists will be inducted into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame, recognizing the most outstanding newspaper professionals from throughout our six-state region and their extraordinary contributions to the industry. 

More than 100 individuals have been singled out over the past 25 years for their extraordinary contributions to their newspaper, the news industry, and their communities. 

The Hall of Fame awards will be presented at a celebratory dinner as part of the annual convention of the New England Newspaper and Press Association on Friday, March 28, 2025, at the Portland Regency Hotel, Portland, ME. Tickets can be purchased at this link.

The 2025 honorees are:
Stephen Kurkjian, The Boston Globe
Paul Pronovost, Cape Cod Times
Naomi Schalit and John Christie, Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting

Stephen Kurkjian’s extraordinary career in journalism earns him a place in the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame. A three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Steve made major contributions to investigative reporting, most notably with The Boston Globe’s Spotlight team. He helped expose corruption in Somerville City Hall and political dealings in the MBTA, earning his first two Pulitzers. His role in uncovering the clergy abuse scandal in the Catholic Church further cemented his legacy. His leadership as the Globe’s Washington Bureau Chief and his impactful reporting on a range of topics, from municipal bond dealings to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art theft, showcased his versatility. Beyond his reporting, Steve mentored generations of journalists, instilling values of integrity, thoroughness, and humanity in the newsroom. His continued work in retirement, including his book on the Gardner theft and consulting for a Netflix series, attests to his ongoing dedication to journalism. But all of this doesn’t capture Steve’s most important contribution to our field. He is not only a legendary reporter but a beloved mentor and friend. He served as an example for hundreds and hundreds of reporters and editors, showing them that you can be a good person, a kind and caring person, and still be a hard-nosed, take-no-prisoners accountability journalist of the highest order.

Paul Pronovost is being inducted into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame for his role as a true leader who set the bar for what journalism, humility, and dedication should look like. Paul always put others first when he was at the Cape Cod Times. He never sought the spotlight, even when the Times racked up countless awards he would step back and let his team shine. His focus was always on the work, on journalistic integrity, and on inspiring others. Paul has a special way of mentoring young journalists, making them feel seen and valued. Even now, his influence is felt at Saint Anselm’s College, where his leadership continues to earn recognition. But what truly stands out about Paul is his ability to bring out the best in people while staying grounded and approachable. Paul is the gold standard of what it means to be a great leader—and an even greater person.

John Christie and Naomi Schalit are chosen for the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame in recognition of their exceptional contributions to Maine journalism. Together, they co-founded the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting (MCPIR) in 2009, a pioneering nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism that has significantly strengthened the state’s media landscape. Their vision and leadership helped establish an independent news organization that delivered high-impact, free reporting on critical issues like politics, education, and the environment. Under their stewardship, MCPIR and its publication Pine Tree Watch—now The Maine Monitor—earned numerous awards, including multiple Publick Occurrences honors. Their work has inspired statewide support, with the organization’s reporting used by media outlets across Maine. John and Naomi’s ongoing dedication to transparent, nonpartisan journalism played a pivotal role in reshaping Maine’s news ecosystem.

For more information please visit www.nenpa.com.

Four New England journalists will receive the prestigious Yankee Quill Award this spring for their contributions to the betterment of journalism in the six-state region.

In addition, the Academy of New England Journalists posthumously honors historical figures Henry and Benjamin Lindsey of New Bedford, Mass. of the Whalemen’s Shipping List and Merchants’ Transcript. 

“The journalists will be honored with the award on March 29, 2025”, said Richard Lodge, chair of the sponsoring Academy of New England Journalists.

This year’s Yankee Quill awards will be presented during the annual convention of the New England Newspaper and Press Association on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at The Portland (ME) Regency Hotel. Tickets can be purchased at this link.

The 2025 honorees are:

Mike Bello will receive the award for his unwavering commitment to quality journalism and his lasting impact on colleagues and the newsroom. A respected figure in the Boston journalism community, Mike’s nearly 50-year career has shaped the lives of countless journalists, from budding reporters to Pulitzer Prize winners. Starting at just 14, he built an impressive career in radio, TV, and print journalism, earning accolades such as a Pulitzer Prize for his work on the Globe’s coverage of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Mike has not only excelled in breaking news situations, but also nurtured the careers of many, providing mentorship and guidance with compassion, integrity, and respect. Known for his steady leadership, Mike’s career spans both major national stories and local coverage, earning him admiration for his professionalism and deep influence on the field.

Randy Capitani is honored for his wide contributions to journalism. He is the co-publisher of the Deerfield Valley News in southern Vermont and has spent more than 30 years serving his community and the newspaper industry. As a versatile editor, reporter, photographer, and graphic designer, Randy has become a central figure in the Deerfield Valley, covering local news and sports with passion and dedication. He has served on numerous boards, including the New England Press Association and the Vermont Press Association, and is the long-time president of the Journalism Education Foundation of New England. Randy’s deep commitment to his community extends beyond journalism—he has been involved in various local initiatives, from youth sports to economic development, and even helped shape the River Valley Unified Union School District. His hands-on approach to both publishing and community service has earned him widespread respect, and his work continues to inspire others in both the field of journalism and beyond.

Gloria Negri was a one-of-a-kind, groundbreaking woman journalist who arguably was the first to crack the Globe’s glass ceiling. She was relentless in her reporting over 53 years and was distinctive because she gave a voice to people who are seldom heard in our society. And she left a durable legacy for those in need and for the journalism business itself. Negri, who died in 2017 at 91, gave almost half of her estate — a bequest of $1 million — to Globe Santa, which has given holiday packages to more than 3 million children of all backgrounds. The New England First Amendment Coalition received a bequest of $818,125, and the coalition named its annual multi-day journalism training program the Gloria Negri First Amendment Institute. The Tom Winship Journalism Fund at Northeastern University, named for the Globe’s former editor, received $50,000 — money that provides opportunities for students who might not be able to pursue a journalism education without help. The Scituate Library Foundation received $157,192.

Jacqueline Smith, a distinguished journalist and educator, receives the prestigious Yankee Quill Award for her profound impact on journalism, both in practice and education, and her steadfast advocacy for press rights. With a career spanning more than four decades, Jacky began as a small-town stringer at the Hartford Courant before covering education and defense at The Day of New London and then rose through the ranks at Hearst Connecticut Media. She is currently serving as the ombudsman for Stars and Stripes, where she defends the First Amendment and advocates for press freedom within the military. Throughout her career, she has worked at several prominent newspapers, earned multiple awards for investigative reporting, and inspired countless students through her teaching at Southern Connecticut State University and the University of Hartford. Known for her calm yet authoritative voice, Jacky has been a champion for the free press, guiding her newsroom through significant moments like the Sandy Hook school tragedy and pushing for reforms to improve journalism standards.

Henry and Benjamin Lindsey will posthumously receive the Yankee Quill Award for historical figures. The brothers were pivotal figures in the history of New Bedford, Mass. and American whaling. In 1843, Henry Lindsey founded the Whalemen’s Shipping List and Merchants’ Transcript, a weekly newspaper dedicated to tracking the voyages and operations of whaling ships, offering critical information about vessels, cargo, and the often perilous journeys of sailors. The newspaper became a vital source for whalers, their families, and the commercial community, reporting on everything from whale oil quantities to crew fatalities and shipwrecks. Henry published the paper until his untimely death in 1853, after which his brother Benjamin, who was publishing the general interest daily newspaper the New Bedford Mercury, took over and continued its publication until 1889. The paper remained an essential resource through the golden age of American whaling, documenting the rise and eventual decline of the industry, and concluding its 71-year run in 1914.

The Yankee Quill, which began in 1959, is bestowed annually by the Academy of New England  Journalists through the auspices of the New England Society of News Editors. It is considered the highest individual honor awarded to newspaper, TV, radio, magazine, and other journalists in the six-state region. Winners are selected based on a history of lifetime achievement showing a broad impact in New England Journalism.

We are thrilled to announce that the annual New England Newspaper Convention will take place on March 28-29, 2025, and this year we’re making an exciting change by moving to a new location at the historic Portland Regency Hotel & Spa, located at 20 Milk St, Portland, ME 04101.

Hotel Rooms Are Selling Fast—Reserve Now!

A limited number of deluxe rooms are available at the Portland Regency Hotel & Spa for the exclusive event rate of $229 per night. Due to the limited number of rooms, this rate is only available by calling the front desk at (207) 774-4200. Secure yours before they’re gone!

We have an alternate hotel location if the Portland Regency is full.

Hyatt Place Portland-Old Port
(just a 3-minute walk to the Convention and Awards Banquet)
$199 per night
Address: 433 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101
Booking Link
(207) 775-1000

Join us for two days of engaging workshops, panel discussions, and keynote presentations covering the latest trends and challenges in journalism, advertising, audience development, and more. The full program will be released soon, so stay tuned for details!

We’re also excited to continue our tradition of celebrating excellence in the industry. Throughout the convention, we will honor the best in New England journalism with our ticketed award programs, including, March 28 – New England Newspaper Hall of Fame Induction Dinner, March 29 – Yankee Quill Award Luncheon, and our largest event of the year on March 29 – Better Newspaper Competition Awards Banquet.

If you have any questions about the event, feel free to reach out to NENPA Executive Director, Linda Conway, at L.Conway@nenpa.com.

We look forward to welcoming you to Portland in March! Let’s make this convention unforgettable.

Interested in sponsoring the event?

Schedule a meeting now to discuss our sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities. Promote your product or service to publishers, editors, and top advertising, production, and circulation executives at the daily, weekly, specialty, and online newspapers serving Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont.

Contact Tara Cleary at t.cleary@nenpa.com or (617) 520-4585 to learn more about our sponsorship packages.