The 2023 honorees are:

Jonathan M. Albano – Albano’s hard work has benefited virtually every single member of the newspaper community throughout New England, whether they know it or not. A review of Jon’s court battles is a roadmap to some of the freedoms that newspaper reporters in Massachusetts and beyond take for granted today: access to criminal dockets, jury lists, evidence in suppression hearings, and civil proceedings; a vigorous fair report privilege; protection against subpoenas seeking journalists’ confidential information; a broad public official doctrine in libel cases. He is reputed to be the finest First Amendment and newspaper lawyer in New England, and one of the very best in the country. Although you’d never hear that from him. He is self-effacing and has earned his reputation through diligent hard work and dedication to his craft. He fights for good journalism, and he is a reporter’s best advocate.

Anne Karolyi – Karolyi first stepped into a newsroom as a reporter at The Pottsville (PA) Republican in 1990. Barely into her 20s, she had “IT” and thus began a stellar career, rising to leadership roles in the Journal Register Company and, not even a decade out of college, became the managing editor of the Trentonian in New Jersey then the executive editor in Torrington and New Britain. That was just the beginning, though. Anne became a county editor for the Republican-American in 2000 where she successfully directed a task force devoted to increasing in-paper communication, growing circulation and revenue, and restoring and enhancing community relationships. Anne then advanced to become a managing editor on her way to serving as its top editor since 2015. She has great vision, is considerate, compassionate, adaptable, and under the pressure of deadlines, unflappable. Her newsroom is a happy place because she is an upbeat leader who challenges everyone to be the best they can be while striving for the highest standards of accuracy, ethics, balance, and transparency.

John A. Osborn – Osborn is the rare editor who is both practical and inspirational. He gently guides his staff to create their best work and continually strives for excellence. As sole editor of The Harvard Press and with the support of the paper’s owners, John led a team of committed writers, photographers, business and layout personnel, freelancers, and volunteers. As the paper was thinly capitalized, most involved worked long and hard for the love of the story, the news and the town. Mr. Osborn led that effort by example. In an effort to bolster reporting resources and engage a variety of people in the paper, he creatively initiated a sports writing class for high schoolers. He sought not just to teach and employ students, but to help cultivate their voices and to bring the diversity of youth and perspectives to The Press. John’s contributions to journalism are many, as a writer, reporter, editor, manager, colleague, teacher, mentor, and more. Developing opportunities for the next generation of journalists to learn the craft and teaching and mentoring them in the process are among his greatest achievements in the field of journalism. John Osborn knows the world needs journalists. He continues to do his part in assuring us we have them.

Marianne Stanton – Stanton has been in the newspaper business since her days delivering The Inquirer and Mirror on her bicycle. As a young girl, she worked the folder on the old flatbed Cranston press, she was there for the last days of hot lead type, and before layouts were done in Photoshop. Stanton began as a reporter in 1981. In 1985 she was named editor of The Inquirer and Mirror, general manager in 1990, and publisher in 1993. She ushered the paper into the digital age and most recently Marianne has weathered the storm of corporate overlords and managed to wrestle it from the hands of Gannett into local ownership. She is an advocate for the community, believing that it is important to show readers what is behind the veil. She always speaks her mind and never makes concessions due to pressure put on her by town officials or advertisers. In a world full of sponsored content, she is genuine Nantucket.

Mark E. Vogler – Early in his journalism career, a newspaper bureau chief in Williamsburg, Va. told Mark Vogler that he should “go sell shoes” because he would never make it as a reporter or writer. But Vogler didn’t quit. He went on to spend more than half a century as a newspaper reporter and editor, going on to win or share more than 75 journalism awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, five Sigma Delta Chi Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, an American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award, and an Investigative Reporters & Editors Award for Distinguished Investigative Reporting. His investigative reports have uncovered nursing home abuse, exposed conditions at a state hospital for mentally ill patients, and disclosed flawed education systems that enabled convicted felons to become teachers prompting new legislation to protect the public.