The New England Newspaper & Press Association is proud to recognize the Vermont journalists honored with A-Mark Prizes for Investigative Journalism at the Fall Leadership Conference on September 26, 2025. Their work reflects the best of local accountability reporting — investigations that expose hidden truths, give voice to the vulnerable, and push for reform.

Funded by the A-Mark Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to advancing investigative reporting, the A-Mark Prizes celebrate deeply researched, high-impact journalism across New England. Each year, up to $15,000 is available in every state to recognize stories that hold the powerful accountable and strengthen public trust in the press.

This year’s Vermont winners uncovered critical issues affecting everyday life in the Green Mountain State — from a statewide housing crisis and an embattled county prosecutor to the growing threat of financial scams targeting seniors.

🥇 1st Place

Carly Berlin — VTDigger and Vermont Public
“Emergency Shelters”

In 2024, as Vermont’s emergency housing policies shifted and more than 1,500 residents — including nearly 400 children — were forced out of temporary motel housing, reporter Carly Berlin of VTDigger and Vermont Public documented the crisis with persistence, compassion, and precision. A Report for America corps member jointly shared by the two outlets, Berlin blended public-records analysis, extensive field reporting, and deep community engagement to reveal the human toll of policy decisions that left families without shelter as winter approached.

Her coverage made a measurable impact. After her stories exposed the consequences for families with children, 91 Vermont legislators publicly urged the governor to declare a state of emergency, leading to the opening of three new emergency family shelters later that fall. Berlin also dismantled a long-held myth that Vermont’s homelessness crisis was driven by out-of-state migration, using data and personal stories to reshape public understanding.

The reporting — featured across VTDigger and Vermont Public’s “Brave Little State” series — stands as a model of collaborative, solutions-driven journalism. Berlin’s work not only informed and galvanized policymakers but also demonstrated how local reporting can directly improve lives.

🥈 2nd Place

John Flowers — Addison County Independent
“County Prosecutor, Eva Vekos”

In a two-part investigation, Addison County Independent senior reporter John Flowers examined growing concern over the performance and professionalism of Addison County State’s Attorney Eva Vekos. After her 2024 DUI charge and reports of hostile interactions with law enforcement, Flowers went deeper — uncovering a broader pattern of mismanagement inside her office that raised questions about how justice was being served.

Drawing on confidential interviews, court filings, and internal correspondence, Flowers revealed strained relationships with victim advocates, lenient plea deals used to clear case backlogs, and widespread frustration among survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence who felt dismissed by the system. His reporting also shed light on the absence of any state mechanism to remove an elected prosecutor short of impeachment, underscoring a structural flaw in Vermont’s system of accountability.

Flowers’s tenacity and deep institutional knowledge produced an unflinching portrait of a justice system in crisis — one that prompted statewide discussion about oversight, victims’ rights, and the ethical responsibilities of those who hold public trust.

🥉 3rd Place

Derek Brouwer — Seven Days
“Bilked and Bereft”

As part of Seven Days’ “This Old State” series exploring the challenges of Vermont’s aging population, reporter Derek Brouwer investigated how increasingly sophisticated scammers — many now using artificial intelligence — are targeting older Vermonters. His story revealed that these schemes often wiped out victims’ life savings and triggered unexpected tax bills on funds withdrawn from retirement accounts, compounding their financial ruin.

Through detailed interviews and clear, empathetic storytelling, Brouwer showed how victims’ sense of betrayal extended beyond the scammers themselves to the government systems that taxed them again after their losses. Readers praised the investigation for its clarity and urgency, with many sharing the piece to warn family members. Brouwer’s reporting helped raise awareness about a growing threat and equipped Vermonters to better recognize and prevent financial exploitation.

These Vermont journalists exemplify the highest standards of investigative reporting — determined, humane, and unafraid to ask difficult questions. Their work reveals how local journalism can inform public debate, safeguard communities, and drive meaningful change across the state. Congratulations to all of this year’s A-Mark Prize winners for advancing truth and accountability in Vermont.

For the first time in more than 100 years, Gannett Co., Inc. has rebranded as USA TODAY Co., aligning the company’s identity with its most recognizable national news brand. Announced at ADWEEK’s Brandweek 2025 in Atlanta, executives said the change reflects a broader shift toward digital media and stronger brand recognition.

The rebrand is particularly noteworthy for many NENPA member publications—including daily and weekly newspapers across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut—that are part of the USA TODAY Network.

CEO Mike Reed said the decision was driven by the brand’s wide public recognition and a commitment to the company’s digital transformation.

Read the announcement to learn more about what this shift means for USA TODAY Co. and its local news affiliates.

The New England Newspaper & Press Association proudly honors the Rhode Island journalists recognized with A-Mark Prizes for Investigative Journalism at the Fall Leadership Conference on September 26, 2025. Their reporting demonstrates how rigorous local journalism can uncover hidden risks, demand accountability, and give voice to those most affected by government action—or inaction.

Funded by the A-Mark Foundation—a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to strengthening investigative reporting—the A-Mark Prizes celebrate in-depth, fact-based journalism that exposes wrongdoing and spurs reform. Each year, up to $15,000 in awards is available in every New England state to highlight work that protects the public’s right to know.

This year’s Rhode Island winners produced a remarkable range of investigations—from exposing preventable data vulnerabilities in the state’s public-benefits system, to revealing new insights into domestic murder-suicides, to documenting the human impact of federal funding cuts on local workers and research institutions.

🥇 1st Place

Alexander Castro — Rhode Island Current
“RI Bridges Data Breach”

When Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee abruptly announced a cyberattack on the state’s computer systems in December 2024, the scope was staggering: the personal data of nearly 650,000 residents—almost 60 percent of the state’s population—had been exposed. While most outlets focused on the breach’s aftermath, Rhode Island Current reporter Alexander Castro dug deeper, uncovering how state-posted technical documents may have left the system vulnerable months earlier.

Through careful review of procurement records, Castro discovered a 25-page request for proposals that included a full schematic of the RIBridges system architecture—a blueprint effectively published on the state’s website. Acting responsibly, he alerted officials, verified that the file was removed, and only then published his exposé. His reporting revealed state oversight lapses, raised new cybersecurity questions, and was praised for its exceptional professionalism and ethical rigor.

🥈 2nd Place

Mark Reynolds — The Providence Journal
“Domestic Murder Suicide”

In a deeply sensitive series, Providence Journal reporter Mark Reynolds examined how law enforcement and communities confront the tragedy of domestic murder-suicides—cases that receive limited public scrutiny because they end without prosecutions. Reporting on three such incidents in 2024 and 2025, Reynolds analyzed police reports, public records, and newly obtained body-camera footage to explore how transparency and trauma intersect when the justice system’s usual mechanisms fall away.

His work broke new ground by revealing footage of a domestic-violence victim expressing fear for her safety just weeks before her death—the first time Rhode Island journalists had obtained such material under the state’s new body-camera policy. Praised by advocates for highlighting red flags, risk factors, and firearm access, Reynolds’s work reframed how the public and policymakers understand the warning signs of lethal domestic violence.

🥉 3rd Place

Jack Perry — The Providence Journal
“Lost Jobs, Trump Cuts”

Providence Journal reporter Jack Perry connected national policy decisions to the lives of Rhode Islanders in his coverage of the Trump administration’s federal budget cuts. He profiled the sudden layoffs of 14 employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Warwick office, revealing the personal toll of the cuts and the essential services the office provided. His persistence led to a follow-up story documenting that the workers were later reinstated.

Perry also examined how reductions to the National Institutes of Health threatened Rhode Island’s research economy—analyzing lawsuits, official filings, and testimony from hospital administrators at institutions such as Brown University, the University of Rhode Island, and Women & Infants Hospital. By translating complex funding issues into human terms, he helped readers grasp the broad economic and scientific stakes of Washington’s policy decisions.

These Rhode Island journalists exemplify the best traditions of investigative reporting: courage, care, and commitment to the truth. Their work not only informed the public but also challenged institutions to do better. Congratulations to all of this year’s A-Mark Prize winners for advancing transparency and accountability across the Ocean State.

The National Press Club and the Institute are now accepting applications for all 2026 scholarships. Each year, more than $30,000 in funding is awarded to student journalists at the high school, college, and graduate levels.

Join the Institute from 11 a.m. to noon ET on Friday, Dec. 12, for an inside look at what makes an application exceptional. The session will take place via Zoom; registration is open now.

Opportunities are available for high school, college, and graduate student journalists:

• The Scholarship for Journalism Diversity Honoring Julie Schoo is a $5,000 scholarship awarded to a high school senior. The award can be renewed for up to three years at $5,000 per year.
• The Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $5,000 to support a high school senior who wishes to pursue a career in journalism.
• The Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship supports diversity within broadcast journalism. The scholarship is $5,000 awarded to a student who demonstrates a commitment to a career in broadcast journalism. The award can be renewed for up to three years.
• The Lewis Scholarship provides housing and a monthly stipend to support student journalists of color with newsroom internships in Washington, D.C., during the summer semester.
• The Dennis and Shirley Feldman Fellowship recognizes a journalism graduate student with a one-time scholarship of $5,000.
• NEW: The Rich Passan Sports Writing Scholarship is a $5,000 award supporting undergraduate college juniors or seniors who demonstrate excellence and promise in sports journalism.

The deadline for all 2026 applications is Sunday, March 1, at 11:59 pm ET. Click here to apply.

The New England Newspaper & Press Association is proud to recognize the Massachusetts journalists and student reporters honored with A-Mark Prizes for Investigative Journalism at our Fall Leadership Conference on September 26, 2025. These awards celebrate impactful reporting that uncovers injustice, demands accountability, and deepens public understanding of critical issues across the Commonwealth.

Funded by the A-Mark Foundation—a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to supporting investigative reporting—the A-Mark Prizes honor ambitious, deeply researched journalism that exposes hidden truths and advances public awareness. Each year, up to $15,000 in awards is available in every New England state to highlight work that protects the public’s right to know.

This year’s Massachusetts honorees delivered powerful investigations that informed readers, sparked legislative attention, and in some cases led directly to change.

🥇 1st Place

Hadley Barndollar — MassLive
“Pill Presses”

MassLive reporter Hadley Barndollar spent 10 months uncovering a new and largely unreported threat in the opioid epidemic: the proliferation of pill presses used to manufacture counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl and methamphetamine. Her series began with the death of PJ “Peach” Goldenberg, who unknowingly took a fake oxycodone pill made with a pill press likely operating in Massachusetts.

Barndollar reported how drug dealers across the U.S. began producing counterfeit pills themselves—often inside residential homes—to increase profits. She revealed how easily pill presses can be purchased online and demonstrated this by buying one legally from China for $600. Her reporting exposed the scale of the problem, highlighted the voices of grieving families and concerned neighbors, and pressed lawmakers to act. Following her series, multiple state legislators introduced bills aimed at regulating pill presses and reducing their deadly impact. A DEA official called the work “outstanding” and noted the issue had been largely unreported before.

🥈 2nd Place

Maggie Mulvihill & Boston University Journalism Program
“When House Members Travel”

In an ambitious, semester-long investigation, Boston University journalism students and professors exposed how members of the U.S. House of Representatives accepted nearly $4.3 million in privately funded travel since 2012—often bringing family members at no personal cost. Working in collaboration with the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, the BU team analyzed more than 17,000 trips, building their own database to reveal how over $1.4 million in travel expenses were spent on spouses, children, grandchildren, and other relatives.

Their reporting identified two dozen “frequent fliers” who brought family members on nearly 44% of their trips, staying in luxury accommodations and dining at expensive restaurants—without reporting the value as income, as required by tax law. Ethics experts called the practice an “egregious abuse” of congressional travel rules designed to curb the influence of special interests. The investigation, which won a national IRE student investigative journalism award, exemplifies the power of academic journalism to inform the public and hold elected officials to account.

🥉 3rd Place

Greta Jochem — The Republican
“Highview Nursing Home”

Reporter Greta Jochem exposed systemic neglect inside Highview of Northampton, a nursing home long known to state regulators for dangerous conditions—but largely unknown to the families who entrusted loved ones to its care. A former state elder affairs secretary described the facility as “notorious,” saying it “should have been shut down a long time ago.”

Through interviews with residents and analysis of federal and state oversight data, Jochem revealed chronic understaffing, substandard care, and repeated violations that made Highview one of the most heavily fined nursing homes in Massachusetts. Her reporting gave a voice to vulnerable seniors and highlighted how oversight systems failed to act in time. Just three months after her coverage, Highview’s owners announced the home would close—an outcome that underscored the impact of her work.

These stories represent the very best of Massachusetts journalism—fearless investigation, meticulous reporting, and an unwavering commitment to the public interest. Congratulations to all of this year’s A-Mark Prize winners, whose work shines a light on the issues that matter most to our communities.