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Get your school recognized in the 2024 New England Better Newspaper Competition

It’s not too late to submit your entries to the 2024 New England Better Newspaper Competition – New England’s most prestigious college journalism recognition program.

Starting in 2022, colleges and universities in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont were invited to enter 27 competitive categories, including College Newspaper of the Year. Our first two years were a resounding success, with over 20 schools participating.

We encourage you to participate in the Better Newspaper Competition to recognize your students’ best work, compete with peers, and compare your coverage and publication.

All college and university publications located in New England may enter, regardless of membership status, and submit up to 10 entries for a low flat fee of only $125.

We are running a promotion for Academic Membership to the New England Newspaper and Press Association that includes the contest entries. Click here for information on the expanded benefits of Academic Membership.

Work published by student publications in print and/or online during the contest year, August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024, is eligible for this competition.

You can download the information packet for all the information necessary to prepare your entries, including a list of competitive categories, complete rules and guidelines, and criteria that each contest category will be judged upon.

The deadline to submit entries is Friday, November 15, 2024.

Awards will be presented at the annual New England Newspaper Convention, happening in Spring 2025.

We wish you the very best of luck in this year’s competition! For any questions and further information, do not hesitate to contact students@nenpa.com.

Learn more about the Better Newspaper Competition

Learn more about NENPA Academic Membership

Submit your entries

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Press politicians on election promises

Jim Pumarlo is a former editor of the Red Wing (Minn.) Republican Eagle. He writes, speaks, and provides training on community newsroom success strategies. He is the author of “Journalism Primer: A Guide to Community News Coverage,” “Votes and Quotes: A Guide to Outstanding Election Coverage” and “Bad News and Good Judgment: A Guide to Reporting on Sensitive Issues in Small-Town Newspapers.” He can be reached at www.pumarlo.com and welcomes comments and questions at jim@pumarlo.com.

Elections are over, and you breathe a sigh of relief. The exhaustive campaign season has concluded, and newsrooms can return to some level of normalcy.

Not so fast. The most substantive aspect of election coverage may loom. Your pages have been filled with campaign promises detailed in stories, letters to the editor, and ads. The next logical step: Are the winners keeping their promises?

In that regard, mark April 1. It’s common to rate the president’s first 100 days in office. Why not do the same for other elected officials? Yes, it’s unreasonable to expect a great deal of policy-making in the first three months, but it’s an opportunity to get a flavor of lawmakers’ priorities and participation.

The lack of civility in politics prompts many to bemoan the 24/7/365 election cycle. The hyper partisanship unfortunately has permeated into local races. At the same time, this is an excellent reminder that election coverage cannot simply be turned on and turned off during campaign season. Benchmarking is likely easiest, and most relevant to readers, by focusing on local elected officials.

Continuing coverage, if thoughtfully planned, goes a long way toward holding elected officials accountable. It also can enrich coverage of local public affairs, providing substantive content beyond blow-by-blow meeting reports.

Several angles can be pursued once newly elected bodies take shape. For example:

  • Candidates emerge victorious propelled by a platform of what they represent and promise to accomplish. Prepare periodic scorecards of their performance.
  • A new year often is accompanied by a new agenda – “state of the state” speeches by the mayor, county board chair or school board presidents. Detail their objectives and track progress, periodically generating stories and, where appropriate, editorial commentary.
  • Elections can produce new voting blocs and changes in governing dynamics. That may be easily noticed when individuals run on a party label. It’s less evident in nonpartisan contests. Reporters who regularly cover these bodies are in an excellent position to analyze the changes and preview what might be in store.

This year’s acrimonious presidential election offers a more immediate opportunity for examination. Party-line voting is common among many voters, leading at the top of the ticket. Did that pattern hold sway this year? 

Track the local voting percentages for the presidential nominees compared to other partisan races. Research the same percentages for the presidential election four years ago. Did margins remain static or were there significant changes? Any surprises in either regard?

Create a nice, easy-to-read graphic with the figures. Then connect with local party leaders or elder statesmen to interpret the patterns. Consider maybe a retired public official, an incumbent who chose not to seek re-election, or a political science professor at an area university.

Are you short on newsroom resources or simply exhausted from writing election stories? Explore point/counterpoint columns for the editorial page. You provide the theme, and others generate the content. Publish the commentaries side-by-side with their photos. Produce a nice graphic restating the final vote totals and maybe additional breakdown such as contrasting urban/rural districts – whatever might be appropriate.

A deeper review of what the voters said doesn’t have to be all rolled into the next day’s edition. Follow-up stories are excellent content for your newspaper in succeeding days and weeks and help readers know what the election results really mean.

Newsrooms should put as much effort into post-election reports as in ongoing campaign coverage. Both your newspaper and community will benefit.

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Networking Night for New England Journalists on Tuesday, November 12!

Join us for a networking event and a relaxing evening to unwind after last week’s election! The Boston Association of Black Journalists, the New England chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association, and the New England chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists are joining forces with the New England Society of News Editors to host an after-work gathering.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Location: Tiki Rock, 2 Broad St., Boston

This FREE event is open to all media professionals in the area. It’s a perfect opportunity to connect with colleagues from various news organizations, exchange ideas, and expand your professional network.

What to Expect

  • A vibrant atmosphere for networking
  • Cash bar available
  • Chance to meet journalists from diverse backgrounds and media outlets

Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to mingle with fellow journalists and media professionals in a fun setting. Whether you’re a seasoned reporter or new to the field, this event promises to be an enriching experience for all attendees.

Please spread the word to your colleagues and join us for what promises to be an engaging and fun-filled evening! We look forward to seeing you there! If you have a chance, RSVP to emily.sweeney@globe.com.

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Calling All Aspiring Journalists: Apply for 2025 New England Scholarships

As the next generation of journalists prepares to make their mark, the Journalism Education Foundation of New England (JEFNE) offers aspiring reporters a chance to jumpstart their careers. The foundation has announced the opening of applications for its 2025 scholarship program, including the MacGregor Fiske Award.

Administered by the New England Newspaper and Press Association, this annual scholarship program aims to support up to 10 promising students passionate about pursuing a career in the newspaper industry. The program is open to high school seniors and college students who are residents of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont.

Interested candidates must submit their applications by Friday, March 14, 2025 to be considered. For more information about this exciting opportunity, email students@nenpa.com.

Don’t miss this chance to turn your journalistic aspirations into reality – apply now and take the first step toward shaping the future of news in New England!

Qualifications for JEFNE Scholarships:

  1. Be a resident of New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, or VT).
  2. Must be a senior in high school or an undergraduate college student, studying journalism or a related field, planning to attend college in Fall 2025.
  3. Have a GPA of 3.0 or above.
  4. Demonstrate a serious interest in a career in journalism by sending: a cover letter, transcript, resume or biography, and letter of recommendation.
  5. Submit a body of published work in a school news publication, general circulation newspaper, or a similar publication or a body of work prepared for a journalism class. A minimum of three works must be submitted.
  6. PLEASE NOTE: You will receive an email confirming the receipt of your application with a link to a Dropbox folder to upload the required documents.

Journalism Scholarship Program Information
Journalism Scholarship Application

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Enter Better Newspaper Competition and show off your successes in marketing, advertising, circulation, and promotion

The Advertising/Circulation/Promotion division of the Better Newspaper Competition consists of 32 competitive categories, and we want you to flaunt your best ideas for everyone to see. We are encouraging innovative and creative members to enter their best work in the 2024 competition!

Participation in the contest is a great way to show off your best revenue-generating work, reward and recognize your advertising, graphics, and production staff, and share ideas so we can learn from each other!

There is no limit on the number of entries per category, except in Advertising General Excellence. Newspapers are eligible to compete in six classes:

  • Dailies with circulation up to 12,999k
  • Dailies with a circulation of more than 13k
  • Weeklies with circulation up to 4,999k
  • Weeklies with a circulation of more than 5k
  • Specialty and niche publications
  • News Services and Online News Sites

Publications interested in joining NENPA can find out more information at this link.

Work published by NENPA member news organizations during the contest year, August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024, is eligible for this competition.

The deadline to submit entries is Friday, November 15, 2024.

Download the information packet and 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. You can find additional information on preparing entries – such as how to make PDF files smaller, extract particular pages, and how to combine several PDF files – on the Frequently Asked Questions page at the end of the packets.

Reminder – the association code to access the contest portal is NENPA and you’ll need to register for the platform even though you may have been registered last year (the system gets wiped clean between contests.) Also, both the email and password fields are case-sensitive.

Link to contest platform:

https://newspapercontest.com/Contests/NewEnglandNewspaperandPressAssociation.aspx

Awards will be presented at the annual New England Newspaper Convention, happening in Spring 2025.

For further information please contact Linda Conway, at l.conway@nenpa.com or Tara Cleary, at t.cleary@nenpa.com.

Learn more about the Better Newspaper Competition

Submit your entries

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The State of Local News 2024 Report – Expanding Deserts, Shifts in Ownership, and Expanded Digital Coverage

The State of Local News 2024 report produced by the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University highlights the ongoing crisis in local news across the United States. Despite some positive developments, the overall trend remains concerning, with an average of two newspapers closing each week.

Since 2005, the country has lost more than a quarter of its newspapers. In 2023 alone, more than 130 newspapers ceased operations.

The report identifies 204 counties without a local newspaper, and 1,562 counties with only one newspaper, typically a weekly publication. This leaves over half of all U.S. counties with limited access to local news.

While there has been growth in digital-only local news sites, with more than 550 sites launched since 2019, these efforts have not fully offset the loss of traditional newspapers.

The financial struggles of local news outlets persist, with advertising revenue continuing to decline. This has led to further job losses in newsrooms.

The report emphasizes the crucial role of local news in supporting democracy and community engagement. The decline in local news coverage is linked to decreased voter participation and increased political polarization.

Despite the challenges, the report notes some encouraging trends:

– Increased philanthropic support for local news initiatives
– Growing public awareness of the importance of local journalism
– Emergence of new business models and collaborations in the local news ecosystem

The report concludes by stressing the urgent need for action to address the local news crisis and its implications for the health of local communities and American democracy.

Read the full report

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Nicholas Daniloff, dies at 89, after a storied career in journalism

Nicholas Daniloff passed away last week at an assisted living facility in Cambridge. He was 89.

Daniloff was instrumental in the development of the Northeastern School of Journalism’s longstanding relationship with NENPA and its predecessor NEPA, and he formerly served as an ex-officio member of its Board of Directors.

Daniloff joined Northeastern University in 1989 and he directed the journalism program from 1992- 1999. He formally taught ethics, and graduate and undergraduate print journalism courses.

In 2013, Professor Daniloff earned the Journalism Educator of the Year Award from NENPA, a well-deserved honor, that was reported at the time by Debora Almeida in The Huntington News, our independent student newspaper. “I try to bring the real world of journalism into the classroom,” Nick told Debora. “A good journalism professor has real journalistic experience and didn’t just read about it.” He had some plans for his impending retirement, too: “I want to keep learning, read more Shakespeare, specifically his sonnets.”

A 30-year veteran in national media, Daniloff served as a foreign correspondent for UPI and U.S. News & World Report in London, Paris, Moscow and Washington D.C. His experience gives him extraordinary expertise and source material for his teaching. These experiences included dilemmas over obtaining and publishing photographs of a grave site for Chernobyl, an awkward and difficult decision to be made when presented suddenly with highly sensitive documents, and his ordeal as the center of international attention in Moscow after the apprehension of a Soviet spy in the United States.

He wrote several books and numerous popular and academic articles. The books include The Kremlin & the Cosmos (1972), Two Lives, One Russia (1988), and the recent Of Spies and Spokesmen: My Life as a Cold War Correspondent (2008).

Read the obituary in the New York Times
Read the article at Media Nation

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Greg Popa retiring from Vermont Community Newspaper Group at the end of the year

Greg Popa, left, is retiring from the newspapers at the end of the year, and Tommy Gardner, the current news editor, will replace Greg as editor of Vermont Community Newspaper Group’s five community weeklies. Photo Credit: VCNG

After nearly 40 years at the Vermont Community Newspaper Group, Greg Popa is retiring from the newspapers at the end of the year.

For the past 12 years, Greg has served as publisher and editor of the newspaper company, which includes five newspapers — The Stowe Reporter, News and Citizen, Shelburne News, The Citizen and The Other Paper of South Burlington — and their associated websites, Stowe Weddings, and Stowe magazine.

Greg will continue to edit and publish Stowe magazine. Tommy Gardner, the current news editor, will replace Greg as editor of Vermont Community Newspaper Group’s five community weeklies.

During his tenure as publisher, he oversaw the acquisition of the News & Citizen and the three weeklies in Chittenden County. He was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association Hall of Fame in 2022.

Read the full story

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Showcase Your Best Work in the 2024 NENPA Better Newspaper Contest

The annual Better Newspaper Contest is back, providing a fantastic opportunity for journalists, photographers, editors, and publications to showcase their best work from the past year. Whether you’re a seasoned NENPA member or considering joining, this contest is a chance to gain regional recognition and celebrate the dedication that fuels New England journalism.

Important Notice for New and Past Entrants:
If you’ve entered in the past, please note that you must register again for this year’s contest, as the system does not save information from previous years. If you are a new NENPA member and cannot find your publication in the system, please email info@nenpa.com and we will add your publication to the database.

Not yet a NENPA member? There’s still time to join and participate!

Why Enter? Participation in the Better Newspaper Contest brings many advantages, including:
– Industry Recognition: Get your work in front of leading professionals in the field and showcase the exceptional contributions made by your team.
– Boost Team Morale: Highlighting your publication’s achievements is a great way to motivate and inspire your team, recognizing the hard work and creativity that goes into every issue.
– Network and Learn: Join your peers in celebrating excellence, and gain insights and inspiration from the best practices showcased by the winners.

How to Enter:
The contest covers a wide range of categories in three divisions, from editorial and photography to design, special sections, online content, and advertising and promotion. To ensure your work gets the attention it deserves, make sure to review the contest categories and criteria carefully.

Download the information packets and 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.

You can find additional information on preparing entries – such as how to make PDF files smaller, extract particular pages, and combine several PDF files – in the Frequently Asked Questions page at the end of this packet.

Submission Details:
– Deadline for entries: Friday, November 15, 2024
– How to submit: Competition Website

Don’t Miss Out!
This is a prime opportunity to reflect on the impact your publication has made and to present your best stories, features, and designs to a panel of distinguished judges. The winners will be celebrated at NENPA’s annual convention, where the best of New England journalism will take center stage.

So whether you’re a long-time participant or new to NENPA, don’t miss your chance to compete in this year’s Better Newspaper Contest. Register now, and good luck to all entrants!

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Press Forward awards $20 million to 205 local news outlets – including 18 in New England

Two hundred and five small local news outlets, one in every U.S. state, including 18 in New England will receive a share of $20 million to close persistent coverage gaps in their communities, thanks to funding from Press Forward, the nationwide movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news.

Motivated by the extraordinary quality and number of proposals, Press Forward is funding twice as many news organizations as it anticipated initially through its first open call. The recipients, the majority receiving $100,000 in general operating support, were selected from a total of 931 proposals from newsrooms with annual budgets of less than $1 million.

The grant recipients are a bright mosaic of independent, non-partisan sources reimagining what local news looks like across America.

The public can join in supporting local newsrooms across the country by donating to the Press Forward Pooled Fund. Every dollar, up to $5 million, will be matched to support local newsrooms across the U.S. Learn more at pressforward.news/grantees or through the list below of New England publications that were selected.

Connecticut

Easton Courier Community Journalism Project
The Easton Courier Community Journalism Project provides high-quality local news coverage that builds trust and credibility within communities through timely, accurate, and substantive coverage of local politics, education, culture, and events. It is committed to educating and training the next generation of ethical journalists.

The Hartford Times
The Hartford Times provides historically underrepresented voices access to democracy while promoting community-driven narratives and multigenerational solutions. Its goal is to improve Connecticut’s access to information and connectivity to provide its communities with consistent solutions, inspiration, and purpose.

Maine

Amjambo Africa
Amjambo Africa educates its readers in Maine about Africa and immigration, advocating for the well-being of all immigrants through various multimedia platforms and events and raising awareness about the scope of the conflicts in Africa and why refugees and asylum seekers have left their countries in such numbers to come to Maine.

The Maine Monitor
The Maine Monitor delivers fearless, independent, citizen-supported, nonpartisan journalism that informs Mainers about the issues impacting their state and inspires them to take action. Through investigative and in-depth stories, it engages readers to participate and connect to create a better Maine.

Midcoast Villager (Belfast Villager)
Midcoast Villager (Belfast Villager) tells the story of Midcoast Maine, igniting conversations, sparking discovery, and bringing the community together to help make it a better place for everyone.

Midcoast Villager (Rockland Villager)
Midcoast Villager (Rockland Villager) tells the story of Midcoast Maine, igniting conversations, sparking discovery, and bringing the community together to help make it a better place for everyone.

Penobscot Bay Press
Penobscot Bay Press provides information products and services to the communities it serves with news of governmental, civic, business, and educational institutions; coverage of social doings and in-depth looks at individuals and events; notifications of meetings and happenings; and opinions of staff and others on the important issues and problems facing its communities.

Sunlight Media Collective
Sunlight Media Collective is an organization of Indigenous and non-Indigenous media makers and activists, including Wabanaki citizens, working to document and present stories affecting Wabanaki people and highlighting Wabanaki perspectives, with a particular emphasis on the intersection between environmental issues and Indigenous rights.

Massachusetts

Anchor Media, LLC
Anchor Media helps residents in Hingham, Mass., stay informed through hyperlocal journalism in order to create a more aware and connected community.

Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism
The Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism (BINJ) supports the development and production of independent news reporting in Massachusetts. BINJ provides organizational support to community publications, runs reporting collaborations and civic engagement initiatives, trains new and early-career journalists, and produces bold, independent journalism.

The Boston Korea
The Boston Korea serves the Korean American community in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Since its establishment in 2005, it has been a pivotal source of news and information, dedicated to addressing the needs and interests of this community.

Dorchester Reporter
Dorchester Reporter is a family-owned and operated community news organization committed to delivering high-quality journalism to the people of Boston’s neighborhoods with a focus on traditionally underserved communities in Dorchester and Mattapan since 1983.

El Planeta
El Planeta empowers, informs, and connects the vibrant Hispanic community of Greater Boston. As the largest Spanish-language news provider in the state, it is dedicated to delivering timely, relevant, and impactful news and information. More than just a newspaper, El Planeta is a community advocate and a cultural bridge that enriches the lives of Hispanic individuals and families throughout Massachusetts.

The Scope
The Scope is a hyperlocal digital news organization focused on telling stories of justice, hope, and resilience in Greater Boston. It is editorially independent and operated by Northeastern University’s School of Journalism and Media Innovation to serve the news needs of under-covered communities, train the next generation of journalists in covering local news, and empower community members to tell their own stories.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism
New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism, publisher of INDepthNH.org. InDepthNH.org, gives a voice to marginalized people, places, and ideas, demonstrating its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by the stories and columns it publishes.

Rhode Island

ecoRI News
ecoRI News is dedicated to reporting on environmental and social justice issues in Rhode Island. Through its reporting, ecoRI creates a more informed public and provides individuals with the information they need to be better stewards of their environment.

The Providence Eye
The Providence Eye is a nonprofit journalistic initiative devoted to informing and empowering the public about events and issues of concern to residents and visitors of Providence, R.I., and its environs.

Vermont

Vermont Independent Media/The Commons
Vermont Independent Media is founded on the belief that independent journalism is critical for the functioning of democracy and is the lifeblood of the community.

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