This is a call for nominations for the prestigious Yankee Quill Award. For more than 60 years the New England Academy of Journalists has been honoring our region’s most extraordinary journalists for their contributions to a free press and their efforts to improve the communities they serve with the Yankee Quill Award.

Other journalism associations bestow awards for individual and team accomplishments. The Yankee Quill recognizes the lifetime achievement of those who have had a broad influence for good, both inside and outside the newsroom. This award is not designed as a primary writing award but for long-term good provided to journalism across New England.

The Academy, comprised of all Quill winners and representatives of various New England journalism organizations, gathers annually under the auspices of the New England Society of News Editors Foundation to select the honorees. Winners are chosen from nominees representing newspapers, broadcasting, academia, and other communication forms that meet the test of journalism.

The 2024 honorees were:

• George Brennan
• Ellen Clegg
• Izaskun Larrañeta
• Edward Miller
• Mark Pothier

The link to the nomination form can be found by clicking here.

The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, October 25, 2024.

Nominations may be emailed to quill@nenpa.com or hard copies may be mailed to:
Yankee Quill
c/o NENPA
PO Box 2505
Woburn MA 01801

For further information contact:
Richard Lodge, Academy Chair, Richardklodge@gmail.com
Linda Conway, Academy Clerk, l.conway@nenpa.com

At a Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association event on October 1, 2024, held at The Boston Globe, Senator Elizabeth Warren spoke passionately about the importance of preserving local journalism and addressing the growing power of tech monopolies. Warren reflected on the foundational principles of America, emphasizing the significance of checks and balances to prevent the rise of centralized control. She drew parallels between those principles and the current state of the news industry, where digital giants like Meta and Google dominate content distribution.

Warren described the tech companies’ control over news distribution as a modern-day “newsboy” system, but with a twist—today’s “newsboys” wield monopolistic power. “Instead of printing and distributing papers independently, news outlets now face a duopoly in order to get their content out,” she remarked. She underscored the economic strain on local news, citing estimates that the industry is owed between $10 to $13 billion annually for its content, for which it receives little compensation.

Warren warned that the continued closure of local newspapers is not just an economic problem but a threat to democracy. However, she expressed hope, stating that the solutions are clear: stronger enforcement of antitrust laws and breaking up tech monopolies. “We know how to fix this,” Warren said, calling for action to restore competition and protect the future of local journalism.

We’re excited to announce that 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 will co-sponsor the New England Society of News Editors’ upcoming after-work party!

Mark your calendars for October 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Tiki Rock (2 Broad St., Boston).

This FREE event is open to all media professionals. There will be a cash bar and some discounted appetizers, perfect for any reporter’s budget!

This will be a fantastic opportunity to network and connect with journalists from various news organizations. Spread the word to your colleagues and join us for a fun evening!

Please RSVP to emily.sweeney@globe.com.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

2024 marks the 84th celebration of National Newspaper Week. Since 1940, Newspaper Association Managers has sponsored and supported National Newspaper Week, a week-long promotion of the newspaper industry in the United States and Canada.

As we prepare to celebrate 2024 National Newspaper Week, we find ourselves reflecting on the unique role newspapers play in our communities. This year, we are inviting you—the publishers, editors, and journalists who make up the heart of our industry—to share your stories about why you are in the newspaper business.

Every one of us has a story about what led us to this profession. Maybe it was the thrill of chasing a breaking news story, the joy of telling the untold tales of our community, or the drive to hold the powerful accountable. These are the stories that define us, inspire us, and keep us committed to the work we do every day.

We are asking you to take a moment to reflect and share your journey. Why did you choose this path? What keeps you motivated through the challenges? What impact have you seen your work have on the community? By sharing our experiences, we can celebrate the vital role that newspapers continue to play in our society.

Use this National Newspaper Week as an opportunity to remind your readers—and yourselves—why journalism matters. Whether it’s a personal essay, a column, or a special feature, let’s come together to highlight the passion, dedication, and resilience that drive us. Share your story with your readers and join the conversation using the hashtag #TellingOurStories2024.

Our voices are powerful, and our stories are worth telling. Let’s celebrate what it means to be a part of the newspaper business and inspire the next generation of journalists to carry the torch forward.

Thank you for your dedication to the truth, and for the stories you tell every day.

Below you will find promotional print ads, social media ads, web ads, guest columns and editorial cartoons, all available for download at no charge to daily and non-daily newspapers across North America.

PLAN TO CELEBRATE National Newspaper Week by downloading these materials and devoting as many column inches as possible to reinforce the importance of your newspaper to your communities, and also by sharing the message on your social media platforms over the course of the week.

MAKE IT LOCAL by editorializing about your newspaper’s unique relevance. This can be about your duties as government watchdog, your coverage of community events, publication of timely public notices, etc.

Thank you for supporting National Newspaper Week. You already know there is power in association. And the same principle holds when associations like ours band together to provide even greater impact — both directly to newspaper members locally and collectively to the overall industry nationwide.

DOWNLOAD/VIEW ALL OF THE 2024 NATIONAL NEWSPAPER WEEK DELIVERABLES HERE

The New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) honored top-performing newspapers and journalists in various categories on September 21 during a luncheon at the NENPA/NYPA Fall Publishers’ Conference in Providence, RI. The awards spotlighted distinguished publications, individual stories, and outstanding achievements in community journalism.

DOWNLOAD AWARDS PRESENTATION

Here are the winners of this year’s awards:

Newspapers of the Year

Specialty Publications:
Distinguished: New Boston Beacon (New Boston, NH), Valley Advocate (Northampton, MA)
Newspaper of the Year: Providence Business News (Providence, RI)

Online News Publications:
Distinguished: VT Digger (Montpelier, VT), Connecticut Inside Investigator (Hartford, CT)
Newspaper of the Year: Rhode Island Current (Providence, RI)

Weekly Newspapers (Small Circulation):
Distinguished: The Vermont Standard (Woodstock, VT), Monadnock Ledger-Transcript (Peterborough, NH)
Newspaper of the Year: The Provincetown Independent (Provincetown, MA)

Weekly Newspapers (Large Circulation):
Distinguished: Addison County Independent (Middlebury, VT), Ipswich Local News (Ipswich, MA), The Inquirer and Mirror (Nantucket, MA)
Newspaper of the Year: Seven Days (Burlington, VT)

Daily Newspapers (Small Circulation):
Distinguished: The Keene Sentinel (Keene, NH), Greenfield Recorder (Greenfield, MA)
Newspaper of the Year: Daily Hampshire Gazette (Northampton, MA)

Daily Newspapers (Large Circulation):
Distinguished: Republican-American (Waterbury, CT), The Day (New London, CT)
Newspaper of the Year: Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, MA)

Sunday Newspapers (Small Circulation)
Distinguished: The New Britain Herald (New Britain, CT), Eagle Times (Claremont, NH)
Newspaper of the Year: Sunday Monitor (Concord, NH)

Sunday Newspapers (Large Circulation)
Distinguished: The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, MA), Sunday Republican (Springfield, MA)
Newspaper of the Year: The Day (New London, CT)

Publick Occurrences Awards

This prestigious award category celebrates individual and team merit for remarkable journalism in New England. This year, 14 awards were presented to the following winners:

Concord Monitor (Concord, NH)

“Planning the End”: A profound and timely series on a bone cancer patient’s journey with medical aid-in-dying as New Hampshire debates related laws.

Seven Days (Burlington, VT)

“The Loss of Grace”: A deeply engaging narrative on the deficiencies of Vermont’s youth treatment system.

“Robbie Mafuta: A young man’s path through the mental health care system”: A powerful story about a mentally ill homeless immigrant facing the criminal justice system.

“Vermont’s Relapse”: A well-crafted exposé on the drug crisis in Vermont, highlighting evolving issues with substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine.

“The Fight for Decker Towers”: This report gave a voice to the elderly and disabled residents of Decker Towers battling against drug users and squatters.

“This Old State”: The series takes a comprehensive, long-overdue look at the aging population in Vermont and the ramifications, everything from an 82-year-old US Senator to the importance of an aging workforce, to lack of transportation and the effects of loneliness.

The Maine Monitor (Hallowell, ME)

“Maine’s Long-Term Challenge”: An investigation into the inadequate oversight and enforcement in Maine’s residential care facilities.

“Maine’s Part Time Court”: A series uncovering the lack of oversight in Maine’s probate courts, exposing financial abuse and wrongful deaths.

The Keene Sentinel (Keene, NH)

“Covering the LGBTQ+ Community”: A comprehensive package examining legislative proposals in New Hampshire that could limit LGBTQ+ rights.

Rhode Island Catholic (Providence, RI)

“Israel at War Series”: A remarkable 4-part report on the conflict in Israel and Gaza, written from firsthand observations.

The Providence Journal (Providence, RI)

“Nursing Home Investigation”: An in-depth report uncovering severe abuse and neglect in Rhode Island’s nursing homes, accompanied by a unique database of incidents.

VT Digger (Montpelier, VT)

“A False Narrative”: An exploration of the dispute between Canadian and Vermont Abenaki groups regarding state recognition of Indigenous status.

“Following the Floods”: An exemplary response to Vermont’s 2023 floods, providing life-saving information and highlighting inequities related to the disaster.

Maine Trust for Local News (Lewiston, ME)

“Lewiston Mass Shooting”: Journalists who are part of the Maine Trust launched continuing, extraordinary efforts to report what had happened, the hunt for the killer, the communities in mourning, and how the murders had affected Maine, even though nearly all records for public records were denied.

Allan B. Rogers Editorial Award

Awarded to The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, MA) for its editorial, “When police search classrooms for books,” which called out police overreach during a search for LGBTQ+-related literature in a middle school.

New England First Amendment Award

This year’s winner, Maine Trust for Local News, was recognized for its relentless pursuit of public records related to the Lewiston mass shooting, shining a light on investigative failures.

Cornerstone Award

Susan Leggett, production manager at Addison County Independent (Middlebury, VT), was honored with the inaugural Cornerstone Award for her nearly 50 years of dedication to production, community connections, and unwavering loyalty to the paper.

Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award

Kris Craig of The Providence Journal (Providence, RI) received the award for his 39-year career capturing the essence of Rhode Island through powerful photojournalism.

These awards exemplify the commitment to journalistic excellence across New England, with winners contributing significantly to their communities and the field of journalism at large.