By Judy Patrick

The First Amendment isn’t getting the appreciation and respect it deserves. Increasingly battered and misunderstood, it needs all the support it can get as divisive politics and advancing technologies drag us in new directions.

Many Americans don’t even know the basics.

Of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment, 71 percent of Americans can name at least one, according to the 2019 State of The First Amendment poll by the non-profit Freedom Forum Institute.

That’s certainly an improvement over 2018, when a pitiful 60 percent of those polled could name at least one of the five freedoms. But consider this: Of the 1,007 Americans polled for the 2019 survey, just six people correctly named all five freedoms.

In case the pollsters call you next year: The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, the press, religion and the right to petition and the right to assembly.

Better yet: We all need to work harder at being citizens who understand our rights, our responsibilities, how government works and what we value.

These powerful First Amendment freedoms, for example, give us all the courage to be independent thinkers and to live our lives how we want to. They allow us to challenge authority in ways unheard of in so many other parts of the world. It enables the press to act independently, hold government accountable and tilt at the occasional windmill.

Gene Policinski, president of the Freedom Forum Institute, said these freedoms help define who we are as Americans. For him, the First Amendment is the “blue collar amendment” – because it’s such a workhorse, going to work every day in a real down-to-earth way.

Yet confusion is increasing. More people in this year’s survey incorrectly thought the First Amendment includes the right to vote (up to 14 percent from 2 percent in 2018) and the right to bear arms (up to 16 percent from 9 percent in 2018).

There is some good news. The poll did not find substantial erosion in trust in journalism with 72 percent of those polled agreeing that it’s important for our democracy that the news media act as a government watchdog, down from 73 percent in 2018. Policinski, however, worries that result may be skewed, reflecting people’s loyalty to their individual “information bubbles.”

The emergence of powerful social media platforms has also muddied the waters; 65 percent of those polled agreed that social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter violate users’ First Amendment rights when they ban people. They don’t. The First Amendment’s protections apply to the government, not private companies.

But the First Amendment presents us with all sorts of emotional and intellectual challenges. It’s easy to support free speech when we agree with what’s being said. It’s far more challenging when we disagree or abhor what is being said, printed, painted, built or sung.

Indeed, the First Amendment has challenged us as a society as we have debated topics such as school prayer, flag burning, printing classified information, curfews, the teaching of evolution, protests at military funerals, blue laws, Christmas displays in public parks and mandatory measles vaccinations.

The rhetoric around such issues can be alienating. An increasing number of us, for example, think the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees (29 percent in 2019, up from 23 percent in 2018 and 2017).

Maybe we just need another Norman Rockwell for an idealistic re-boot.

In the 1940s, as the U.S. headed into what would become World War II, Rockwell’s series of freedom paintings helped Americans understand the freedoms at stake. His four iconic works captured parts of the First Amendment (freedom of speech and religion) and added the freedoms to be free of want and fear.

Despite President Franklin Roosevelt’s oratory, the “four freedoms” he outlined in 1941 speech failed to resonate with the public in a meaningful way. For help, the White House reached out to the nation’s artists and musicians.

“[Rockwell] wanted to interpret them in a way the average American could understand,” said Stephanie Plunkett, chief curator of the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass.

But it was a challenge. “The Four Freedoms are so darned high blown. Somehow I just couldn’t get my mind around it,” Rockwell is quoted as saying.

But by using scenarios from real life in small-town America, did just that. Rockwell’s “Freedom of Speech,” featuring a man standing up and speaking up in a crowded meeting room, was based on an actual town meeting in Arlington, Vt. The man was a farmer unhappy with a school project that would increase his taxes. “He gave his opinion, nodded his head and sat down,” Plunkett said.

Rockwell’s idealistic “Four Freedoms” have remained popular, both providing a sense of what led America to World War II and as underscoring ideals that remain important throughout in the world, Plunkett said.

A special touring exhibit, “Rockwell, Roosevelt & The Four Freedoms: Enduring Ideals,” has been on display in Normandy, France, since May as part of the 75th commemoration of the D-Day invasion.

The exhibit returns to the U.S. from France this fall, making stops in Houston and Denver before returning home next fall. Here are the details: Le Memorial de Caen, Caen, France, through Oct. 27; Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas Dec. 15, 2019 through March 22, 2020; Denver Art Museum, Denver, May 3, 2020 through Aug. 23, 2020; Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass., Sept. 12, 2020 through Jan. 17, 2021.

Judy Patrick is the New York Press Association’s Vice president for editorial development. Follow her on Twitter at @JuteNYPA. Patrick wrote this article as one of NYPA’s first Relevance Project initiatives. The Freedom Forum picked it up and posted it. Newspapers across the country are invited to re-print the article and the artwork with attribution if they choose. Visit https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/2019/10/23/its-time-americans-stepped-up-and-learned-about-the-first-amendment/ to read the article online.

Five deserving lifelong news professionals were honored by the Academy of New England Journalists / New England Society of News Editors at the 59th Annual Yankee Quill Awards dinner – closing out a successful NENPA Fall Conference at the AC Hotel in Worcester, Mass. on the evening of October 10.

John Peterson, Angelo Lynn, Dan Kennedy, Callie Crossley, and Ross Connelly were all in attendance. They were joined by family members, friends, and colleagues as well as the individuals (or designees) who nominated them.

The Yankee Quill is presented annually by the Academy through the auspices of the New England Society of News Editors. The Academy, founded by Sigma Delta Chi in 1960, has annually paid tribute to several extraordinary newspaper men and women for their lifetime of achievement and distinction in New England journalism. 

It is considered the highest individual honor awarded by fellow journalists in the region, and selection for the award is based on the broad influence for good that honorees have reflected over the course of a career.

Academy member Robert Ambrogi introduced Dan Kennedy, a journalist, media critic, journalism professor, blogger, book author and First Amendment advocate who has devoted the bulk of his career to improving the profession of journalism and to advocating for the First Amendment rights of journalists and the public. 

“When I read the description of a [Yankee Quill honoree], it’s hard for me to think of anybody more deserving of it than Dan Kennedy,” Ambrogi said. “I am somebody who has been dividing my career between law and journalism, and so I have a particular appreciation for the work Dan has done over the years as an advocate for transparency in government.”

Mr. Kennedy was nominated and received the Quill for his role in ensuring that journalists and publications adhere to the standards of the field; calling out politicians and officials who flaunt free speech and open government; training new generations of journalists and studying alternative models for meeting the challenges of journalism in the digital age.

Academy member Richard Lodge introduced Ms. Crossley, a respected journalist and commentator in greater Boston media. She was nominated and honored with one of the five 2019 Quill awards for her multifaceted skills in print, radio and television. 

“Callie’s writing and reporting have earned her numerous awards, and earned her the respect of leaders, viewers, and listeners,” Lodge said. “She has never shied away from giving her well-informed opinions in the right context.”

Through her various roles as host, panelist and award-winning commentator, Lodge said Ms. Crossley always set a standard for professionalism, accuracy and fairness. She is a highly regarded, compelling interviewer and role model. And her work was said to be grounded in a devotion to the community and dedicated to ensuring that community members who are often unheard – are given an articulate voice.

Academy member Mike Donoghue took to the microphone to introduce long-time colleague Ross Connolly, who was presented the Quill for his incredibly broad positive influence on journalism in Vermont, throughout New England, and across the nation. During his 36 years in the newspaper industry he served as a journalist, editor, publisher and newspaper owner. 

“Even after serving on [various press association boards], he remained front and center on a lot of legislative issues impacting local newspapers, public records, fighting for mandatory fees when records were unlawfully withheld, open meetings, fighting proposed taxes on advertising, even taxes on circulation, and preserving legal notices in newspapers,” Mr. Donoghue said.

Mr. Connolly was the founding chair of the Vermont Coalition for Open Government and president of the board of directors for both Vermont Press Association and New England Press Association. Mr. Donoghue also reminded attendees that Mr. Connolly’s nomination reflected how much he understood early-on the importance and true value of diversity in news coverage, and he was known for pushing hard to make that a priority while serving on those boards.

Terry Williams of the Keene Sentinel introduced Mr. Lynn, who was recognized for his dedication to serving his readers and communities, his success with his dynamic newspaper company and his commitment to the betterment of the industry through his involvement with the Vermont Press Association and New England Newspaper and Press Association. 

“When I think about the type of journalists we need these days, or for that matter, the type of owner we desire to sustain our news organizations, I think of someone bold, innovative, and adventurous, who cares for employees and is fiercely interested in the strength of community,” Mr. Williams said, “I think of Angelo Lynn.” 

Over the course of his career, Mr. Lynn has been recognized with numerous journalism awards, as well as several awards for being a top business locally and statewide. He is regarded among his peers and associates as a journalist and newspaper owner who is constantly seeking sustainability while remaining fiercely protective of community journalism.

Academy member Lincoln McKie introduced Mr. Peterson. Over his 50-year career at New England newspapers and as a New England-based newspaper consultant Mr. Peterson was lauded for resuscitating several moribund papers into aggressive pursuers of both in-depth reporting and community news. 

“I met my good friend John Peterson more than 20 years ago at a New England Press Association convention,” McKie said. “I joined in nominating John because he is a friend, but more than that, his co-nominators and I put his name forward because of the tremendous respect and admiration we have for his character, for his superior journalism, and his penchant for deftly handling adversity, his gift for digging out award-winning stories and dismantling roadblocks to bring them to readers.”

Mr. Peterson has won countless awards, both individually and for the excellence of the newspapers he led. As a consultant, he lends his vast experience and expertise to improving newspapers throughout the country. And he was also very active serving on a variety of business and charitable boards – and has been honored locally for his many years of community service.

Following the Quill ceremonies, NENPA President Phil Camp remarked “how nice it was to see a couple of Vermonters represented among all the very worthy recipients this year.”

“This year’s Yankee Quill recipients also represented Connecticut and Massachusetts, so both Southern and Northern New England were represented,” Camp added. “As in years’ past, the comments from both the nominees and those who nominated them reflect how these individuals have answered their calling to our profession. To do the kind of good you need to do – even with smaller papers – is a testament to all of their accomplishments.”

2019 Yankee Quill Awards Photo Gallery

By John Voket eBulletin Contributor

John Voket is an Associate Editor at The Newtown Bee in Connecticut, Director of Public Affairs for Connecticut’s Connoisseur Media radio stations, and 2018-19 President of NENPA.

Communities across New England – and the large and small news organizations serving them – are increasingly benefiting from targeted grant-funded partnerships that are helping expand public service and enterprise reporting, oftentimes covering the cost (and benefits) associated with bringing in new talent to produce that important work.

That was the message conveyed by panelists participating in the NENPA Fall Conference afternoon break-out session presented by the New England Society of News Editors entitled: “Possibilities and Pitfalls of Alternative Funding: Grants, Projects and Ethical Considerations.”

The session moderator was Charles St. Amand, practitioner-in-residence, communication & journalism department, Suffolk University; and panelists included Charlie Sennott, founder, The Ground Truth Project / Report for America; Heidi Flood, strategic lead, partners & outreach, Boston Globe Media; Mike Cote, deputy managing editor, business, New Hampshire Union Leader; and Tim Rasmussen, chief content officer, Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network.

Each spent time discussing the reasoning behind and implications of utilizing “alternative funding” for projects.

They examined how the practice of tapping grantors and other government, quasi-government, and even select private sector partners to fund specific reporting, and staff to handle it, has become more common in some newsrooms.

In his introductory remarks following the event’s awards luncheon, St. Amand reflected, “Where you see great work being done by newspapers of all sizes – events like this remind us all that journalism is worth fighting for.”

Opening up the panel, Cote immediately referenced work done at the Union Leader by Shawne Wickham, who just minutes before won the AP Sevellon Brown NE Journalist of the Year honor for her reporting as part of a series that examined issues related to mental health.

Wickham’s award-winning “Beyond The Stigma” segments were funded by combined grants from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, NAMI New Hampshire and private individuals.

“This is the kind of ground-breaking enterprise work newspapers have been doing for years, but we’re having a harder time doing now,” he said.

In another grant-funded series, Cote said the nonprofit Endowment for Health worked with the Union Leader on solutions journalism, Cote said.

“We get the funding and the reporters do the work,” he said, adding that the funder was hands off. “They pretty much gave it to us and let us run with it, which was great. So really what it bought us an enterprise reporter – somebody digging deep into a subject and in this case, one that’s very important in our market.”

In the Union Leader’s case, Cote said reporters become such experts in the areas they are working, like Wickham, they are still brimming with story ideas when the project concluded.
In the end, the Endowment benefited as well because each story was tagged with contact information, funder branding, and a disclaimer that the specific reporting was underwritten.

“We got no complaints from readers,” Cote said, adding that the Union Leader has also conducted some targeted reporting with staff funded by a regional utility.

He said the paper has had additional success packaging multiple funders together.

“We look for enough funding to cover one salary and benefit package for one year.” Even with smaller pockets of money, Cote said Union Leader reporters fanning out to cover more work.

Now the paper is working on sustainability and weighing whether they temporarily keep grant funded journalists on the payroll while seeking new projects or funders.

The Globe & Public Broadcasting

Flood, a former community foundation and investment firm staffer, now researches, develops and drives opportunities for the Globe to work in partnership with nonprofits, foundations and other organizations to support public service journalism initiatives.

She said while pulling reporters off their beat to shift to uniquely-funded projects was challenging, The Globe ended up creating a public education unit with three reporters – two of whom were already education specialists.

Each special project article in the education series included a selection of FAQs that Flood said deepened conversation around the topic covered. She said the reporting has generated “positive change,” and one set of features entitled “Valedictorian” focusing on 113 high school graduates attracted interest from Gates Foundation and others looking for ways to engage.

“Presenting a unifying message around improving student outcomes was important,” Flood said. She added that the education unit’s work provided an opportunity to share that message and “get into new communities – even if they’re not Globe communities.

“The goal is to provide a civic service,” she explained. “Now we’re looking to work with other funders – to align on certain mission topics and engage the community in ways impossible for the foundations to do without our partnership.”

St. Amand asked Flood if she could offer any advice to help smaller papers initiate non-traditional funding relationships. She replied that representatives tasked with recruiting funders must “be aggressive and shameless in our asking.”

“It’s not hard with a great editorial product,” she said. Regardless of the media outlet’s size or reach, Flood said if they can show alignment over funders’ missions and goals through your reporting, it “opens the door” to possible partnerships.

Rasmussen oversees all content produced and distributed by Connecticut Public Broadcasting including Connecticut Public Radio, three television channels, as well as digital and online platforms.

He said today, six of 10 reporters working for him are grant funded, and $6 million of his $22 million budget is from member donors so it’s unrestricted. He’s been tasked with the goal of doubling his organization’s audience in five years.

Rasmussen said another $1 million of his budget is from grants and foundations – and some of that underwriting comes “some with restrictions or limitations.”

Among myriad subjects tied to grantor designations are health, ‘Guns in America,’ showcasing diverse voices, promoting environmental initiatives, and supporting the network’s regional New England News Collaborative.

Rasmussen said he recently completed writing a grant he will submit for $300,000 “to help us build a new CMS and marketplace for local news to give away to other public agencies,” and he is currently meeting with funders to create ‘The Accountability Project’ investigative reporting team in Connecticut.

“The goal is to raise $2 million for five years, and to build a three-person team to start,” he said. So stay tuned!

Report For America

Sennott entered the conversation affirming that in his assessment, “Nonprofits are going to play a critical role in the future of journalism.”

Sennott started GroundTruth in 2014 and in 2017 launched the non-profit organization’s new, local reporting initiative, Report for America. The Columbia University School of Journalism graduate and Harvard Nieman Fellow is also the co-founder of GlobalPost, an acclaimed international news website.

He advised organizations looking for alternative funding partners would do well to be sure they share “the same standards.”

Within a year of launching Report For America, the initiative has seen 60 journalists go to work for 50 news organizations across 27 states and Puerto Rico. Each is focused on a critical coverage gap within their host community.

Their newsrooms range from Pulitzer Prize-winning daily papers and alternative weeklies to digital-only non-profits, cable news and public radio stations.

Sennott said each of the Report For America hosts “define news deserts in their community,” and they must exhibit a standard for successfully mentoring young reporters.

He said it was thrilling to be able to tell a new generation of journalists to go out and do local reporting. And reminding those new reporters what they do helps communities to have civil debate.

Sennott said he always hopes the greater outcome “has everything to do with re-establishing civil dialog in our society.”

In closing, Sennott said it is heartening to see GroundTruth program applications from so many newsrooms, explaining that the organization underwrites 50 percent of the salary / benefits package. “Then we ask the paper to cover 25 percent, and we help the papers raise the other 25 percent.

He said communities involved in the program additionally benefit because “we also ask that the reporter does community volunteerism.”

Those at this session also had a chance to pick up a recent publication offered to members and conference attendees by NENPA, compiled with the help of Board member Terry Williams and Paul Cuno-Booth, both of the Keene Sentinel. It included a preliminary listing of grantors currently offering more than 90 underwriting opportunities in partnership with various media organizations.

NENPA is in the process of assembling a comprehensive database of media grants and grantors that will be available for members. Look for further information in a future NENPA e-mail message and here in the Bulletin.

Following the session, NENPA President Phil Camp told The eBulletin it was good to see grantors stepping up to help underwrite reporting projects at newspapers of all sizes.

Camp said even though many of those grant funded initiatives have target subjects that drive the reporting, the resulting content often provides collateral benefits to the participating news outlet’s entire community.

“We need to focus more on helping our NENPA members learn about and connect, when appropriate, to these grant programs,” Camp said, vowing to begin discussing ways the association could help facilitate grantor/newspaper relationship when he met with the NENPA board of directors the following day.

Camp also reminded Fall Conference attendees to remember to complete NENPA event surveys that are being circulated, so staff and leadership could better understand and craft conference programming that will be of the greatest benefit to members.

Those at this session also had a chance to pick up a recent publication offered to members and conference attendees by NENPA, compiled with the help of Board member Terry Williams and Paul Cuno-Booth both of the Keene Sentinel. It included a preliminary listing of grantors currently offering underwriting opportunities in partnership with various media organizations.

NENPA is in the process of assembling a comprehensive database of media grants and grantors that will be available for members. Look for further information in a future NENPA eBulletin’s.

By John Voket eBulletin Contributor

John Voket is an Associate Editor at The Newtown Bee in Connecticut, Director of Public Affairs for Connecticut’s Connoisseur Media radio stations, and 2018-19 President of NENPA.

While a couple of changes marked the 2019 NENPA Fall Newspaper Conference – namely a new location at the AC Hotel Marriott in Worcester, MA, and a later start time to help accommodate more attendees – the traditional centerpiece of the event was as exciting and inspiring as ever.

The New England Newspaper Conference Awards Luncheon, with its Newspaper of the Year, Publick Occurrences, New England First Amendment, Allan B. Rogers Editorial, and Bob Wallack Community Journalism awards and recognition of the AP Sevellon Brown Journalist of the Year highlighted the best of the best in content that local and regional newspapers produced over the past year.

NENPA President Phil Camp commented, “I was delighted to be involved and meeting some of the winners.”

“I was pleased that all six states’ papers were involved,” Camp added, “and there seemed to be a good representation of our membership throughout the region.”

Linda Conway, NENPA Executive Director added that the awards luncheon is always an inspiring event, and this year didn’t disappoint. “The important work that is still being produced by newsrooms – even in these challenging times with reduced staff – is nothing short of amazing,” she said. “Recognizing and honoring that work is a privilege.”

The Journalist of the Year honor is awarded in honor of Sevellon Brown, the late editor and publisher of The Providence Journal-Bulletin, founder of the American Press Institute, a fellow of the Academy of New England Journalists, and a past president and founder of New England Associated Press News Editors Association (NEAPNEA).

This year’s recipient is Shawne K. Wickham, who was recognized for her reporting about mental health and addiction issues for the New Hampshire Union Leader’s “Beyond the Stigma” series.

The project was sponsored by the New Hampshire Solutions Journalism Lab at the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications. It was funded by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, NAMI New Hampshire, and private individuals.

Wickham told the NENPA Bulletin that covering these critical community concerns represented an “extraordinary opportunity” to look into solutions to the gripping issues around mental health and substance abuse challenges under the auspices of a grant-funded initiative.

“We felt we had done enough writing about the problems and it was time to look at some of the programs that were working to address them,” she said. “I got to report about an orchestra that was started by people with bipolar disorder who meet every week to practice and then put on concerts; we looked at recovery-friendly workplaces; and safe syringe programs whose volunteers fan out with not only syringes but other safety and support resources so when those people are ready for help, they will know where to turn.”

She also worked on faith-based recovery programs at neighborhood churches, a theater program where those with mental health issues tell their own stories and then put on a play, and a story on a home for new and pregnant moms who are overcoming their addictions as well, Wickham explained.

This marked the first time Wickham ever tackled subject matter related to outcomes, and she said it made such an impression that one local mental health network was already poised to recognize her with their own award of appreciation.

“It was a privilege to tell these stories and to have the work recognized,” she added, “and it means the world to me!”

John Flowers Honored

In accepting the 2019 Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award, John Flowers of the Middlebury, VT Addison Independent acknowledged that he never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Wallack.

“But I am honored to share the stage with him today in spirit,” Flowers said. “As Bob would undoubtedly tell us if he were here right now, community journalism is about teamwork. At the Addison Independent, that team is led by editor/publisher Angelo Lynn, who nominated me.”

This award recognizes an individual who has an exceptional record of commitment to community journalism, and celebrates the accomplishments of someone who has faithfully served his or her community by playing an active, constructive, and sustaining role in contributing to its quality of life.

Flowers said he is proud to be part of a community journalism team that constantly strives to do their work “accurately and with compassion.” His beat could include myriad issues affecting the Independent’s coverage area of around two dozen communities – and on any given day could incorporate human services, local and state government reporting, courts, and police agencies.

“Community journalism is about going to work on a Monday and interviewing a house fire victim at 9 a.m., a public works director at 10:30, and a high school scholars bowl competitor at 1,” Flowers said. “It’s also about looking for the truth in court records, town office archives, and police blotters…making new connections and forging relationships.”

Flowers said he is inspired to keep doing what he does because every week presents new and different challenges along with opportunities to set an example for younger colleagues.

“It’s about trust, and passing the knowledge and passion along to the next generation of scribes who I hope will maintain our tradition of grassroots journalism,” he said, closing with appreciation to “three of my best teammates. my son, Mark, my daughter, Diane, and my wife, Dottie, who’s had to spend many an evening alone because her spouse is with a select board, school board, or monitoring election returns.”

Editorial & First Amendment Awards

This year’s Allan B. Rogers Editorial Award was presented to Jack Spillane, editorial page editor of The Standard-Times in New Bedford, Mass.

As event emcee and fellow journalist Wayne Braverman told luncheon attendees, Spillane’s award-winning editorial, “Children crossing border should be kept with parents,” brought home the heartrending impact of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies by focusing on a local Guatemalan boy and his mother as their husband and father sat in a Georgia jail awaiting deportation.

Braverman praised Spillane for writing with power and clarity, making a compassionate appeal that while immigration reform efforts grind on, the rending apart of nuclear families must stop immediately.

“That is a heinous policy,” he writes, “and not worthy of America.”

The New England First Amendment Award was presented to Foster’s Daily Democrat, Dover, NH, a New England newspaper that exhibited unique leadership on First Amendment issues.

When a county attorney in New Hampshire attempted to compel a local reporter to release all his notes and materials related to an unpublished jailhouse interview, this fundamental principle of independence suddenly appeared vulnerable, Braverman related.

“The danger in the state compelling the release of this unpublished material is that it has the potential to turn our news reporters into agents of the state, which will badly undermine our credibility with the public and news sources,” explained Howard Altschiller, executive editor at Seacoast Media Group where the reporter Brian Early worked.

Through a series of legal challenges, Seacoast Media Group successfully defended its First Amendment right to withhold Early’s notes.

“Rather than acquiescing to the county attorney’s demand, the media group dug in and protected its independence,” Braverman announced, “a victory not just for its newsroom, but for the First Amendment.”

Publick Occurrences

NENPA’s Publick Occurrences Awards recognize the very best work that New England newspapers produce each year — whether it’s individual or team stories, series, spot news coverage, columns or photojournalism that ran in print and/or online.

The award was established in 1990 to recognize individual and team merit at New England newspapers to mark the 300th anniversary of the founding of Publick Occurrences, the first newspaper published in America.

The list of 2019 Public Occurrences winners includes:

The Eagle-Tribune of North Andover, MA captured two Publick Occurrences honors for its coverage of the “Merrimack Valley gas disaster,” as well as its reporting on the afterrmath of a “Sexual assault at North Andover High.”

Seven Days of Burlington, VT whose series “Give and take” examined every aspect of nonprofits big and small, including a first-person account of setting up a 501(c)3.

The Republican of Springfield, MA and its coverage of “Springfield Police Department woes” that exposed what was described as a “vexing saga” of official malfeasance.

Cape Cod Times of Hyannis, MA for its package entitled: “Pilgrim closes” – detailing the closure of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.

Seven Days of Burlington, VT and its series: “Hooked: how so many Vermonters got addicted.”

New Hampshire’s Concord Monitor and its series “Finding hope,” detailing one family’s journey through the despair that followed the suicide of a 14-year-old son, while more broadly examining the issue of youth suicide. The Monitor also received a second Publick Occurrences Award for its four-part series on the problems and societal impact of domestic violence entitled “Fighting back.”

The Daily Item of Lynn, MA which produced 23 stories, sidebars and info graphics as part of its “Hunger: hiding in plain sight” series.

Worcester Magazine, that tackled the controversial issue of teaching sex education in public schools in its reporting entitled: “How sex ed really died.”

The Sun Journal of Lewiston, ME was recognized for “Fear in Lewiston: ’A perfect storm’,” which looked at community policing and other steps the Lewiston police were taking to gain the community’s respect.

The Herald News of Fall River, MA whose staff delivered thorough, thoughtful coverage on the lead-up to, and indictment of “Mayor Correia.”

The Bennington Banner in Bennington, VT, whose staff produced comprehensive coverage of “The closing of Southern Vermont College.”

The Sun, Lowell, MA, and its coverage entitled “People can just be so cruel” series on the expanding social media problem of young people who are targets of online bullying and body shaming.

The Worcester Business Journal’s reporting on “Tax Breaks: paying for growth,” a series exploring the cost-effectiveness of municipal tax break programs.

New Hampshire’s Keene Sentinel and reporter Sierra Hubbard received the final 2019 Publick Occurrences recognition for “BetterBone Inc.,” which judges stated “likely saved hundreds of area residents from getting ripped off” by an entrepreneur with an out of state criminal history, and numerous personal and professional blemishes who was poised to move a new business into a converted local mill facility.

Newspapers of the Year

The awards luncheon is also built around recognizing the 2019 Newspaper of the Year recipients. This competition is the only distinction of its kind in the newspaper industry judged by audience members.

Readers evaluate each paper’s relative strengths and weaknesses, including: quality of reporting and writing; use of photos; design and presentation; digital offerings; as well as overall utility and value.

Among other attributes, those readers are asked to determine:
Does the newspaper inform, educate, entertain, inspire, motivate, lead?
Does it reflect and care about the community it serves?
Does it put the interests of the reader first? Is it unique or special in some way?

Categories are small, medium and large weeklies; small, medium and large dailies; small, medium and large Sunday/weekend publications; along with specialty publications.

2019 Newspaper of the Year Awards and Distinguished Newspaper designations went to:

Weekday Newspapers
Circulation up to 5,000: The Bristol (CT) Press
Distinguished Newspapers – Herald, New Britain, CT; The Chronicle, Willimantic, CT

Circulation 5,000-10,000: The Daily News, Newburyport, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – Record-Journal, Meriden, CT; Daily Times, Gloucester, MA

Circulation 10,000-20,000: The MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA; Concord (NH) Monitor

Circulation 20,000-35,000: Republican-American, Waterbury, CT
Distinguished Newspaper – Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, MA

Circulation 35,000+: The Republican., Springfield, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – The Providence (RI) Journal; Hartford (CT) Courant

Sunday Newspapers
Circulation less than 10,000: The MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – Record-Journal, Meriden, CT; The Sun Chronicle, Attleboro, MA; The Herald News, Fall River, MA

Circulation 10,000-20,000: The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – The Eagle-Tribune, N. Andover, MA; The Standard-Times, New Bedford, MA

Circulation 20,000-40,000: Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA; The Day, New London, CT

Circulation 40,000+: The Republican, Springfield, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – Hartford (CT) Courant; Sunday Journal, Providence, RI

Weekly Community Newspapers
Circulation less than 5,000: Marshfield (MA) Mariner
Distinguished Newspapers – Provincetown (MA) Banner; Milton (MA) Times

Circulation 5,000-9,000: Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME
Distinguished Newspapers – Addison Independent, Middlebury, VT; The Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket, MA

Circulation 9,000+: The Martha’s Vineyard Times, Vineyard Haven, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – The Ellsworth (ME) American.; Seven Days, Burlington, VT

Specialty Publications
UpCountry, The Berkshires of Massachusetts, So. Vermont
Distinguished Newspapers – Providence (RI) Business News; Mainebiz, Portland, ME

2019 New England Newspaper Awards Photo Gallery

NENPA members and prospects are reminded to save the date for the 2020 New England Newspaper Convention. The 2020 convention will be held on February 7-8, 2020 at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. More details to come.

By John Voket eBulletin Contributor

John Voket is an Associate Editor at The Newtown Bee in Connecticut, Director of Public Affairs for Connecticut’s Connoisseur Media radio stations, and 2018-19 President of NENPA.

As NENPA Fall Conference attendees moved into the second afternoon talk on “Creative Approaches to New Revenue,” it was learned that two of the four panelists – Jane Seagrave and Marianne Stanton – were unable to make the session because of weather-related travel issues.

But the remaining panelists – George Arwady and Peter Meyer – were determined to see the talk, presented by the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association, happen.

Faced with constricting advertising sales, Meyer, Regional VP for GateHouse Media, President & Publisher of The Providence Journal and Group Publisher and President of GateHouse New England (GHNE) – and Arwady, Publisher and CEO of The Republican in Springfield, Mass. were aiming to inspire colleagues to get creative and begin considering unique ideas to generate new sources of revenue.

Meyer stepped right up challenging those attending the session “to step back and think about purpose.”

Meyer said when he thinks about a revenue prospect or project, he asks himself a few key questions: does this new business align with who we are? – does his company’s involvement help small businesses succeed? – What does it do to help staff or staff growth – and does it give back to the communities they serve in meaningful ways?

He said the success of Gatehouse and his properties rely on talented staff and leadership who make a commitment to an overarching goal, and who embrace endurance, resilience, and perseverance.

“That’s what it takes to drive a successful news organization,” Meyer said.

He said Gatehouse restructured to be revenue focused, and urged newspaper executives and lead management in the room to “do your own organizational check-up.”

“Focus on revenue and then drive it,” Meyer said.

He said Gatehouse helps support its staff by “investing a lot in sales training group-wide.”

“It takes a holistic approach to drive success,” he said, adding that his company offers a dynamic digital marketing suite; hosts creative promotions to build email lists, and drives foot traffic and revenue with a two-tiered approach – through consistent branding and using the right tools like giveaways, games, and events to create excitement.

“Events are big for us,” Meyer said, adding his company hosts over 30 across New England generating $2 million in annual revenue. Some of the most popular are ‘best of’ events that do well at engaging local businesses, and high school all-star events that draw a different community audience altogether.

Meyer closed his segment reminding newspaper decision makers, “don’t lose sight of tried and true,” reminding them that even been-there-done-that programs like “post-its” are still helping pay the bills at Gatehouse and his papers.

Arwady touted the growing popularity of revenue generating promotions at his family-owned company that publishes The Republican and hosts MassLive.com.

He was happy to report his company was seeing more direct return for journalism – “Growing a digital audience can grow money,” he said, but it’s “good journalism that drives the audience.”

He said the benefits of having the second largest website in New England after BostonGlobe.com – masslive.com “helps advertisers reach the eyeballs they want to drive their business.” Arwady said the sophistication of his company’s digital and ad products are gaining more traction by the minute.

A recent Republican ‘best of’ generated 76,000 web votes and prompt publication of a special section where winners buy ads and then tickets to the dinner. “That event generated $19,800 in tickets sold,” he said.

Turning back to a table laden with promotional publications, Arwady kept stepping forward showing off various products like books that highlight all ethnic groups in the communities his company serves.

Town Anniversary books are another successful revenue source, Arwady said. They can highlight, “every church, town, and local landmark – people will sponsor it, and people will buy it,” he said.

Arwady also showed off profitable niche publications like wedding guides and travel guides but he shared Meyers enthusiasm for traditional revenue tools like ‘post-its,” and A1 or section fold-over ads.

His company also derives measurable revenue from seemingly drier sources including client products like a recently published utility company master plan, and print items supporting a new banking center.

“These pay the salaries of journalists,” Arwady said, waving several publications in the air enthusiastically.

Arwady also showed off his company’s Hispanic newspaper ‘El Pueblo Latino’ – various Real Estate mags and periodicals in which agents can advertise free. “We get paid when the house sells,” he added.

Over the last five years, Arwady is seeing an average $119 upcharge from selling various extra obituary services, including plaques sent to surviving family members – all through a partner vendor.

Tapping a brand new trend in Massachusetts, legalized recreational cannabis, Arwady said his company “just hired a cannabis marketing expert from California,” and that both his paper and website are seeing new revenue from running marijuana ads.

A cannabis event is also in the works, that Arwady believes will be ultimately successful, and he is mulling doing a digital newsletter around cannabis on the website.

Arwady said his company’s latest pilot involves partnering with a digital purveyor that has installed a network of 100 screens providing in-store video with news and ad content.

He believes selling targeted advertising over these screens “will be a $1 million product for us,” and his company has enough confidence that it has budgeted $400,000 for the start-up phase.

In closing, Arwady implored attendees to look across both traditional and creative landscapes.

“We’re getting more revenue out of things we’ve always done – plus new and crazy things,” he said. “We’re all fighting gravity – so we have to be nimble and creative.”

Following this session, NENPA President Phil Camp of The Vermont Standard remarked that Arwady and Meyer presented a “most exciting presentation.”

“I don’t know how typical we are as a smaller paper, but we can’t change, change – we need to learn how to accommodate it,” Camp said. “In this session we learned about a number of ways to do it. Certainly some of the promotions being done by larger companies like Peter’s may not be the right fit for single smaller papers, but there were a lot of things I heard about that could complement a lot of our smaller papers.”

The NENPA president said he would never want to give up his Vermont Standard in its traditional form, “but at the same time, a lot of smaller papers won’t survive without new ideas – even non-traditional things.”

By John Voket eBulletin Contributor

John Voket is an Associate Editor at The Newtown Bee in Connecticut, Director of Public Affairs for Connecticut’s Connoisseur Media radio stations, and 2018-19 President of NENPA.