The New England Newspaper & Press Association is now accepting applications for the 2026 Bob Wallack Intern Stipend Program, which provides a $500 stipend to support aspiring community journalists working at NENPA member news organizations during the summer internship season.
Editors at NENPA member publications are invited and encouraged to apply on behalf of one of their 2026 summer interns. The stipends are awarded in honor of former New England Press Association Executive Director Bob Wallack and are intended to support the next generation of community journalists.
To be considered, editors should submit a letter that briefly outlines:
- The intern’s background and career aspirations
- The type of experience the publication will provide during the internship
- The level of contribution expected from the intern this summer
- Why the intern merits this special compensation and how the stipend will support their development
Applications should be submitted by Friday, June 19, 2026, to Linda Conway at l.conway@nenpa.com using the subject line: “Summer Intern Stipend.”
NENPA can also help member publications promote available internship opportunities to journalism students throughout New England. Internship information can be sent to students@nenpa.com.
About the Bob Wallack Community Journalism Fund
Longtime New England journalist and former New England Press Association Executive Director Bob Wallack passed away in January 2014 after a brief illness at the age of 63.
Bob’s career in community journalism spanned more than four decades across three New England states. During his career, he worked at a variety of daily and weekly newspapers in roles ranging from reporter to publisher and general manager. He also served as Executive Director of the New England Press Association during the 1990s.
In honor of Bob’s lifelong dedication to community journalism and mentoring young journalists, former colleagues established the Bob Wallack Community Journalism Fund. In addition to supporting this internship stipend program, the fund also supports the annual Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award, presented each year to a New England journalist who demonstrates excellence in community journalism.
Past recipients of the award include Steve Damish of The Enterprise in Brockton, Mass.; Thor Jourgensen of The Daily Item in Lynn, Mass.; Stanley Moulton of the Daily Hampshire Gazette in Northampton, Mass.; Ray Duckler of the Concord Monitor; John Flowers of the Addison Independent in Middlebury, Vt.; Edward W. Forry of the Dorchester Reporter; James D. Haggerty III of the Daily Times Chronicle in Woburn, Mass.; Steve Collins of the Sun Journal in Lewiston, Maine; and Wayne Braverman of The Bedford Citizen in Bedford, Mass.