Get ready for an exciting opportunity to connect, learn, and grow at the New England Newspaper Conference on October 19!

This event is being held virtually on the NENPA online community platform.

Our annual gathering brings together top executives from New England’s leading news organizations. It’s a place where collaboration happens, innovative ideas are shared, and the challenges facing today’s media industry are discussed.

We are excited to announce that the conference program is now available below and tickets are on sale. A rich array of executive-level speakers and discussions await you during the event.

Several award presentations are also held during the event: the announcement of the Publick Occurrences Award winners, the New England Newspaper of the Year Awards, and the recipients of four additional prestigious awards.

Gold Sponsor

If you have any issues logging in, get an error message when trying to log in the first time, have problems purchasing tickets, or have other colleagues or staff members that need to be added to the NENPA community please contact Tara Cleary at t.cleary@nenpa.com.

If your newspaper isn’t a current member, you will still be able to request access to the online community and purchase tickets to an event at the non-member rate.

2023 Newspaper Conference Program October 19

8:30 – 9:00 AM
Election of NENPA Officers

9:00 – 10:00 AM
New business models to support local news
In this session, Ross McDuffie, chief portfolio officer of the National Trust for Local News and Maine Trust for Local News, will provide valuable insights on innovative business models that can effectively sustain local news. Specifically, he will delve into the National Trust for Local News and the Maine Trust for Local News, two organizations that have been established to support local journalism.

10:00 – 11:00 AM
Current challenges in local news and reestablishing trust with readers
Brian Stelter, best-selling author, former chief media correspondent for CNN Worldwide, and former media reporter for the New York Times, will discuss the current challenges in local news and strategies for building or reestablishing trust with readers.

11:00 – 11:30 AM
Announcement of Publick Occurrences Awards
Presentation of the annual Publick Occurrences Awards, recognizing the finest work that New England newspapers produce each year in individual or team stories, series, spot news coverage, columns, or photojournalism that ran in print and/or online.

1:00 – 2:00 PM
How to attract and retain younger readers
Who are the younger consumers and how do we capture their attention? We know they consume media differently, work differently, and shop differently than their older counterparts. Kerry Twibell, a partner at The AQ, will share invaluable strategies to reach and engage this younger demographic. Her insightful advice will focus on attracting and retaining the younger generation of readers. Twibell is a proven expert in aiding companies to achieve growth. Her expertise lies in advising and assisting tech and media companies by leveraging market positioning and strategic partnerships to drive revenue.

2:00 – 3:00 PM
Innovation at local newsrooms and connecting with your community
Michael Bolden, the CEO and executive director of the American Press Institute, will offer a comprehensive vision for the future of local news, essential for those invested in community well-being and journalism. He will highlight the opportunity to use challenges as catalysts for innovation, forging a future for local journalism that is more robust, inclusive, and deeply connected to the communities it serves.

3:00 – 3:30 PM
Announcement of Individual Awards and Newspapers of the Year
Presentation of the annual Allan B. Rogers Editorial Award, New England First Amendment Award, AP Sevellon Brown New England Journalist of the Year, Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award, and the New England Newspaper of the Year Awards.