Attention Publications: Please help us promote the 2026 Journalism Scholarships by downloading the ads at this link!

The Journalism Education Foundation of New England (JEFNE) is once again opening the door for the next generation of reporters, editors, photographers, and multimedia storytellers. Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 New England Journalism Scholarship Program, offering scholarships of up to $2,000 to outstanding student journalists across the region.

Administered by the New England Newspaper & Press Association, this annual program supports up to ten high-potential students who are committed to pursuing a career in journalism or a related field. The program also includes the prestigious MacGregor Fiske Award, presented each year to an exceptional student journalist who demonstrates great promise in the profession. Eligible applicants include high school seniors and undergraduate students who are residents of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont.

Applicants will be required to submit a cover letter, transcript, résumé or biography, letter of recommendation, and a portfolio of at least three published or class-produced journalism pieces. Full application details and links are available on the NENPA website.

To be considered, a completed application must be submitted by March 27, 2026. Please review the qualifications below. For any questions or more information, contact students@nenpa.com.

Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your journalism future — apply and take the next step toward shaping the news landscape in New England.

Qualifications for JEFNE Scholarships

• Must be a resident of New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, or VT).

• Applicants may attend a college or university outside New England — residency determines eligibility, not school location.

• Must be a high school senior or undergraduate college student planning to attend college in Fall 2026, studying journalism or a related field. (Graduate students are not eligible at this time.)

• Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

• Must demonstrate a strong interest in a journalism career by submitting the following materials via email:

Required Application Materials

• Cover letter

• Transcript

• Résumé or short biography

• Letter of recommendation

• Portfolio of work: a minimum of three published or class-produced journalism pieces

Submission Instructions:
After submitting the application form, applicants will receive a confirmation email with instructions to email all required documents to the program administrator.

• All materials should be sent as PDF or Word document attachments.

• Links to online work must be compiled into a single document and included as an attachment.

• Please do not paste individual story links into the body of the email.

• Applicants who experience issues with large file sizes should contact the program administrator for assistance.

Applicants will be contacted if any required materials are missing.

Journalism Scholarship Application:
https://www.nenpa.com/scholarship-application/

Board of Directors

Randy Capitani, President
Publisher, Deerfield Valley News – Wilmington, VT

Anthony Galvagna, Treasurer
Bank of America – Boston, MA

Ellen Zappala, Clerk
Merrimac, MA

Kristen Nevious
Director Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication
Franklin Pierce University – Rindge, NH

Helen Smith
NE Scholastic Press Assoc.– Boston University

John Voket, Director of Economic and Community Development
Town of Newtown – Newtown, CT

Angelo Lynn, NENPA Liaison
Publisher, Addison Independent – Middlebury, VT