The New England Newspaper & Press Association is proud to recognize the Vermont journalists honored with A-Mark Prizes for Investigative Journalism at the Fall Leadership Conference on September 26, 2025. Their work reflects the best of local accountability reporting — investigations that expose hidden truths, give voice to the vulnerable, and push for reform.
Funded by the A-Mark Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to advancing investigative reporting, the A-Mark Prizes celebrate deeply researched, high-impact journalism across New England. Each year, up to $15,000 is available in every state to recognize stories that hold the powerful accountable and strengthen public trust in the press.
This year’s Vermont winners uncovered critical issues affecting everyday life in the Green Mountain State — from a statewide housing crisis and an embattled county prosecutor to the growing threat of financial scams targeting seniors.
🥇 1st Place
Carly Berlin — VTDigger and Vermont Public
“Emergency Shelters”
In 2024, as Vermont’s emergency housing policies shifted and more than 1,500 residents — including nearly 400 children — were forced out of temporary motel housing, reporter Carly Berlin of VTDigger and Vermont Public documented the crisis with persistence, compassion, and precision. A Report for America corps member jointly shared by the two outlets, Berlin blended public-records analysis, extensive field reporting, and deep community engagement to reveal the human toll of policy decisions that left families without shelter as winter approached.
Her coverage made a measurable impact. After her stories exposed the consequences for families with children, 91 Vermont legislators publicly urged the governor to declare a state of emergency, leading to the opening of three new emergency family shelters later that fall. Berlin also dismantled a long-held myth that Vermont’s homelessness crisis was driven by out-of-state migration, using data and personal stories to reshape public understanding.
The reporting — featured across VTDigger and Vermont Public’s “Brave Little State” series — stands as a model of collaborative, solutions-driven journalism. Berlin’s work not only informed and galvanized policymakers but also demonstrated how local reporting can directly improve lives.
🥈 2nd Place
John Flowers — Addison County Independent
“County Prosecutor, Eva Vekos”
In a two-part investigation, Addison County Independent senior reporter John Flowers examined growing concern over the performance and professionalism of Addison County State’s Attorney Eva Vekos. After her 2024 DUI charge and reports of hostile interactions with law enforcement, Flowers went deeper — uncovering a broader pattern of mismanagement inside her office that raised questions about how justice was being served.
Drawing on confidential interviews, court filings, and internal correspondence, Flowers revealed strained relationships with victim advocates, lenient plea deals used to clear case backlogs, and widespread frustration among survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence who felt dismissed by the system. His reporting also shed light on the absence of any state mechanism to remove an elected prosecutor short of impeachment, underscoring a structural flaw in Vermont’s system of accountability.
Flowers’s tenacity and deep institutional knowledge produced an unflinching portrait of a justice system in crisis — one that prompted statewide discussion about oversight, victims’ rights, and the ethical responsibilities of those who hold public trust.
🥉 3rd Place
Derek Brouwer — Seven Days
“Bilked and Bereft”
As part of Seven Days’ “This Old State” series exploring the challenges of Vermont’s aging population, reporter Derek Brouwer investigated how increasingly sophisticated scammers — many now using artificial intelligence — are targeting older Vermonters. His story revealed that these schemes often wiped out victims’ life savings and triggered unexpected tax bills on funds withdrawn from retirement accounts, compounding their financial ruin.
Through detailed interviews and clear, empathetic storytelling, Brouwer showed how victims’ sense of betrayal extended beyond the scammers themselves to the government systems that taxed them again after their losses. Readers praised the investigation for its clarity and urgency, with many sharing the piece to warn family members. Brouwer’s reporting helped raise awareness about a growing threat and equipped Vermonters to better recognize and prevent financial exploitation.
These Vermont journalists exemplify the highest standards of investigative reporting — determined, humane, and unafraid to ask difficult questions. Their work reveals how local journalism can inform public debate, safeguard communities, and drive meaningful change across the state. Congratulations to all of this year’s A-Mark Prize winners for advancing truth and accountability in Vermont.