About the New England Better Newspaper Competition

Entries are closed for the 2024 contest.

The New England Newspaper & Press Association’s Better Newspaper Competition is New England’s largest journalism recognition program.

This prestigious competition celebrates the skill, passion, and determination it takes to produce top-quality publications. It offers an exciting opportunity for talented newspaper professionals to be recognized for their exceptional work.

Work published by NENPA member news organizations during the contest year, August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024, is eligible for this competition.

The competition has three divisions:

Download the information packets (click the links above) and you will find all of the information necessary to prepare your entries, including a list of competitive categories, complete rules and guidelines, and the criteria that each contest category will be judged upon.

You can find additional information on preparing entries – such as how to make PDF files smaller, extract particular pages, and combine several PDF files – in the Frequently Asked Questions page at the end of this packet.

Awards will be presented at the annual New England Newspaper Convention, happening in Spring 2025.

We wish you the very best of luck in this year’s competition! If questions come up while preparing your entries please email L.Conway@nenpa.com or T.Cleary@nenpa.com.

Presented in March 2024
General Excellence

Daily Newspapers
Brattleboro Reformer, Brattleboro, VT
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA

Weekly Newspapers
Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME
Addison County Independent, Middlebury, VT

Specialty Publications
Bluedot Living MV, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

News Services and Online News Sites
Boston.com, Boston, MA

College Newspaper of the Year

The Bowdoin Orient, Bowdoin College

Advertising General Excellence

Combined Category
Staff, The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH

Advertising Directory / Manager of the Year

Combined Category
Douglas Anderson, The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH

Excellence In Newsroom Collaboration And Partnerships

Combined Category
Worcester Business Journal, Worcester, MA

Reporter of the Year

Meg Britton-Mehlisch, The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA

Top College Journalist

Lucas Dufalla, The Bowdoin Orient, Bowdoin College

Photojournalist of the Year

Kris Craig
The Providence Journal, Providence, MA

Rookie of the Year

Daily
Alison Cross, The Hartford Courant

Weekly
Trevor Meek, Ipswich Local News

College Rising Star

Steven O’Hara, The Connector, UMASS Lowell

Innovator Award

Combined Category
James Rinker, The Keene Sentinel

Best Overall Website

Online News Service
Boston.com, Boston, MA

Weekly Newspaper

Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME

Specialty Newspaper
Providence Business News, Providence, RI

College Newspaper
New England College, Henniker, NH

Digital Strategy Excellence

Combined Category
Brattleboro Reformer, Brattleboro, VT

Outstanding Newsletter

Combined
Staff, VTDigger.org, Montpelier, VT

Best Solutions Journalism Project

Combined Category
Sun Journal, Lewiston, ME

Presented in May 2023
General Excellence

Daily Newspapers
Gloucester Daily Times, Gloucester, MA
New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester, NH

Weekly Newspapers
The Harvard Press, Harvard, MA
The Ellsworth American, Ellsworth, ME

Specialty Publications
Boston Business Business Journal, Boston, MA

News Services and Online News Sites
Boston.com, Boston, MA

College Newspaper of the Year

The Daily Free Press, Boston University

Advertising General Excellence

Combined Category
Staff, Providence Business News, Providence, RI

Excellence In Newsroom Collaboration And Partnerships

Combined Category
Granite State News Collaborative Partners, Invisible Walls Series

Reporter of the Year

Rich Saltzberg, The Martha’s Vineyard Times

Top College Journalist

Colbi Edmonds, The Daily Free Press, Boston University

Photojournalist of the Year

Marc Vasconcellos
The Enterprise, Gannett New England

Rookie of the Year

Daily
Namu Sampath, The Enterprise (Brockton)

Weekly
Calli Remillard, The Falmouth Enterprise

College Rising Star

Bella Ramirez, The Daily Free Press, Boston University

Innovator Award

Combined Category
Olivia Belanger and Terrence Williams, The Keene Sentinel
Monadnock Region Health Reporting Lab

Best Overall Website

Online News Service
Boston.com, Boston, MA

Weekly Newspaper

Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME

Daily Newspaper
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA

College Newspaper
New England College, Henniker, NH

Digital Strategy Excellence

Combined Category
Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Outstanding Newsletter

Combined
Staff, The Minute, The Martha’s Vineyard Times

Best Solutions Journalism Project

Combined Category
Paul Cuno-Booth and Anthony Payton, Prison Education Programs Package, Granite State News Collaborative

Presented in April 2022
General Excellence

Daily Newspapers
The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA

Weekly Newspapers
Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME
Seven Days, Burlington, VT

Specialty Publications
Boston Business Business Journal, Boston, MA

News Services and Online News Sites
Boston.com, Boston, MA

Advertising General Excellence

Weekly Newspapers 
The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT
Addison County Independent, Middlebury, VT

Specialty Newspaper
Douglas Anderson, The Keene Sentinel, Monadnock Table, Keene, NH

Excellence In Newsroom Collaboration And Partnerships

Daily Newspapers
The Day, Spirit of the City, New London, CT

News Service and Online
Granite State News Collaborative Partners Covid Coverage

Weekly
Lindsay Repka, Middlebury Students, John McCright, Addison County Independent Newsroom partnership on COVID and Cancer series

Reporter of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Francesca Paris, The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA

Weekly Newspapers
Chelsea Edgar, Seven Days, Burlington, VT

Photojournalist of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Deb Cram, Seacoast Online, Portsmouth, NH

Weekly Newspapers
David Sokol, USA Today/Gannett New England

Rookie of the Year

Combined
Emilia Otte, The Connecticut Examiner

Innovator Award

The Keene Sentinel Business Buy-in Readership Program, The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH

* Download Awards Booklets *
Best Overall Website

Specialty Publication
Providence Business News
, Providence, RI

Online News Service

Boston.com, Boston, MA

Weekly Newspaper

The Martha’s Vineyard Times, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Daily Newspaper

The Day, New London, CT

Digital Strategy Excellence
Outstanding Newsletter

Combined
Lukas Southard, The Berkshires in Brief, The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA

Best Solutions Journalism Project

Daily Newspapers
The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH
Pandemic Parenting

News Services and Online News Site
Masslive.com
Court of Hope

Presented in April 2021
General Excellence

Daily Newspapers
The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA
The Republican, Springfield, MA

Weekly Newspapers
The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT
Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Specialty Publications
VT Ski + Ride, Middlebury, VT

News Services and Online News Sites
VTDigger.org, Montpelier, VT

Advertising General Excellence

Weekly Newspapers
The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT

Specialty Newspaper
Northeast Equestrian Life, The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH

Innovator Award

Terrence Williams and Staff
Table Stakes,
The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH

Excellence In Newsroom Collaboration And Partnerships

The Business Journal, The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH

Reporter of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Hadley Barndollar, New England Regional Reporter, USA Today/Gannett

Weekly Newspapers
Noah Asimow, Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Photojournalist of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Peter Pereira, The Standard-Times, New Bedford, MA

Weekly Newspapers
David Sokol, USA Today/Gannett New England

Rookie of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Jackson Cote, Masslive.com, Springfield, MA

* Download Awards Booklets *
Best Overall Website

Specialty Publication
Providence Business News
, Providence, RI
Online News Service
Boston.com, Boston, MA
Weekly Newspaper
The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT
Daily Newspaper
The Day, New London, CT

Digital Strategy Excellence

Weekly Newspaper
Vineyard Gazette
, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Online News Service
VTDigger.org, Montpelier, VT

Outstanding Newsletter

Daily Newspapers
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Noah Hoffenberg, Breaking News Alert

Weekly Newspapers
Addison County Independent, Middlebury, VT
Megan James, MiniBury

Best Solutions Journalism Project

Daily Newspapers
Portsmouth Herald, Portsmouth, NH
Hadley Barndollar, No Where To Go

News Services and Online News Site
Granite State News Collaborative, NH
Follow The Money

Presented in February 2020
General Excellence

Daily Newspapers
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA

Weekly Newspapers
Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME
Seven Days, Burlington, VT

Specialty Publications
VT Ski + Ride, Middlebury, VT

Advertising General Excellence

Weekly Newspapers
The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT (circ less than 6,000)

Specialty Newspaper
Providence Business News, Providence, RI

Reporter of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Erin Tiernan, The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

Weekly Newspapers
Rich Saltzberg, The Martha’s Vineyard Times, Vineyard Haven, MA

Photojournalist of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Peter Pereira, The Standard-Times

Weekly Newspapers
David Sokol, GateHouse Media New England

Rookie of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Alex Putterman, Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT

Weekly Newspapers
Christopher Ross, Addison County Independent, Middlebury, VT

Innovator Award

Terrence Williams, Gina De Santis and Staff
Radically Rural,
The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH

Best Overall Website

Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT
MassLive.com, Springfield, MA

Website Interactivity & Engagement

Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT

Digital Strategy Excellence

Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Outstanding Newsletter

The Stowe Report, Kristen Braley and Hannah Normandeau
Stowe Reporter, Stowe, VT

Best Solutions Journalism Project

Finding Hope, Leah Willingham and Geoff Forester
Concord Monitor, Concord, NH

Excellence In Newsroom Collaboration And Partnerships

City of Immigrants – Grant Welker and Brad Kane
Worcester Business Journal, Worcester, MA

* Download Awards Booklets *
Presented in February 2019
General Excellence

Daily Newspapers
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Republican-American, Waterbury, CT

Weekly Newspapers
Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME
Seven Days, Burlington, VT

Specialty Publications
Providence Business News, Providence, RI

Niche Publications
Fiddlehead, Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH

Advertising General Excellence

Weekly Newspapers
The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT (circ less than 6,000)
Addison County Independent, Middlebury, VT (circ 6,000+)

Specialty Newspaper
Northeast Equestrian Life, Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH

Reporter of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Doug Fraser, Cape Cod times, Hyannis, MA

Weekly Newspapers
Andrew Martin, The Stowe Reporter, Stowe, VT

Photographer of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Peter Pereira, The Standard-Times

Weekly Newspapers
David Sokol, GateHouse Media New England

Rookie of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Leah Willingham,Concord Monitor

Weekly Newspapers
Miranda Willson, Medford Transcript

Innovator Award

Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH

Website Design

Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Website Interactivity & Engagement

Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA

Digital Strategy Excellence

Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

? Download Awards Booklets ?
Presented in February 2018
General Excellence

Daily Newspapers
Republican-American Waterbury, CT
Concord Monitor Concord, NH

Weekly Newspapers
The Martha’s Vineyard Times Vineyard Haven, MA
Mount Desert Islander Bar Harbor, ME

Specialty Publications
Providence Business News Providence, RI

Advertising General Excellence

Weekly Newspapers
Vermont Standard Woodstock, VT

Specialty Newspaper
Fiddlehead (published by Keene Sentinel) Keene, NH

Reporter of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Neal Simpson The Patriot Ledger

Weekly Newspapers
Dan Mac Alpine Ipswich Chronicle

Photographer of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Peter Pereira The Standard-Times

Weekly Newspapers
David Sokol GateHouse Media New England

Rookie of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Aimee Chiavaroli The Standard-Times

Weekly Newspapers
Hadley Barndollar The Exeter News-Letter

Innovator Award

Vineyard Gazette Edgartown, MA

Top Newspaper Websites

Daily Newspapers
Keene Sentinel Keene, NH

Weekly Newspapers
Seven Days Burlington, VT

Specialty Publications
Providence Business News Providence, RI

? Download Awards Booklets ?
Presented in February 2017
General Excellence

Daily Newspapers
The MetroWest Daily News Framingham, MA
Republican-American Waterbury, CT

Weekly Newspapers
Seven Days Burlington, VT
Mount Desert Islander Bar Harbor, ME

Specialty Newspaper
Boston Business News Boston, MA

Advertising General Excellence

Weekly Newspapers
Vermont Standard Woodstock, VT

Specialty Newspaper
Bay State Parent Millbury, MA

Reporter of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Doug Fraser Cape Cod Times

Weekly Newspapers
Walter Bird Jr. Worcester Magazine

Photographer of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Merrily Cassidy Cape Cod Times

Weekly Newspapers
Robin Chan Hingham Journal

Rookie of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Elaine Ezerins St. Albans Messenger

Weekly Newspapers
Kymelya Sari Seven Days (Burlington, VT)

Innovator Award

Combined
Peter Huoppi, Casey O’Neill, Keith O’Brien & Mike DiMauro – The Day (New London, CT)

Top Newspaper Websites

Daily Newspapers
Mike Effland & Staff – Telegram & Gazette Worcester, MA

Weekly Newspapers
Seven Days Burlington, VT

Specialty Publications
Rick Mello, Tara Kenny & Kelsey Perrett – Martha’s Vineyard Times (www.vineyardvisitor.com) Vineyard Haven, MA

Presented in February 2016
General Excellence

Daily Newspapers
The MetroWest Daily News Framingham, MA
The Patriot Ledger Quincy, MA

Weekly Newspapers
Addison County Independent Middlebury, VT
Stowe Reporter Stowe, VT

Specialty Newspaper
Worcester Magazine Worcester, MA

Advertising General Excellence

Weekly Newspapers
Vermont Standard Woodstock, VT

Specialty Newspaper
BayStateParent Millbury, MA

Reporter of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Doug Fraser Cape Cod Times

Weekly Newspapers
Walter Bird Jr. Worcester Magazine

Photographer of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Peter Pereira The Standard-Times

Weekly Newspapers
Steven King Worcester Magazine

Rookie of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Elodie Reed St. Albans Messenger (St. Albans, VT)

Weekly Newspapers
Wendy M. Levy The Commons (Windham County, VT)

Innovator Award

Daily Newspapers
Terrence Williams Keene Sentinel (Keene, NH)

Weekly Newspapers
Tom Dunlop Vineyard Gazette (Edgartown, MA)

Top Newspaper Websites

Daily Newspapers
Telegram & Gazette Worcester, MA

Weekly Newspapers
Addison County Independent Middlebury, VT

Presented in February 2015
General Excellence

Daily Newspapers
Cape Cod Times Hyannis, MA
The Telegraph Nashua, NH

Weekly Newspapers
The Ellsworth American. Ellsworth, ME
The Vermont Standard Woodstock, VT

Specialty Newspaper
Providence Business News Providence, RI

Advertising General Excellence

Daily Newspapers
St. Albans Messenger St. Albans, VT

Weekly Newspapers
The Inquirer and Mirror Nantucket, MA

Specialty Newspaper
Bay State Parent Millbury, MA

Reporter of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Susan Spencer Telegram & Gazette

Weekly Newspapers
David DesRoches The Darien Times

Photographer of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Peter Pereira The Standard-Times

Weekly Newspapers
Steven King Worcester Magazine

Rookie of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Joe Markman The Enterprise

Weekly Newspapers
Jordan Mayblum Wellesley Townsman

Innovator Award

Daily Newspapers
Michael Dooling Republican-American

Weekly Newspapers
Vineyard Gazette Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Specialty Newspapers
AAA Horizons Providence, RI

Top Newspaper Websites

Daily Newspapers
Telegram & Gazette Worcester, MA

Weekly Newspapers
Vineyard Gazette Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Boothbay Register Boothbay Hardbor, ME

Download Awards Booklets
Presented in February 2014
General Excellence

Daily Newspapers
Cape Cod Times Hyannis, MA
Valley News West Lebanon, NH

Weekly Newspapers
The Ridgefield Press Ridgefield, CT
The Vermont Standard Woodstock, VT

Specialty Newspaper
The Catholic Transcript Hartford, CT

Advertising General Excellence

Daily Newspapers
St. Albans Messenger St. Albans, VT

Weekly Newspapers
Vineyard Gazette Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Specialty Newspaper
The Catholic Transcript Hartford, CT

Reporter of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Rick Foster The Sun Chronicle

Weekly Newspapers
David DesRoches The Darien Times

Photographer of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Ken McGagh The MetroWest Daily News

Weekly Newspapers
Shannon Hicks The Newtown Bee

Rookie of the Year

Daily Newspapers
Ariel Wittenberg The Standard-Times

Weekly Newspapers
Steve Coulter The Ridgefield Press

Digital Strategy Excellence

Vineyard Gazette Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Innovator Award

The Day New London, CT

Top Newspaper Websites

Daily Newspapers
The Telegraph Nashua, NH

Weekly Newspapers
Vineyard Gazette Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Download Awards Booklets
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