About the New England Newspaper of the Year Competition

Each year, the New England Newspaper & Press Association identifies our region’s best daily, weekly, specialty, and online news publications, and recognizes them with the prestigious “New England Newspaper of the Year” award. Winners will be named in a range of circulation categories.

This is a one-of-a-kind competition – it is the only distinction of its kind in the newspaper industry that is judged by audience members. New England newspaper readers will be appointed to evaluate the entries from a news consumer point of view and decide which deserves the honor of being named Newspaper of the Year.

Readers will evaluate your paper’s relative strengths and weaknesses, including:
◆ quality of reporting and writing
◆ use of photos
◆ design and presentation
◆ digital offering
◆ overall utility and value
◆ General impressions, such as: Does the newspaper inform, educate, entertain, inspire, motivate, or lead? Does it reflect and care about the community it serves? Does it put the interests of the reader first? Is it unique or special in some way?

NENPA member newspapers are invited to enter five categories: Weekday newspapers, Sunday newspapers, Weekly community newspapers, Specialty Publications, and Online News Sites.

To be considered, editors simply fill out the entry form and brief summary and upload them along with two editions from the contest year.

Weekday – One issue from the week of April 8-13, 2024 and One issue from any weekday June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024

Sunday – Issue from April 14, 2024 and One issue from any Sunday between June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024

Weekly and Specialty Publications – One issue from the month of April 2024 and One issue from anytime between June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024

Online News Sites – Along with your URL, submit a link to a story, article or series from the month of April 2024, and a link to a story, article or series of work from any day June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024

Publications will be assigned to a competitive division within their category after all entries are received (i.e., small, medium, and large weeklies, small, medium, and large dailies, small, medium, and large Sunday/weekend publications, local and regional news sites.)

Judging will take place in August. Winners will be notified in September, and all awards will be presented and celebrated during the New England Newspaper & Press Association (NENPA) and New York Press Association (NYPA) joint Fall Conference at The Omni in Providence, RI from September 19-21, 2024.

Questions? Please contact Linda Conway at l.conway@nenpa.com.

Specialty Publications:
DistinguishedNew Boston Beacon (New Boston, NH), Valley Advocate (Northampton, MA)
Newspaper of the YearProvidence Business News (Providence, RI)

Online News Publications:
DistinguishedVT Digger (Montpelier, VT), Connecticut Inside Investigator (Hartford, CT)
Newspaper of the YearRhode Island Current (Providence, RI)

Weekly Newspapers (Small Circulation):
DistinguishedThe Vermont Standard (Woodstock, VT), Monadnock Ledger-Transcript (Peterborough, NH)
Newspaper of the YearThe Provincetown Independent (Provincetown, MA)

Weekly Newspapers (Large Circulation):
DistinguishedAddison County Independent (Middlebury, VT), Ipswich Local News (Ipswich, MA), The Inquirer and Mirror (Nantucket, MA)
Newspaper of the YearSeven Days (Burlington, VT)

Daily Newspapers (Small Circulation):
DistinguishedThe Keene Sentinel (Keene, NH), Greenfield Recorder (Greenfield, MA)
Newspaper of the YearDaily Hampshire Gazette (Northampton, MA)

Daily Newspapers (Large Circulation):
DistinguishedRepublican-American (Waterbury, CT), The Day (New London, CT)
Newspaper of the YearBerkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, MA)

Sunday Newspapers (Small Circulation)
Distinguished: The New Britain Herald (New Britain, CT), Eagle Times (Claremont, NH)
Newspaper of the Year: Sunday Monitor (Concord, NH)

Sunday Newspapers (Large Circulation)
Distinguished: The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, MA), Sunday Republican (Springfield, MA)
Newspaper of the Year: The Day (New London, CT)

Daily newspapers, small circulation division
Distinguished: The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH, Record-Journal, Meriden, CT
Newspaper of the Year: Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA

Daily newspapers, mid-size circulation division
Distinguished: The Recorder, Greenfield, MA, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton, MA
Newspaper of the Year: The Day, New London, CT

Daily newspapers, large circulation division
Distinguished: The Republican, Springfield, MA, Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, MA
Newspaper of the Year: Republican-American, Waterbury, CT

Sunday newspapers, small circulation division
Distinguished: Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, The Day, New London, CT
Newspaper of the Year: Concord Monitor, Concord, NH

Sunday newspapers, large circulation division
Distinguished: Sunday Republican, Springfield, MA, New Hampshire Sunday News, Manchester NH
Newspaper of the Year: Republican-American, Waterbury, CT

Weekly newspapers, small circulation division
Distinguished: Milton Times, Milton, MA, St. Albans Messenger, St. Albans, VT
Newspaper of the Year: The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT

Weekly newspapers, large circulation division
Distinguished: Mt. Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME, The Martha’s Vineyard Times, Vineyard Haven, MA, The Ellsworth American, Ellsworth, ME
Newspaper of the Year: The Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket, MA

Specialty Publications
Distinguished: New Boston Beacon, New Boston, NH, Worcester Magazine, Worcester MA
Newspapers of the Year: Providence Business News, Providence, RI

Daily newspapers, circulation of less than 10,000
Distinguished:  Brattleboro Reformer, Gloucester Daily Times, Patriot Ledger
Newspaper of the Year: Keene Sentinel

Daily newspapers, circulation between 10,000 – 20,000
Distinguished: Berkshire Eagle, Daily Hampshire Gazette, The Day
Newspaper of the Year:  Record-Journal

Daily newspapers, circulation of more than 20,000
Distinguished: The Republican, The Providence Journal
Newspaper of the Year:  Republican-American

Sunday newspapers, circulation of less than 25,000
Distinguished: Eagle-Tribune, Record-Journal, The Day
Newspaper of the Year: Berkshire Eagle

Sunday newspapers, circulation of more than 25,000
Distinguished: The Providence Journal, Telegram & Gazette
Newspaper of the Year: The Republican, Springfield

Specialty Publication
Distinguished: New Boston Beacon, Worcester Magazine
Newspaper of the Year: Providence Business News

Weekly newspapers, circulation of less than 5,000
Distinguished: Mt. Desert Islander, Martha’s Vineyard Times
Newspaper of the Year: Vermont Standard

Weekly newspapers, circulation of more than 5,000
Distinguished:  Seven Days, Inquirer and Mirror
Newspaper of the Year: Provincetown Independent

Weekday Newspapers

Daily newspapers with a weekday circulation of less than 10,000

Distinguished Newspapers: Gloucester Daily Times, Gloucester, MA and Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH
Newspaper of the Year: The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

Daily newspapers with a weekday circulation between 10,000-20,000

Distinguished Newspapers: The Day, New London, CT and The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Newspaper of the Year: Record-Journal, Meriden, CT

Daily newspapers with a weekday circulation over 20,000

Distinguished Newspapers: The Republican, Springfield, MA and The Providence Journal, Providence, RI
Newspaper of the Year: Republican-American, Waterbury, CT

Sunday Newspapers

Sunday newspapers with circulation up to 25,000

Distinguished Newspapers: The Day, New London, CT and The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, MA
Newspaper of the Year: The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA

Sunday newspapers with circulation more than 25,000

Distinguished Newspapers: Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, MA and The Republican, Springfield, MA
Newspaper of the Year:  Providence Sunday Journal, Providence, RI

Weekly Community Newspapers

Weekly newspapers with circulation less than 5,000

Distinguished Newspapers: Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME, Provincetown Independent, Provincetown, MA and Milton Times, Milton, MA
Newspaper of the Year: The Vermont Standard, Woodstock VT

Weekly newspapers with circulation more than 5,000

Distinguished Newspapers:  and The Martha’s Vineyard Times, Vineyard Haven, MA, Seven Days, Burlington, VT and Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket, MA
Newspaper of the Year: Ellsworth American, Ellsworth, ME

Specialty Newspapers

Distinguished Newspaper: New Boston Beacon, New Boston, NH
Newspaper of the Year: Providence Business News, Providence RI

Weekday Newspapers

Daily newspapers with a weekday circulation of less than 10,000

Distinguished Newspapers: Gloucester Daily Times, Gloucester, MA and Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH
Newspaper of the Year: Concord Monitor, Concord, NH

Daily newspapers with a weekday circulation between 10,000-25,000

Distinguished Newspapers: The Day, New London, CT and Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton, MA
Newspaper of the Year: The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA

Daily newspapers with a weekday circulation over 25,000

Distinguished Newspapers: The Republican, Springfield, MA and Republican-American, Waterbury, CT
Newspaper of the Year: The Providence Journal, Providence, RI

Sunday Newspapers

Sunday newspapers with circulation less than 25,000

Distinguished Newspapers: Record-Journal, Meriden, CT and The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, MA
Newspaper of the Year: The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA

Sunday newspapers with circulation more than 25,000

Distinguished Newspapers: Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, MA and The Republican, Springfield, MA
Newspaper of the Year:  Providence Sunday Journal, Providence, RI

Weekly Community Newspapers

Weekly newspapers with circulation less than 5,000

Distinguished Newspapers: Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME and the Provincetown Independent, Provincetown, MA
Newspaper of the Year: The Vermont Standard, Woodstock VT

Weekly newspapers with circulation more than 5,000

Distinguished Newspapers: Ellsworth American, Ellsworth, ME and The Martha’s Vineyard Times, Vineyard Haven, MA
Newspaper of the Year: Seven Days, Burlington, VT

Specialty Newspapers

Distinguished Newspaper: Worcester Magazine, Worcester, MA.
Newspaper of the Year: Providence Business News, Providence RI

Weekday Newspapers

Circulation up to 5,000:
The Bristol (CT) Press
Distinguished Newspapers –
Herald, New Britain, CT
the Chronicle, Willimantic, CT

Circulation 5,000-10,000:
The Daily News, Newburyport, MA
Distinguished Newspapers –
Record-Journal , Meriden, CT
Daily Times, Gloucester, MA

Circulation 10,000-20,000:
The MetroWest Daily News,
Framingham, MA
Distinguished Newspapers –
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Concord (NH) Monitor

Circulation 20,000-35,000:
Republican-American, Waterbury, CT
Distinguished Newspaper –
Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, MA

Circulation 35,000+:
The Republican., Springfield, MA
Distinguished Newspapers –
The Providence (RI) Journal
Hartford (CT) Courant

Sunday Newspapers

Circulation less than 10,000:
The MetroWest Daily News,
Framingham, MA

Distinguished Newspapers –
Record-Journal, Meriden, CT
The Sun Chronicle, Attleboro, MA
The Herald News, Fall River, MA

Circulation 10,000-20,000:
The Berkshire Eagle,
Pittsfield, MA

Distinguished Newspapers –
The Eagle-Tribune, N. Andover, MA
The Standard-Times, New Bedford, MA

Circulation 20,000-40,000:
Telegram & Gazette,
Worcester, MA

Distinguished Newspapers –
Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA
The Day, New London, CT

Circulation 40,000+:
The Republican.,
Springfield, MA

Distinguished Newspapers –
Courant, Hartford, CT
Sunday Journal, Providence, RI

Weekly Community Newspapers

Circulation less than 5,000:
Marshfield Mariner (MA)
Distinguished Newspapers –
Provincetown (MA) Banner
Milton (MA) Times

Circulation 5,000-9,000:
Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME
Distinguished Newspapers –
Addison Independent, Middlebury, VT
The Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket, MA

Circulation 9,000+:
The Martha’s Vineyard Times, Vineyard Haven, MA
Distinguished Newspapers –
The Ellsworth (ME) American.
Seven Days, Burlington, VT

Specialty Newspapers

UpCountry, The Berkshires of Massachusetts,
So. Vermont
Distinguished Newspapers –
Business News, Providence, RI
Mainebiz, Portland, ME

Weekday Newspapers

Circulation less than 8,000:
The Chronicle,
Willimantic, CT
Distinguished Newspapers – The Milford (MA) Daily News; The New Britain (CT) Herald

Circulation 8,000-14,000:
Concord Monitor (NH)
Distinguished Newspapers – The Herald News, Fall River, MA; The MetroWest Daily News,
Framingham, MA

Circulation 14,000-25,000:
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – Sun Journal, Lewiston, ME; The Day, New London, CT

Circulation 25,000-35,000:
The Patriot Ledger,
Quincy, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – Republican-American, Waterbury, CT; Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA

Circulation 35,000+:
Hartford Courant (CT)
Distinguished Newspapers – The Providence (RI) Journal; The Republican, Springfield, MA

Sunday Newspapers

Circulation less than 18,000:
The Sun Chronicle, Attleboro, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – Sunday Valley News, West Lebanon, NH; Sunday Monitor, Concord, NH; The MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

Circulation 18,000-30,000:
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – The Eagle-Tribune, N. Andover, MA
Sun Journal, Lewiston, ME

Circulation 30,000-45,000:
Sunday Telegram, Worcester, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA; New Hampshire Union Leader
and Sunday News, Manchester, NH

Circulation 45,000+:
The Republican, Springfield, MA
Distinguished Newspaper – Providence (RI) Sunday Journal

Weekly Community Newspapers

Circulation less than 5,000:
Provincetown Banner (MA)
Distinguished Newspapers – Marshfield (MA) Mariner; Milton (MA) Times

Circulation 5,000-10,000:
The Source, Madison (CT)
Distinguished Newspapers – Vineyard Gazette, Edgartown (MA); The Ellsworth (ME) American

Circulation 10,000+:
Martha’s Vineyard Times, Vineyard Haven, MA
Distinguished Newspaper – Seven Days, Burlington, VT

Specialty Newspapers

Providence Business News, (RI)
Distinguished Newspapers – UpCountry Magazine; The Berkshires of Massachusetts and So. Vermont; Worcester (MA) Magazine

Weekday Newspapers

Daily News of Newburyport
Newbury, MA

Daily Hampshire Gazette
Northampton, MA

The Day
New London, CT

The Patriot Ledger
Quincy, MA

Hartford Courant
Hartford, CT

Sunday Newspapers

Sunday Monitor
Concord, NH

Sunday Eagle-Tribune
North Andover, MA

Sunday Republican-American
Waterbury, CT

Hartford Courant
Hartford, CT

Weekly Newspapers

Mount Desert Islander
Bar Harbor, ME

Provincetown Banner
Provincetown, MA

Martha’s Vineyard Times
Vineyard Haven, MA

Specialty Newspapers

Upcountry Magazine
Pittsfield, MA

Weekday Newspapers

Circulation less than 10,000:
Gloucester Daily Times (MA)
Distinguished Newspapers – Taunton (MA) Daily Gazette; The Westerly (RI) Sun

Circulation 10,000-15,000:
The MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA
Distinguished Newspaper – The Recorder, Greenfield, MA; Circulation 15,000-20,000:

The Standard-Times, New Bedford, MA
Distinguished Newspaper – Burlington (VT) Free Press

Circulation 20,000-35,000:
The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA
Distinguished Newspapers – The Day, New London, CT; Sun Journal, Lewiston, ME

Circulation 35,000+:
The Providence Journal (RI)
Distinguished Newspapers – The Republican, Springfield, MA; Republican-American, Waterbury, CT

Sunday Newspapers

Circulation less than 20,000:
Sunday Valley News,Lebanon, NH
Distinguished Newspapers – The MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA
Weekend Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton, MA

Circulation 20,000-30,000:
Sun Journal, Lewiston, ME
Distinguished Newspaper – Sunday Eagle-Tribune, N. Andover, MA

Circulation 30,000-45,000:
The Sunday Republican, Waterbury, CT
Distinguished Newspaper – Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA

Circulation 45,000+:
Sunday Telegram, Worcester, MA
Distinguished Newspaper – Hartford (CT) Courant

Weekly Newspapers

Circulation less than 3,500:
The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT
Distinguished Newspaper – The Foxboro (MA) Reporter; The Block Island (RI) Times

Circulation 3,500-8,000:
Andover Townsman (MA)
Distinguished Newspapers – Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME; The Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket, MA

Circulation 8,000+:
The Ellsworth American (ME)
Distinguished Newspaper – Vineyard Gazette (MA)

Specialty Newspapers

Worcester Magazine (MA)
Distinguished Newspapers – Providence Business News (RI); Banker & Tradesman, Boston, MA

Weekday Newspapers

The Republican
Springfield, MA

Republican-American
Waterbury, CT

The Day
New London, CT

Daily Hampshire Gazette
Northampton, MA

The Daily News
Newburyport, MA

Sunday Newspapers

The Republican
Springfield, MA

Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, MA

The Day
New London, CT

Valley News
Lebanon, NH

Weekly Newspapers

The Ellsworth American.
Ellsworth, ME

The Inquirer and Mirror
Nantucket, MA

The Vermont Standard
Woodstock, VT

 

Specialty Newspapers

Worcester Magazine
Worcester, MA

Weekday Newspapers

The Republican
Springfield, MA

The Patriot Ledger
Quincy, MA

The Day
New London, CT

Valley News
Lebanon, NH

Portsmouth Herald
Portsmouth, NH

Sunday Newspapers

Sunday Telegram
Worcester, MA

Republican-American
Waterbury, CT

The MetroWest Daily News
Framingham, MA

Valley News
Lebanon, NH

Weekly Newspapers

The Ellsworth American.
Ellsworth, ME

The Vermont Standard
Woodstock, VT

North ° East Independent
North Kingstown / East Greenwich, RI

 

Specialty Newspapers

Providence Business News
Providence, RI

Weekday Newspapers

New Hampshire Union Leader
Manchester, NH

The Day
New London, CT

The Standard-Times
New Bedford, MA

Daily Hampshire Gazette
Northampton, MA

Gloucester Daily Times
Gloucester, MA

Sunday Newspapers

Sunday Telegram
Worcester, MA

Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, MA

The MetroWest Daily News
Framingham, MA

The Telegraph
Nashua, NH

Weekly Newspapers

The Ellsworth American.
Ellsworth, ME

Marshfield Mariner
Marshfield, MA

North ° East Independent
North Kingstown / East Greenwich, RI

 

Specialty Newspapers

Providence Business News
Providence, RI

Weekday Newspapers

Bristol Press
Bristol, CT

The Recorder
Greenfield, MA

The MetroWest Daily News
Framingham, MA

The Standard-Times
New Bedford, MA

Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, MA

Telegram & Gazette
Worcester, MA

Sunday Newspapers

Foster’s Sunday Citizen
Dover, NH

Record-Journal
Meriden, CT

The MetroWest Daily News
Framingham, MA

Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, MA

The Republican
Springfield, MA

Weekly Newspapers

Wayland Town Crier
Wayland, MA

The Inquirer & Mirror
Nantucket, MA

The Ellsworth American
Ellsworth, ME

 

Specialty Newspapers

The Catholic Transcript
Bloomfield, CT

Weekday Newspapers

Sentinel & Enterprise
Fitchburg, MA

Concord Monitor
Concord, NH

The Day
New London, CT

Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, MA

Telegram & Gazette
Worcester, MA

Sunday Newspapers

Foster’s Sunday Citizen
Dover, NH

Concord Monitor
Concord, NH

The MetroWest Daily News
Framingham, MA

Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, MA

The Republican
Springfield, MA

The Sunday Telegram
Worcester, MA

Weekly Newspapers

The Narragansett Times
N. Kingstown, RI

The Inquirer and Mirror
Nantucket, MA

The Ellsworth American
Ellsworth, ME

 

Specialty Newspapers

Vermont Woman Newspaper
South Hero, VT

Alternative Weekly Newspapers

The Boston Phoenix
Boston, MA

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