Four distinguished journalists were inducted into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame during a celebratory dinner held on March 28 in Portland, Maine.
The 2025 inductees are:
- Stephen Kurkjian, a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner renowned for his investigative reporting with The Boston Globe’s Spotlight team.
- Paul Pronovost, former editor of the Cape Cod Times, recognized for his leadership and dedication to community journalism.
- Naomi Schalit and John Christie, co-founders of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, were celebrated for their commitment to investigative journalism and public service.
Maine Governor Janet Mills attended the event to show her support for inductees Naomi Schalit and John Christie. In her remarks, she spoke passionately about the threats facing the country—including risks to national security and the economy—but said what terrifies her most is the potential loss of the First Amendment. “When it goes,” she warned, “we won’t even know that it’s gone because you won’t be there to report it.” Acknowledging the often complicated relationship between the press and public officials, she closed by expressing her deep respect for journalists and urging them to keep doing their essential work.
The Hall of Fame dinner, held in conjunction with the 2025 New England Newspaper Convention, brought together family, friends, and colleagues to honor the achievements and legacies of these remarkable journalists.
More than 100 individuals have been singled out over the past 25 years for their extraordinary contributions to their newspaper, the news industry, and their communities.
Scroll down to view scenes from the evening.
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The Journalism Education Foundation of New England (JEFNE) is now accepting applications for its 2025 scholarship program, including the prestigious MacGregor Fiske Award. The program aims to support aspiring journalists from New England as they pursue careers in the field.
Join fellow New England journalists on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, for an evening of networking, conversation, and collaboration at Tiki Rock in Boston. This exciting event is open to all media professionals across the region and offers a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues and expand your professional network.
Student Press Freedom Day is a national day of action dedicated to recognizing the vital contributions of student journalists and advocating for their independence, free from censorship or threats to their advisers. It highlights the ongoing issue of arbitrary and unnecessary censorship and calls on elected officials to protect and restore student press freedom.
The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference is an incredible opportunity for high school juniors passionate about journalism and the First Amendment. This skill-building, network-growing, life-changing, all-expenses-paid, five-day program, hosted in Washington, D.C., is designed to inspire and support the next generation of media professionals.
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