The New England Society of News Editors presents several prestigious awards each year to journalists in New England who are so expert and accomplished that they have truly “mastered” their craft. At the same time, NESNE also recognizes New England journalism’s most promising up-and-comers.

Below is a list of the NESNE Finalists and Specialty Award Winners for 2019. All winners will be honored at the NESNE Spring Awards Celebration held at The Boston Globe on Thursday, May 2nd.

2019 Specialty Award Winners

College Newspaper of the Year

The Daily Free Press, Boston (MA) University

College NOY 1st runner up
The Free Press, University of Southern Maine

College NOY 2nd runner up
The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut

College NOY 3rd runner up
The Bowdoin Orient, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME

Top College Journalist

Elisabeth O’Donnell, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, VT

College Rising Star

Sadie Housberg, Middlebury (VT) College

Master Reporter

Neal Simpson, The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA (Daily)
Grant Welker, Worcester (MA) Business Journal (Non-Daily)

Master Photographer

Merrily Cassidy, Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA

Newsroom Rising Star

Kristen Young, Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA

Judith Vance Weld Brown Spirit of Journalism Award

Elizabeth Banks, Framingham (MA) State University

New England Journalism Educator of the Year

Michael Land, Ph.D. Assumption College, Worcester, MA

2019 NESNE Finalists

“Police clamp tight rein on information”
Tommy Gardner & Caleigh Cross, Stowe Reporter

“Suicide deaths mount, stigma persists”
Neal Simpson, The Patriot Ledger

“Paid a lot to do very little”
Josie Albertson-Grove, Republican-American

“Bucking the Broncos”
Courtney Lamdin and Colin Flanders, Milton Independent

“The Boardroom Gap”
Grant Welker, Worcester Business Journal

“Judges spares heroin dealer from jail”
Julie Manganis, The Salem News

“Domestic violence victims struggle in family courts to retain custody of children”
Shira Schoenberg, The Republican

“Making a City Series”
Jim Haddadin, Jonathan Dame and Staff The MetroWest Daily News

“Til Death Do Us Part”
Mark Davis, Seven Days

“Beyond the Stigma Series on NH’s Opioid Epidemic”
Shawne K. Wickham, New Hampshire Union Leader/Sunday News

Hayes defeats Glassman
Steven Valenti, Republican-American

Police react when two are shot
Ben Garver, The Berkshire Eagle

Storm
Alyssa Stone,Marshfield Mariner

Riot
David Sokol, North Shore Sunday

Haircut
Dave Roback, The Republican

Man vs. Nature
Ken McGAgh, The MetroWest Daily News

Grieving Family
Allan Jung, Telegram & Gazette

Doggie in the Window
Peter Pereira, Standard-Times

Northern Lights
Paul Rogers, Stowe Reporter

Lexington Football too much for Brockton
Ann Ringwood, Lexington Minuteman

From Mexico to Maine: A blueberry raker’s story
Jack Dodson,The Ellsworth American

A Dog Day
Eva Sollberger, Seven Days

The coach who never curses
Peter Huoppi, The Day

Countryman Peony Farm
Eva Sollberger, Seven Days

Vineyard Gazette, Staff
Cape Cod Times, Staff

“Into the Arena”
John Walters, Seven Days

“DA Early and Bibaud probe”
Staff, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

“What would you grab if a disaster was on the way?”
Tracey O’Shaughnessy, Republican-American

“A Town Divided”
Jane Seagrave & Julia Wells, Vineyard Gazette

“Of #MeToo and truth-speaking”
Heather Beasley Doyle, Lexington Minuteman

“Sewage Spill Impacts Felt”
Michael Puffer, Republican-American

“Ferry Martha’s Vineyard Loses Power in Latest Mishap for Steamship Line”
Sara Brown, Vineyard Gazette

“Remaking Worcester”
Staff, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

“Under pressure: Mental health needs challenge schools”
Elizabeth Clemente, The Portland Forecaster

“Chemical regulation bill backed”
Jim Therrien, Bennington Banner

“Grace Under Fire”
Tommy Cassell, The MetroWest Daily News

“Marathoner with dwarfism conquers Boston and life”
William J. Kole and Steven Senne, The Associated Press

“Athletic Policy Questioned”
Lori Riley, The Hartford Courant

“The Motivator”
Brendan Kurie, Standard-Times

“Goooooal! World Cup Rocks the Coop”
Noah Asimow and Landry Harlan, Vineyard Gazette

“Endless Love”
Kayla Canne, The Sun Chronicle

“Song of Himself”
Dan Bolles, Seven Days

“Marathoner with dwarfism conquers Boston and life”
William J. Kole and Steven Senne, The Associated Press

“Elusive dream”
Geoff Spillane, Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll, Steve Heaslip, Ron Schloerb, Cape Cod Times

“Introducing Quinton Oliver Jones”
Will Broaddus, The Salem News