With election coverage demanding newsrooms’ attention and members asking for additional time to prepare their entries, NENPA is extending the deadline for the 2026 New England Better Newspaper Competition to Friday, November 13.


Thank you to everyone who has already submitted entries. We appreciate the time and care you’ve put into showcasing your team’s accomplishments.

Visit the Better Newspaper Competition page for complete guidelines, category descriptions and entry requirements. To access the online entry portal, use the association code NENPA. You need to re-register every year, as the system is cleared annually.


For those still preparing submissions, this additional time is an opportunity to finish your entries, explore this year’s new and expanded categories, and recognize outstanding work across all three divisions:

• Editorial: With 84 categories and honors, the division recognizes excellence across reporting, opinion, design, digital journalism, photography, and special recognition.
  Download the 2026 Editorial Division Guidelines
  
• College Journalism: Updated to reflect today’s student newsrooms, the division recognizes work in print, online and across video, audio and social platforms.
  Download the 2026 College Journalism Division Guidelines
  
• Revenue Excellence: Redesigned for 2026, the competition celebrates outstanding advertising alongside audience growth, events, reader revenue, partnerships, new products, fundraising and business innovation.
  Download the 2026 Revenue Excellence Awards Guidelines

Eligible work: August 1, 2025–July 31, 2026.

Friday, November 13 is the final deadline. No further extensions will be offered.

Winners will be recognized at the 2027 New England Newspaper Convention, with dates and location to be announced.



Enter the 2026 Better Newspaper Competition



Questions? Contact L.Conway@nenpa.com or T.Cleary@nenpa.com.