New England journalism leaders gathered in Sturbridge on October 9 for NENPA's 2026 Leadership Summit, exploring the future of local news through conversations about AI innovation, newsroom leadership, and sustainability.


Highlights included practical projects from the NENPA–Google News Initiative AI Growth Lab, insights from AI strategist Aimee Rinehart, and a dynamic leadership panel featuring P.J. Browning, Lauren Gustus and Karen Bordeleau, moderated by Liz White Notarangelo.


The Summit's Awards Luncheon celebrated excellence in New England journalism, recognizing the Newspapers of the Year and the Distinguished Newspapers of the Year, 18 Publick Occurrences Award-winning entries and $90,000 in A-Mark Prizes. Individual honors included the AP Sevellon Brown New England Journalist of the Year, New England First Amendment Award, Allan B. Rogers Editorial Award, Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award and Cornerstone Award.

Read the full Summit recap to discover the program highlights, explore the interactive Program & Awards Book, and view or download the complete list of 2026 Fall Award winners.


NENPA extends its sincere thanks to the Google News Initiative, Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 Fall Leadership Summit, for its generous support and partnership in helping New England news organizations explore new technologies and opportunities for innovation.


We’re also grateful to The Lenfest Institute for Journalism for sponsoring this year’s Awards Luncheon. The Lenfest Institute shares NENPA’s commitment to strengthening local journalism and supporting the news organizations that serve our communities.


Together, their support helped make the summit an opportunity for news leaders from across New England to exchange ideas, explore the future of local news, and celebrate outstanding journalism.

The New England Newspaper & Press Association has opened the 2026 New England Better Newspaper Competition, with updated categories, expanded opportunities and three divisions recognizing the breadth of work being done across New England news organizations: Editorial, College Journalism and Revenue Excellence.

This year’s competition has been refreshed to better reflect the work being done across today’s news organizations — from reporting, photography and digital storytelling to audience growth, advertising, revenue innovation and the work of the next generation of New England journalists.


Revenue Excellence Redesigned for 2026


One of the biggest changes this year is the redesigned Revenue Excellence Awards, created to better recognize the many ways news organizations generate revenue, grow audiences and build stronger businesses.


The competition continues to recognize outstanding advertising while expanding to include digital marketing, audience growth, client success, events, reader revenue, partnerships, new products, fundraising and business innovation.


Categories are now organized around four areas: Advertising Excellence, Sections & Publications, Audience Growth and Revenue Innovation. The division also places greater emphasis on measurable client results, reader revenue, partnerships and new product development, with new individual and team recognition including Salesperson of the Year and Revenue Team of the Year.


The idea behind the redesigned competition is simple: If it worked, enter it. News organizations are encouraged to consider not only great advertising, but also successful campaigns, products, events, partnerships and strategies that produced meaningful results for their businesses, audiences or advertisers.


Download the 2026 Revenue Excellence Awards Guidelines

The deadline for all three divisions is Friday, October 30, 2026.

A new nonprofit organization has launched an effort to preserve locally controlled, independent community journalism in Hancock County and the Downeast region for generations to come. 

Acadia Newspaper Trust, a newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has announced an initiative to transition The Ellsworth American, Mount Desert Islander, and the Bangor Historian from private, for-profit ownership to nonprofit stewardship.

CommonWealth Beacon has launched a nonpartisan guide to Massachusetts' nine ballot questions, with digital and print resources available to help NENPA members inform their readers ahead of the November 3 election.

The online guide offers summaries of each question, context on the policy debates, and information about the major players and donors behind the campaigns. 

A print version is also available.