Portland Press Herald, Maine Sunday Telegram named newspapers of the year in New England
Two newspapers published by the National Trust for Local News’ subsidiary in Maine won the top prize in a prestigious regional competition.
The Portland Press Herald won first place for New England Newspaper of the Year for large circulation weekday publications, and the Maine Sunday Telegram won first place for New England Newspaper of the Year for large circulation Sunday publications. The awards were given this month by the New England Newspaper & Press Association (NENPA) at its annual fall conference in Sturbridge, Mass. Both papers are publications of the Maine Trust for Local News.
“The newspaper of the year awards are a testament to the hard work of our entire newsroom staff,” said Scott Monroe, managing editor of the Maine Trust for Local News. “We’ve invested in quality community and state coverage, and these awards help demonstrate that commitment is paying off for our audience.”
NENPA includes newspapers across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The Telegram also won the Sunday Newspaper of the Year category last year.
This year’s marquee wins come on top of NENPA recognition for outstanding work by two Maine Trust reporters as well as more than 100 combined awards won at the Maine Press Association’s annual ceremony, also this month.
Press Herald education reporter Riley Board’s coverage of an abuse lawsuit against Bath’s Hyde School won NENPA’s Publick Occurrences award, which recognizes the best work that New England newspapers produce each year. Board’s coverage examined allegations of forced labor and emotional abuse at the nearly 60-year-old private boarding school in Bath.
Emily Duggan, an education reporter for the Sun Journal and Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel, received one of NENPA’s A-Mark Prizes for her parents’ rights groups reporting, which investigated how Maine school boards have been confronted with organized — and sometimes disruptive — efforts to remake local education policies. The A-Mark prizes honor outstanding investigative journalism that reveals hidden truths, holds power to account, or drives public awareness or reform.
Meanwhile, the Maine Trust for Local News publications’ excellent showing at the Maine Press Association awards was highlighted by a first place for the Sun Journal for general excellence among daily/weekend newspapers, followed by the Kennebec Journal in second place.
The Press Herald won first place for general excellence in advertising, followed by the Sun Journal in second and Central Maine Sunday in third. The Press Herald also won first place for general excellence in digital and the website of the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel won third.
The Press Herald, the Sun Journal, and the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel won 94 individual awards total, including 36 first-place wins.
Several reporters, business staff and former Maine Trust for Local News journalists also received individual honors.
The honors come as the Maine Trust for Local News continues to invest in strong community and statewide coverage.
“It was an exceptional year of journalism across Maine,” said Carolyn Fox, executive editor of the Maine Trust for Local News. “The range of work that earned recognition shows the versatility and talent of both our robust local news teams and the advertising teams who help make our work possible.”
