by John Osborn ·
Sunday, March 15, 2026
For the second time in four years, the Harvard Press won first place among small New England weeklies for general excellence in the annual Better Newspaper Competition hosted by the New England Newspaper and Press Association.
Four Press writers won gold and silver. Heidi Gómez won first place in the commentary category for her piece, “Dissed-abled,” on the obstacles faced by wheelchair users in Harvard. And Julie Gowel won first place for her reporting on the work of Loaves & Fishes in meeting the rising need for food assistance among area families.
Jen Manell earned silver for her entry in feature photography. John Osborn, Joan Eliyesil, and Marty Green were second in the health reporting category for their coverage of the closing of Nashoba Valley Medical Center, which included a collaboration with journalism students at Fitchburg State University.
The annual NENPA convention was held this year in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The organization represents 410 New England news outlets, from regional giants like the Boston Globe to small weeklies like the Martha’s Vineyard Times and the Harvard Press.