|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The New Bedford Light has been named “Newspaper of the Year 2026” in the online category by the New England Newspaper and Press Association.
The award, announced last week at the organization’s semiannual conference in Sturbridge, is presented to a news organization that excels in deep reporting, website design, multimedia elements, connection to the community, and the inclusion of diverse voices in their stories.
The judges offered several compliments about The Light’s work in their remarks:
- “I feel like I came away with a much better understanding of what’s going on in New Bedford. The reporting is thoughtful and thorough. They cover some complicated issues but they do a good job explaining why those issues matter.”
- “What I like most is that this newspaper really seems to understand the community. The stories are about things that seem to matter to New Bedford like the fishing industry, housing, and the waterfront.”
- “I like that it’s not all politics and bad news. There is a good mix of serious reporting and stories about local people and things happening around the city.”
- “The website is attractive and easy to read, and I appreciate being able to get the news without having to deal with a lot of ads or distractions. I especially like the community calendar and the information about local events.”
- “I love the videos and seeing community events.”
- “It’s great to see a news organization trying to reach different audiences and include voices that don’t always get heard.”
“We are proud of the journalism we produce and its impact in our community,” said Karen Bordeleau, executive editor. “And while we are tickled to be recognized by respected journalism organizations, our main gratitude is directed at our readers for their continued support and appreciation of our work.”
These news organizations were also honored with the “New England Newspaper of the Year 2026” designation in the following categories:
- Weekday edition, small circulation: Gloucester Daily Times
- Weekday edition, large circulation: Portland Press Herald
- Sunday edition, small circulation: The Keene Sentinel
- Sunday edition, large circulation: Maine Sunday Telegram
- Weekly edition, small circulation: Martha’s Vineyard Times
- Weekly edition, large circulation: The Ellsworth American
- Specialty Publication: Providence Business News
The Newspaper of the Year award is the latest achievement this year for The Light’s staff. In March, The Light earned 16 journalism awards, including eight first-place prizes, in the NENPA reporting contest.
In addition, Eleonora Bianchi was honored with the first-place award by the Institute for Nonprofit News for “Hidden in Plain Sight,” a photo essay showing immigrants who are left behind when family members are detained.
Grace Ferguson was honored with a finalist award in the Center for Integrity in News Reporting’s national contest for her work on high-risk pandemic relief grants.
Kevin G. Andrade and Eleonora Bianchi were honored with first-place awards by the New England chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists for their immigration reporting.
Many would disagree, the New Bedford Light has not been a fair and balanced publication, They are far left and always show favoritism to their flock. This year many people have complained about their comments not being posted and it has shown their unwillingness to serve the whole community.
Agree
Bravo to everyone at New Bedford Light! I appreciate the deep dives so I can better understand what goes into policy decisions. Kudos for also promoting the beauty of the city and its people. Keep writing and I’ll keep reading and supporting you.
Congratulations to the Light!
I’m grateful to have a worthy and insightful news organization reporting on our local area. When you have a news organization you encourage voter participation and a more informed public. Keep doing what you’re doing.
And thank you.
Congratulations! The Light’s accurate & trustworthy public interest journalism does our community an enormous service. Keep up the great work!
Congratulations on these well-earned awards to a great online local newspaper! I find your coverage to be well balanced and thought provoking, a refreshing change from divisive politics invading every issue. Keep up the great work! A devoted supporter.
The New Bedford Light does not follow up on stories that they initiate and print.
Igor Lima’s criminal case of intoxication, drug and scale possession along with possession of a weapon registered to a New Bedford Police Officer, Mason Almeida, was never followed up by The New Bedford Light as to disposition. Why not?
Wow what a NB Light love fest we have going on, deep dives, give us all a break, everyone can see it’s the same old far left cheer leaders shaking their pom poms. Till the NB Light opens the doors to both sides of the conversations, it will have no credibility, and be a far left slanted rag.
The New Bedford Light is a “Progressive, Left Of Center Digital Rag” that does lack balance and honest objectivity in reporting on topics and events.
Their most balanced and in-depth reporter, Colin Hogan, is no longer associated with the New Bedford Light. One sentence noted his departure.
The New Bedford Light avoids discussing the progressive erosion of New Bedford’s median household income purchasing power since 2012 and coming in 24th of 26 “Gateway Cities”with respect to median household income.
“Puff the Magic Dragon” articles seem to be on the daily menu.
Congratulations to The New Bedford Light and its dedicated staff on this well-deserved recognition as Newspaper of the Year 2026. This honor reflects the thoughtful, in-depth reporting, community engagement, and commitment to telling New Bedford’s stories that distinguish quality local journalism.
Disagreement is healthy in a democracy. Criticism is welcome when it is specific, constructive, and supported by facts. But dismissing an award-winning publication as a “far-left rag” without substantive evidence isn’t meaningful criticism; it is name-calling dressed up as commentary.
To those who repeatedly condemn the Light while hiding behind “anonymous” postings, a fair question remains: If you stand firmly behind your accusations, why not put your name to them? Anonymity can protect legitimate privacy, but it should not serve as a shield against accountability for sweeping, disparaging claims.
No newspaper is beyond criticism, and every reader deserves to have legitimate concerns heard. If comments are being rejected unfairly, cite examples and ask for transparent standards. That advances the conversation far more than blanket accusations of bias.
Meanwhile, the many thoughtful readers who recognize the Light’s value understand something essential: Strong local journalism informs citizens, illuminates complex issues, and gives a community a clearer picture of itself.
Awards do not make a newspaper infallible, but neither does anonymous hostility make it dishonest.
Congratulations to The Light for earning recognition through its work. Let the critics bring evidence, not just insults—and let the journalism speak for itself.
Eileen J. Marum
The evidence is in the ongoing, consistently left-of-center commentary of The New Bedford Light.
Their journalism does speak for itself and their silence on substantive issues like the progressively declining median household income purchasing power of New Bedford since 2012 speaks volumes.
Examples of rejected commentary are not printed and, therefore, they are not
citable and are lost in opaqueness.
Where did Colin Hogan leave for and why?
Commentary is not hostile, it is personal opinion. Those that hold another viewpoint will always use “hostile” to brand others, as such, if their viewpoint differs from their viewpoint.
As usual, time mitigates all opinions and varied viewpoints.
What time has shown is the inexorable economic decline of the residents of New Bedford and the city itself.
Hostility vs Viewpoint
It’s fair to say that people often unfairly label differing viewpoints as ‘hostile’ just to discredit them. However, there is a difference between a ‘varied viewpoint’ and the tone in which it is delivered. Commentary crosses from a healthy alternative viewpoint into hostility when it attacks individuals or motivations rather than the argument itself. Time can temper opinions, but a community thrives when people exchange them with mutual respect, regardless of political leanings.
Eileen J. Marum
Hostility vs Viewpoint, nice talking point, but it’s hard to ramble on about something like this when everything that is posted is always criticizing one side of the political isle. And what is worse the New Bedford Light lets this go on and on. No one in their right mind is buying into the far left liberal mumbo jumbo that is spewed here.
To all the anonymous posters accusing The New Bedford Light of bias: Put up the evidence.
The New Bedford Light was named “Newspaper of the Year 2026” in the online category by the New England Newspaper and Press Association. The award recognizes excellence in in-depth reporting, website design, multimedia storytelling, and community engagement, including diverse voices.
Yet some commenters claim the Light is “far left,” favors “their flock,” suppresses opposing viewpoints, and refuses to serve the entire community.
Those are serious accusations. So where is the evidence?
Which stories demonstrate political bias? What facts were distorted or omitted? What specific examples prove favoritism? Which comments were rejected, and under what circumstances?
Bring forward verifiable examples. Generalizations, political labels, and allegations without evidence are not proof.
To be clear, an award doesn’t make any publication immune to criticism. The Light, like every news organization, should be held accountable for its reporting and editorial decisions. But accountability cuts both ways: Journalists should support their reporting with facts, and critics should support their accusations with facts, too.
Anonymity can protect legitimate privacy, but it should not become a shield for sweeping, disparaging claims.
So, to those denouncing the Light as a source of “far-left liberal mumbo jumbo,” I call your bluff.
Show us the articles. Cite the facts. Identify the bias.
Don’t just claim The Light is unfair. Prove it.
If the evidence is there, let’s examine it. If it isn’t, perhaps the problem isn’t the journalism; it’s disagreement with what the journalism reveals.
The floor is yours. Make your case.
Eileen J. Marum
Thank you, Eileen Marum, for saying so well what so many people have been thinking for so long!