Bangor Daily News Wins Best Website at New England Newspaper Competition

The BDN took home multiple awards, including for its digital presence and investigative reporting.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 2:34am

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The Bangor Daily News (BDN) was awarded Best Overall Website at the New England Press & Newspaper Association's annual convention in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The BDN also won several other prizes, including Best Website Home Page, first place in Housing News, second place in General Excellence, and multiple other finalist placements.

Why it matters

This recognition highlights the BDN's commitment to providing high-quality digital journalism and serving Maine readers with the news and information they need. It underscores the importance of investing in strong local journalism and innovative digital presentation.

The details

The BDN's digital presence was praised for reflecting the hard work of its staff in ensuring Maine readers can easily access the news. Among the individual award winners were investigative reporter Sawyer Loftus, who took home the top prize in Housing News for his investigation into USDA foreclosure cases, and several other reporters honored for their work in obituaries, climate change reporting, human interest features, and sports commentary.

  • The awards were presented at the New England Press & Newspaper Association's annual convention on March 14, 2026.

The players

Bangor Daily News (BDN)

A Maine-based newspaper that has been serving the state since 1889 and is recognized for its digital journalism and investigative reporting.

Dan MacLeod

The executive editor of the Bangor Daily News, who praised the hard work of the BDN staff in maintaining a strong digital presence.

Sawyer Loftus

An investigative reporter on the BDN's Maine Focus team, who won the top prize in Housing News for his investigation into USDA foreclosure cases in Maine.

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What they’re saying

“Our digital presence reflects the hard work of a lot of brilliant BDN staffers devoted to ensuring Maine readers can find the news and information they need. This recognition means a great deal to a newsroom that has been serving Maine since 1889, and it's a reminder of why investing in strong local journalism and smart digital presentation is so essential.”

— Dan MacLeod, Executive Editor, Bangor Daily News (Bangor Daily News)

The takeaway

The Bangor Daily News' recognition as the best website in New England underscores the importance of investing in high-quality local journalism and innovative digital platforms to serve readers in the modern media landscape.