The Concord Monitor has been fortunate to have incredibly talented journalists work in our newsroom and cover your communities.

This year is no exception.

At the recent New Hampshire Press Association awards, our reporters were recognized for their talent and dedication in multiple categories, taking home some of the biggest awards.

This stands out because, unlike newspapers across the country that have withered or disappeared, the Concord Monitor has added staff and recommitted to covering local news.

We have reporters assigned to cover all of our local communities and a beat structure aligned with the biggest topics affecting people across New Hampshire.

I’m proud to say our staff is talented, intelligent and incredibly hard-working. They care about the people they write about, and they are invested in the communities they cover

The Monitor is able to hire and attract these types of journalists because of the support we receive from our subscribers, our advertisers and our community partners. We can’t thank you enough.

Our work is not done. We want to further broaden the towns and cities we cover and publish more of the critical information you need. We want to grow our subscriber base to put the news in more hands, including by giving subscriptions to those who can’t afford it. After all, knowledge is vital to civic life. We are trying our best to revitalize local reporting every single day we come to work.

We published an incredible array of stories last year, and we did it for you. These stories, which are sometimes beautiful and sometimes tragic, are at the core of what we do. But don’t just take my word for it. Here’s what the judges had to say about the Concord Monitor and its staff.

Sruthi Gopalakrishnan, who was hired by the Monitor in 2022 and covers the towns of Bow, Dunbarton and Hopkinton, along with the topics of solid waste, mental health and the state’s casinos, was named the New Hampshire journalist of the year.

“The quality of writing spanning a diverse series of reporting topics stands out,” the judges said. “From chronicling the last moments of a dying woman to a former state politician’s apparent misuse of pandemic relief funds, the reporter makes the subject matter understandable and relatable.”

Longtime Monitor photo editor Geoff Forester was named photographer of the year.

“Hard to beat collection,” the judges said. “Exceptional showing of skills in feature, news and sports, and that lightning photo sings. Well done, each image has a heightened level of intensity.”

Monitor reporters swept the rookie of the year award, with Jeremy Margolis, who covers education and the Merrimack Valley towns, taking first place. The three runners up were Suncook Valley reporter and community editor Rachel Wachman, state house and democracy reporter Charlotte Matterly and sports reporter Alexander Rapp.

“Maybe we should all take hiring advice from the Concord Monitor,” quipped awards emcee Matthew Mowry.

And after leaving the Monitor in 2024 following 38 years of outstanding work, Ray Duckler was honored with a lifetime achievement award for his contributions to New Hampshire journalism. Duckler received a standing ovation.

Reporters won multiple individual awards across several categories.

Health Reporting

Gopalakrishnan won first place for her story about Barbara Filion, who had a terminal disease and wanted to end her life through medical aid in dying.

“A phenomenal series about one woman’s journey to plan aid in dying out-of-state — alongside an accounting of NH’s own legislation,” the judges wrote. “A beautifully written series, with photos captured along the way. I found myself wanting to read on in the series. What a beautiful way to capture the issue and this woman’s life. Strength in writing, storytelling and photojournalism pull this to the top of the stack.”

Wachman won third place for her series on hospice care in New Hampshire.

Business Reporting

Margolis won first place for his reporting on the Florida-based man who founded Lionheart Classical Academy in Peterborough.

“The depth and detail in this deep-dive investigation is remarkable,” the judges said. “Jeremy Margolis appears to have successfully produced new wrinkles in this intriguing story every time he established a new source or turned over a new rock. This is top-notch investigative business reporting that is a credit to the writer, as well as the Monitor.”

Government Reporting

Former Monitor reporter Michaela Towfighi, who now works for the New York Times, won first place for her investigative series called Seized and Sold that probed the practice of towns and cities taking and selling land and homes for unpaid property taxes.

“This is some great reporting,” the judges said. “Comprehensive, interesting and informative. You cover this topic from many angles, and it is excellent work. By far, the best entry in the bunch.”

Investigative story/series

Margolis won first place for his three-part series looking into UNH’s response to pro-Palestinian protests on campus.

“A rock solid investigative piece using all the classic tools of investigative journalists to shine light on actions so odious that exposure is required,” the judges said, “It blends national issues with NH angles. This should make everyone in the room want to go out and file a Right to Know request immediately.”

Towfighi’s Seized and Sold series took second place.

Best use of social media

Wachman won for her roundup of the top stories of 2024 called Monitor Wrapped.

“Love this! What a unique way to do a year in review recap! Not many newspapers are this forward-thinking,” the judges said. “Wish I had thought of this one myself! I especially enjoyed the slide with all of the reporters and editors with photos, names and titles. It’s so important for readers to feel connected with their local papers!”

She also took third place for her video on Table Bakery in Concord.

Best use of video

Wachman took first place for her Table Bakery video.

“Overall, a good video and I appreciated the behind-the-scenes component to this,” the judges said.

She also came in second place for her Ice Cream Truck video.

Arts & Entertainment reporting

Wachman won first for her story on Concord father and son documentarians Samuel and Dan Habib.

“With the press of a button, Samuel Habib asked the question through his computer: ‘What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken in your life?’ Pensive silence met his words.” These first two sentences of Rachel Wachman’s lede set the tone and tempo for the words that follow.   Wac hman’s respectful, matter-of-fact reporting on Habib, a young man with cerebral palsy, exemplifies this category’s focus on clarity and relevance for those beyond the entertainment community.”

She also took third place for her story “Bringing home Concord’s ‘roving woman’: Ceremony commemorates lost musician Connie Converse.”

Crime/court reporting

Concord reporter Catherine McLaughlin came in second place for her story “Cottage community rebuilds beloved dock after it was destroyed in boat crash,” and Margolis came in third for “Breaking a multi-generational cycle: A woman from Loudon abused as a child seeks justice.”

Education reporting

McLaughlin took second place for a trio of stories, including “‘Stronger in different ways’: For the first time, CRTC’s emergency services program has mostly female students,” “Footing the bill: Deerfield secures school choice beyond Concord High” and “Through perseverance, Concord 2024 grads take life ‘by the horns.’”

General news story

Towfighi came in third place for her story “‘You have to give them someplace to go’ – A Concord homeowner has an encampment in her yard. Nationwide, cities are issuing permanent camping bans.”

Again, we can’t do any of this without your support. Thank you.

We do this work for you, our readers. Stay tuned for more to come.