The staff of the award winning NECC Observer include from left to right: Faith Gregory, arts and entertainment editor of Merrimac; Thomas Shamma, copy editor of Salem, NH; Everson Taveras, features editor, of Haverhill; Matt Gingras, editor-in-chief of Amesbury; Chad Gorham, news editor, of Newbury; Christina Hillner, staff writer, of Dracut; Ashlee Ferrante, opinions editor, of Methuen.

Northern Essex Community College’s student operated newspaper The Observer, recently received Gold Awards from Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) for both the spring and fall semesters of 2013. 

Matt Gingras of Amesbury served as editor-in-chief during those two semesters.

“We were really pleased to receive this award,” says Gingras. “The paper received a silver award last year, so it was nice to receive the gold.”

Founded in 1925, the CSPA unites student editors and faculty advisers working with them to produce student newspapers, magazines, yearbooks and online media. CSPA is owned by Columbia University and operated as a program affiliated with its Graduate School of Journalism.  

The NECC Observer is an award-winning newspaper published by NECC journalism students. The Observer is published twice monthly during the academic year.

The NECC Observer staff works to inform the college community, including students, faculty, and staff. The Observer also serves as a public forum for the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses and accepts letters and guest columns from the college community.

The NECC Observer is funded by the college’s Academic Affairs division, and the newspaper staff receives its training in the college’s Journalism/Communication Program. Professor Mary Jo Shafer, an instructor in the Communication Arts Department, serves as faculty adviser to the newspaper.

The Observer is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the New England Press Association.

NECC offers associate degrees in liberal arts: journalism/communication and liberal arts: writing. Journalism/communication is ideal for individuals who like to write, have a curious nature, and would like to work in an exciting, fast-paced field.