MV Times reporter Rich Saltzberg has been named Reporter of the Year by the New England Newspaper and Press Association.
Saltzberg has been a full-time reporter for The Times for three years, and prior to that was a freelance writer for the newspaper. His coverage of the Steamship Authority and lead contamination in U.S. Coast Guard housing were among the stories he was honored for in this year’s competition.
The Reporter of the Year award will be presented at NENPA’s annual convention in Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8. Saltzberg’s win joins dozens of nominations the newspaper received in this year’s competition.
“I’m surprised and honored,” Saltzberg said.
Times editor George Brennan called Saltzberg an old-fashioned shoe-leather reporter. “In the digital age, Rich is a throwback. His dogged pursuit of the truth is unmatched, and it often starts with him showing up at the door of a public official,” Brennan said. “Rich’s reporting on Coast Guard housing this year, and his pursuit of public records, was thorough and led to a nationwide review of the federal agency’s housing stock and possible lead contamination.”
He’s always ready to jump into action, associate publisher Jamie Kageleiry said. “Rich’s hard work and dedication to getting it right has earned him the respect of Islanders with stories to tell, or tips on breaking news,” she said. “It’s almost comical how often he’ll get a text in the middle of the night, or while he’s sitting down at Hanukkah dinner. He’s so ready to jump on these breaking stories that we have come to call him ‘Scoop’ in the newsroom.”
According to NENPA, Saltzberg was one of 22 reporters across New England considered for this year’s honor.
He lives in West Tisbury with his wife, Amanda, and their daughter, Electra, who sometimes accompanies Rich on assignment.
Job well done, keep typing!
We’re fortunate to have him. Congratulations on this award and well deserved. Keep looking under our rocks!
Congratulations, this is well deserved.
Congratulations Rich!
The MVtimes and the Island Residents are lucky to have you.
Rich, you are amazing! You have launched our small out-of-the-mainstream-market paper into the forefront of New England news reporting. Job well done, sir. I hope the recognition you earned will encourage other journalists to dig out Island news stories that will inform us and can change standard operating procedures for the better.
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