Bangor Daily News Reporter Named New England Journalist of the Year

Callie Ferguson, deputy investigations editor on the Bangor Daily News Maine Focus team, was honored by the New England Society of News Editors, the newspaper reported. The honor, titled "AP Sevellon Brown NE Journalist of the Year," was presented at a ceremony on Oct. 9.

The recognition was for her stories on immigration raids and arrests carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Maine. Ferguson reviewed court records and found that 11 of the immigrants detained during the January surge had criminal records, contradicting the administration's claims about who it was pursuing.

Michael Shepherd, the paper's politics and investigations editor, who nominated her, called the coverage "one of the most complete public accountings" of ICE activity in New England.

Ferguson and Josh Keefe of the Maine Monitor were also chosen for an A-Mark Prize for reporting on state police force used in 2024 against a handcuffed man in rural York County. Sawyer Loftus, another Maine Focus investigative reporter, received an A-Mark Prize for stories about USDA foreclosures on homes financed through a rural development mortgage program.

The paper itself was also named a distinguished newspaper for its 2026 weekday edition in the large circulation class.

This story was first reported by Bangor Daily News.