The Day’s daily and Sunday editions were recognized as “distinguished newspapers” Thursday at the New England Newspaper & Press Association’s fall conference.

The NENPA’s annual competition is judged by audience members and readers who are appointed to evaluate newspapers from a news and consumer point of view.

The regional group also recognized The Day’s Multimedia Director, Peter Huoppi, with its prestigious Publick Occurrences award for his work on the documentary, “Those People,” which tells the story of how the New London Talent Show helped bring the community together following the 2010 murder of Matthew Chew.

The group called the film, which has been screened at The Garde Arts Centers, film festivals and colleges, “a thoughtful response to a horrendous, possibly race-based murder that provides different options to change attitudes. Great idea with interesting interviews.”