Posts by Connecticut SPJ

Free screening Nov. 11 of “Spotlight” movie in West Hartford

TrendCT and Central Connecticut State University are inviting local journalists and data enthusiasts for a screening of “Spotlight” at Criterion Cinemas at Blue Back Square, West Hartford.
The screening is at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11.
The film is slated for limited release on Nov. 6 but won’t be in theaters in Connecticut until much later. 
After the movie, there will be a post-film discussion and question-and-answer session with former Boston Globe reporter Matt Carroll, who is portrayed in the film by Brian D’Arcy James.
Seating is limited. Reserve your seat by clicking here.SpotlightTIFF2015

Nov. 11 free screening of “Spotlight”

spotlight-one-sheetspotlight-one-sheetspotlight-one-sheetSpotlightTIFF2015TrendCT and Central Connecticut State University are inviting local journalists and data enthusiasts for a screening of “Spotlight” at Criterion Cinemas at Blue Back Square, West Hartford.
The screening is at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11.
The film is slated for limited release on Nov. 6 but won’t be in theaters in Connecticut until much later. 
After the movie, there will be a post-film discussion and question-and-answer session with former Boston Globe reporter Matt Carroll, who is portrayed in the film by Brian D’Arcy James.
Seating is limited. Reserve your seat by clicking here.

Congratulations to Connecticut journalists named NEFAC fellows

The New England First Amendment Coalition announced its newest class of fellows for the New England First Amendment Institute this month.

nefacbanner1Five of the 25 fellows this year are from Connecticut. They are Lindsay Boyle from The Day in New London, Suzanne Carlson from the Hartford Courant, Susan Haigh from the Associated Press, Esteban Hernandez from the New Haven Register and Patrick Skahill from WNPR.

“This free institute is open each year to 25 New England journalists and provides the support and training necessary to become accomplished investigative reporters, well-versed in the freedom of information laws that govern today’s difficult reporting landscape,” the coalition news release stated.

SPJ Region 1 Director Volunteer Position Available

There’s a vacancy for the SPJ’s Region 1 director position following last month’s election of Rebebba Baker to the organization’s secretary/treasurer.

The region 1 position, which serves Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, central and eastern Pennslyvania, Rhode Island and Vermont, goes until Sept. 20, 2016.

Interested candidates must live in Region 1 territory and be a SPJ member and not a student nor associate member.

Interested candidates should fill out a form on SPJ’s website no later than Oct. 19.

 

Petition Demands Defunding of The Argus

Wesleyan University students senators want to defund the student newspaper, the Wesleyan Argus, after a column critiqued the Black Lives Matter movement. A meeting is scheduled for Sept. 27 to support the student senate’s petition.

Here’s what Connecticut SPJ president Paul Singley had to say in an Argus story:

 

Paul Singley

Paul Singley

Paul Singley, President of the Connecticut Society for Professional Journalists, said he believes that student publications should make a concerted effort to represent the perspectives of all students, but its First Amendment rights should not be threatened by publishing unpopular views.

“That’s what a good newspaper does,” he said. “It shares ideas, it shares opinions.”

Read the full story here.

Meet Lynn Schnier

Lynn Schnier works for Hearst Newspapers.

Meet Shahid Abdul-Karim

Shahid Abdul-KarimShahid Abdul-Karim is an award-winning journalist and the community engagement editor for the New Haven Register and former managing editor for Muslim Journal.

His role as community engagement editor focuses on involving the community at every step of the process of local journalism; including outreach and partnerships with community organizations and readers. Among other responsibilities, Abdul-Karim has lead newsroom efforts of producing original content for all platforms relating to engagement, lead engagement efforts through liveblogs and live chats, and coached newsroom staff in the use of social media to improve journalism.

As managing editor, was directly responsible for the overall operations and news content of the weekly print publication.

His work as community engagement editor has given opportunity for the voice of the disenfranchised and less fortunate to be heard.

Through a series of stories about suffering and trauma many New Haven families endure, Abdul-Karim was able to draw the attention of the U.S. Congress to violence in New Haven and more specifically to the slayings of so many young people of color.

Further, it was the trust he developed in the scarred and grieving communities that led to the chance to tell these stories.

His stories and engagement have promoted change locally and nationally. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Sen Chris Murphy, both (D-Conn.) have addressed New Haven violence in speeches on the floor of the United States Senate. His work has also prompted Blumenthal and Murphy to hold community conversations on violence in New Haven, bringing national attention to the issue.

Abdul-Karim has been invited to the White House to cover President Barack Obama’s annual Iftar dinner celebrating the holy month of Ramadan.

He is a graduate of Springfield College (MA) with a bachelor’s of science degree in human services. From 1999 to 2008 he was a national correspondent for Muslim Journal. He is a native of Baton Rouge, La.

Meet Michael Savino

savinoMike Savino is a staff writer with the Journal Inquirer in Manchester, where he covers the state capitol in Hartford. He previously covered superior and federal courts. Prior to his time with the Journal Inquirer, he worked for the Chronicle in Willimantic. He covered numerous towns in eastern Connecticut, as well as the University of Connecticut.

Mike has been on the Connecticut SPJ board of directors since 2014 and was elected as vice president in May.

He is a staunch advocate for FOI issues and is a member of the board’s Freedom of Information Committee. He is also active with the Connecticut Council on FOI.

He can be reached at msavino@ctspj.org.

Meet Kat Schassler

Kat Schassler is a reporter at the Middletown Press.

Meet Jordan Otero

oteroJordan Otero is a town news multimedia reporter at the Hartford Courant, covering the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford.

She was previously a town news reporter at the Republican-American and has been a member of the Connecticut SPJ board since 2015.
She is from Southington, Conn. and holds a degree in communication arts with a journalism concentration and a minor in political science from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. She is a caffeine addict, amateur baker and bookworm.
Connect with her on Twitter @je_otero or via email at jotero@ctspj.org.
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