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CT SPJ Excellence in Journalism Contest open for entries

The Connecticut SPJ Excellence in Journalism Contest is now open for entries published or broadcast in 2024.

Here’s who won last year.

THE DEADLINE TO ENTER IS FEBRUARY 15, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

You’ll notice some changes to the list of categories, as well as the divisions your publication falls into. More information about that can be found below.

The cost is $25 per entry for companies entering on behalf of their employees or freelances, and for individuals entering their own work who are not SPJ members.

Individuals who are SPJ members get a discounted rate of $10 per entry.

The money we raise from the contest helps us support the scholarships for college students interested in journalism, pays for programs and activities for Connecticut journalists through the year, and covers the costs of running the contest.

If you are an individual journalist for whom the $25 fee is a barrier to entering your own work, please email spjconnecticut@gmail.com and we can discuss options for discounts or free entry.

Questions? Email spjconnecticut@gmail.com to reach us.

Martha Shanahan, contest chair
Viktoria Sundqvist, contest clerk

To enter:

– Register for a new account on the contest site here (if you entered last year you have to make a new account)
– Log in to the site using your new account. Go to the ‘Your excellence in journalism entries’ tab.

You’ll need:

• A new username and password to log in to the contest site (user names do not get saved from prior years – you will need to create a new account
• The date each entry was published (the date must be in 2024)
• A working link to each entry, and a login and password if your entry is behind a paywall
• The category for your entry and the division your publication or station falls into. (We have moved from 5 groups to 3 this year: Large, Medium and Small. More details about the changes to categories and divisions below.)
• A credit card number, or a check ready to send to CT SPJ (P.O. Box 5071, Woodbridge CT 06525). If paying by card, you will be redirected to the third-party payment platform Stripe.

All entries must have been published online or in print, or broadcast or streamed during the year 2024.

CHANGES TO DIVISIONS

One of the major changes you’ll see is that we have moved from 5 to 3 circulation groups: Large, Medium and Small. The breakdown is as follows:

Division A – Large

Any news outlet that covers more than five towns and statewide issues on a regular basis, has more resources and has a staff of more than 10 full-time reporters OR is affiliated with a larger news organization.

Example outlets for this group: Hartford Courant, Connecticut Public, CT Mirror, NBC Connecticut, WFSB, WTNH, Fox 61, News 12, and Hearst Connecticut work done for CT Insider or multiple publications.

Please note that television and radio broadcast entrants are now included in Division A (Large). Those entrants can enter links to their work into any of the applicable categories, where it will be judged alongside work from the other publications in Division A.

We have also added two categories specifically for work broadcast on TV or radio, in which you can enter work you feel specifically exemplifies the entry’s strengths within that medium.

Division B – Medium

Any news outlet that covers more than five towns and statewide issues on a regular basis, has between 5-10 full-time reporters OR is affiliated with a larger news organization. This group is for all magazines or smaller news organizations with fewer resources than those in Group A.

Example outlets for this group: Republican-American, The Day, New Britain Herald, Bristol Press, Today Magazine, Connecticut Magazine, Hartford Business Journal, CT Newsjunkie and work done for Hearst Connecticut’s daily newspapers (not CT Insider or work done for multiple HCMG papers).

C- Small

Any news organization that covers hyperlocal news only, no more than five towns, and has fewer than 5 full-time reporters.

Example outlets for this group: NewCanaanite.com, Shore Publishing weeklies, WestportNow.com, NancyOnNorwalk, Hearst CT weeklies, Valley Independent Sentinel, New Haven Independent.

As always, if a story ran in a larger publication, it must be entered in the larger group category.

CATEGORY CHANGES

The volunteer contest committee of the CT SPJ board – listening to feedback from contest entrants as well as judges – has reviewed and streamlined some of the categories.

• This year, there will be a combined Arts, Entertainment, Food and Leisure category
• Continuing Coverage or Reporting Series is now one category
• We have updated the description for the category Diversity Coverage to help clarify what content should be entered there
• Our headline category now allows for headline entries written for both web and print
• Local Reporting and In-Depth Local Reporting have been combined into one category
• For our layout categories, there is now Newspaper Layout (1-2 page spread) and Magazine Layout (1-2 page spread) instead of separating inside and outside pages
• Because broadcast entries will no longer be in their own separate circulation group, we have added two categories: Broadcast Television Spot and Broadcast Radio Spot. These categories that television or radio entrants feel exemplifies the best of their broadcast work

All 2024 contest categories

Reporting

Arts, Entertainment, Food & Leisure – A single entry dealing with the arts, entertainment, food or leisure.

Breaking News – A single story or package of stories and social media updates that involves coverage of a spot news event written under an immediate deadline. Please note if the story has been updated from the time of original publication, and if so, what updates were made.

Business – A single story on a business topic.

Continuing Coverage Or Series – A group of no more than 5 articles or broadcasts showing follow-through reporting on a single topic over time. For example, coverage of a trial or controversy. Can also be part of a formal series. Each individual may enter this category up to three times. Each article/broadcast should only be submitted once.

Courts/Crime – Any news article or broadcast dealing with issues of the criminal justice system, except for breaking news coverage.

Data Reporting – Effective use of data for reporting a single story or graphic.

Diversity Coverage – A single story or broadcast with an issue of identity, race, gender, sexual orientation or disability at its center.

Education – A single story or broadcast about educational issues, either local or statewide.

Government – Any news article or broadcast dealing with governmental issues.

Health – A single story or broadcast regarding health issues, either local or statewide.

In-Depth Local Reporting – A single general news story that helps the audience fully understand a situation and impact.

Investigative – A single story containing information obtained through reporter initiative that was not readily available to the news media or the general public.

Religion – Any news article or broadcast dealing with religious topics.

Broadcast

Television Spot – A single broadcast (TV) spot that shines light on an issue important to a single town or region. Entries will be judged on depth of sourcing, delivery and reporter’s ability to put the news into context for the audience.

Radio Spot – A single broadcast (radio) spot that shines light on an issue important to a single town or region. Entries will be judged on depth of sourcing, delivery and reporter’s ability to put the news into context for the audience.

Sports reporting

Sports News Story – A single story on a sports news topic.

Sports Feature Story – A single story on a sports news topic, written for a factor other than timeliness.

Sports Column – A single column or commentary piece on a sports topic.

Opinion

Editorial – A single editorial represents the opinion of the publication, station or news website as an organization. It can be written by one or more than one person.

General Column/Commentary – A single column or commentary piece (other than sports or humorous) that represents an opinion or point of view on an issue or an event.

Humorous Column/Commentary – A single column or broadcast commentary on any topic, with the purpose to entertain.

Photo and video

News Photo – A single photo taken for news value. All photo entries must include the photographer’s name. Any photos entered under “Staff,” “Contributed” or similar credits will be disqualified.

Feature photo – A single feature photo. All photo entries must include the photographer’s name. Any photos entered under “Staff,” “Contributed” or similar credits will be disqualified.

Sports Photo – A single sports photo. All photo entries must include the photographer’s name. Any photos entered under “Staff,” “Contributed” or similar credits will be disqualified.

Photo Essay – A collection of photos, either in print or online, that together tell one story. Any photo galleries should be entered here as well. No photos with “Staff” or “Contributed” credit will be accepted.

Video storytelling – Excellent use of video for the web or social media to either tell a story alone or bolster written reporting. (Not a TV broadcast spot).

Design and layout

Newspaper Layout (1-2 page spread) – This is specifically a newspaper print category. Entry can be an A1 layout + jump or a centerpiece spread. The category is for the person who arranged the text and the illustrations, not for the writers and photographers of the materials on the page. Only the layout person should be listed.

Magazine Layout (1-2 page spread) – This is specifically a print magazine category. Entry can be the cover or an inside page or spread. The category is for the person who designed the page, not for the writers and photographers of the materials on the page. Only the layout person should be listed.O

Headline – A single entry is made up of three headlines as they appeared in print or online. All three headlines must be the work of a single individual but not necessarily from the same publication. Entries involving the work of more than one person are ineligible. If submitting a PDF, please highlight the headlines to be considered. Each individual may submit up to three entries in this category. Each headline should only be entered one time.

Digital storytelling

Innovative Digital Storytelling – A story or package that uses multimedia tools – including audio, video, social media or interactive graphics – in an innovative way. In the entry, please note if the package should be viewed in mobile or web, and provide an active link to the material. Note: Social media posts from breaking news events should be submitted as part of a Breaking News submission.

Podcasting – A single podcast episode of no more than 30 minutes. Entries can be edited for length. This category is for all podcasts regardless of style, including monologues, interviews, panel discussions and edited field material. Entries should be uploaded to an online hosting site, and submitted with a URL.

The judging is made possible because CT SPJ receives entries to judge from other chapters.

If you’re interested in judging the other chapter’s contest this year (in April or May) email spjconnecticut@gmail.com.

Thanks!

CT SPJ inducts three people into CT Journalism Hall of Fame and honors contest winners

The Connecticut Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists honored three inductees into the CT Journalism Hall of Fame and winners of the 2023 Excellence in Journalism awards at our annual dinner on Wednesday, December 4th.

Attendees had the opportunity to connect with journalists from across Connecticut while celebrating award-winning reports and stories from last year.

The 2024 CTSPJ Hall of Fame inductees are (in alphabetical order):

OWEN CANFIELD, 1934-2019

Owen Canfield was a U.S. Air Force Korean Conflict veteran and a journalist/columnist at The Hartford Courant for decades. A 7-time Connecticut Sportswriter of the Year, Canfield taught sports writing classes at the University of Connecticut and Central Connecticut State College. He was a long-time columnist for The Register Citizen in Torrington, where he also began his career in the 1960s, when the paper was known as the Torrington Register. He died in November 2019. His work has been celebrated for its warmth, storytelling, and focus on the human experience.

JACQUELINE R. “JACKY” SMITH

Jacqueline R. Smith is the ombudsman of Stars and Stripes, the newspaper for the U.S. armed forces and is treasurer of the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information. She was the editorial page editor of The News-Times in Danbury and The Norwalk Hour, Hearst Connecticut Media publications. She began her journalism career as a part-time Hartford Courant correspondent with a high school education. Mid-career she earned a B.S. in Journalism from Southern Connecticut State University, summa cum laude; and a master’s degree in writing with honors from Wesleyan University. She has taught journalism at the University of Hartford and SCSU. Jacky was a reporter for The Day of New London, where she won first place in the New England AP News Executive Association for her investigations into wrongdoing in the management of the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corp. in Groton. Jacky was a business writer and columnist for the New Haven Register. As a reporter at the Record-Journal in Meriden, her investigation into the dearth of minority teachers in the Wallingford School district, outlining how officials skipped over black and Latino candidates, earned her first place in the National Education Writers annual competition. She also served as city editor and assistant managing editor at the Record-Journal, managing editor of The News-Times and editor of the New Milford Spectrum. She and her husband, James, also a journalist and a 2024 Hall of Fame inductee, have four daughters.

JAMES H. “JIM” SMITH

James H. Smith is a retired newspaper editor, past president of the New England Society of Newspaper Editors, a member of the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame, and past president of the non-profit Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information.

He served as city editor and sports editor of the Hartford Courant, and editor of the Connecticut Post and led the Post to its first New England Newspaper of the Year Award. He also led The Day of New London, The News-Times of Danbury, the Record-Journal of Meriden and the New Britain Herald to their first New England Newspaper of the Year awards.

He received the American Society of Newspaper Editors’ Distinguished Writing Award for his columns on the First Amendment, which were published in “Best Newspaper Writing 2003” published annually by the Poynter Institute. He was also honored by the Academy of New England Journalists with the Yankee Quill Award.

Jim earned his master’s degree in writing from Wesleyan University and has a B.A. in American History from SUNY Brockport.

He is married to Jacqueline R. Smith, a journalist who was inducted alongside him to the CTSPJ Hall of Fame. They have four daughters.

The following journalists were also recognized for winning the three named awards from the 2023 Connecticut SPJ Excellence in Journalism contest.

STEPHEN A. COLLINS PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

For a story having a significant impact in the public interest

Connecticut’s elder care reckoning

Jenna Carlesso and Dave Altimari
Connecticut Mirror

THEODORE DRISCOLL AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

For a story containing information, obtained through reporter initiative, not readily available to the news media or public

CT hospitals in peril

Dave Altimari, Jenna Carlesso and Katy Golvala
Connecticut Mirror

FIRST AMENDMENT AWARD

For a story which increases public understanding of the role of the press in a free society

Transparency failures sow distrust in city marred by corruption

Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, Joshua Eaton and Brian Lockhart
Hearst Connecticut Media

CT SPJ college contest winners

2023-2024 academic year

The entries this year showcased the strong and important work that journalists at Connecticut colleges and universities are doing, and are an indication of the talent and excellent training that these journalists are going to bring into the workforce in the coming years.

Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to all the students and advisors who entered. 

If you are a student journalist or an advisor to a college publication in CT and you’d like to enter next year, get in touch! Email mshanahan@connecticutspj.org.

Certificates will be mailed to the addresses listed on the entries, unless otherwise requested.

Written reporting

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BREAKING NEWS

First Place:  CT DOJ investigating Quinnipiac PA program’s compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act

Quinnipiac Chronicle; Cat Murphy and Katie Langley

FEATURE STORY

First Place: ‘Emerging’ through art 

Quinnipiac Chronicle; Katie Langley

Second Place: Locked in

Crescent magazine; Jay’Mi Vazquez

Third Place: ‘I felt kind of helpless’: Quinnipiac students from Maine reflect on Lewiston mass shooting

Quinnipiac Chronicle; Cameron Levasseur

GENERAL REPORTING

First Place: Quinnipiac’s $48M hedge fund portfolio

Quinnipiac Chronicle; Cat Murphy

Second Place: University projects enrollment increase

Southern News; Jaylen Carr, and Jay’Mi Vazquez

Third Place: Religious tensions on campus: Muslim and Jewish student perspectives

Central Connecticut State University; Savanna Yelling

SPORTS FEATURE STORY

First Place: Quinnipaiac’s Lexi Morse’s grandparents traveled from Florida for Senior Day

Q30 Television; Gage Kilborne

Second Place: Three titles, a fraction of the recognition

Quinnipiac Chronicle; Ethan Hurwitz

Third Place: Breaking barriers: First female football coach in program history

Crescent magazine; Peter Schmitz

SPORTS NEWS STORY

First Place: What happened to TK?

Quinnipiac Chronicle; Cat Murphy

Second Place: Some CCSU athletes claimed their mental health was ignored

Central Connecticut State University; Kristin Rose

Third Place: Saint Peter’s Peacocks’ postseason buzzer beater over Quinnipiac, second-by-second

Quinnipiac Chronicle; Ethan Hurwitz

Photo/video

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FEATURE PHOTO

First Place: Southern Connecticut Skate University

Crescent magazine; Ty Abdul-Shakoor

Second Place: Wounded Quinnipiac comes up just short against Boston College on banner night

Quinnipiac Chronicle; Peyton McKenzie

Third Place: One step at a time

Crescent magazine; Tyrese Abdul-Shakoor

NEWS PHOTO

First Place: Pro-Palestine and Pro-Israel demonstrators inside Hamden Memorial Town Hall

Quinnipiac Chronicle; Jack Spiegel

Second Place: QTHON raises $141K for local children’s hospital

Quinnipiac Chronicle; Aidan Sheedy

VIDEO STORYTELLING

First Place: Quinnipiac technician raises 2023 National Championship banner

Q30 Television; Andrew Reynolds

Second Place: What to know about Quinnipiac’s three new buildings: Inside look at the ‘University of the Future”

Quinnipiac Chronicle; Jack Muscatello, Cat Murphy

Third Place: Built from the ground up

Crescent magazine; Robert Hahn

Design

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NON-PAGE 1 LAYOUT

First Place: Quinnipiac Chronicle, Volume 94, Issue 2, Pages 10-11

Quinnipiac Chronicle; Peyton McKenzie, Cameron Levasseur, Ethan Hurwitz

PAGE 1 LAYOUT

First Place: Nov. 8, 2023, Page 1

Quinnipiac Chronicle; Cat Murphy and Peyton McKenzie

Opinion writing

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EDITORIAL 

First Place: A campus controversy: Why Chat GPT is an education essential

Quinnipiac Chronicle; A.J. Newth

Second Place: A Sandy Hook survivor’s perspective on redefining gun violence

Quinnipiac Chronicle; Geneva Cunningham

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CTSPJ’s 2023 Excellence in Journalism Contest winners

Each year, the Connecticut pro chapter of SPJ recognizes the best in Connecticut journalism in its Excellence in Journalism Contest.

This year’s entries showcase the important, compelling, entertaining and compassionate work being done by journalists across the state.

This contest also supports the mission of CTSPJ as our biggest fundraiser. We give out thousands of dollars in scholarships to journalism students in or from Connecticut each year, and support other efforts, such as the Legal Defense Fund, CCFOI and CFOG.

This contest is possible because we swap judging duties with an SPJ chapter in another region of the country. A very big ‘thank you’ to all the Connecticut journalists who volunteered to judge the contest of our swap partner, in exchange for their time judging our contest.

We thank you for your support. If you’d like to become more involved in the board and our activities, reach out to any of the board members.

All certificates will be mailed to the winners’ newsrooms, unless otherwise requested.

Announcing the winners of the 2024 Bob Eddy Scholarships

Each year, the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists hands out scholarships intended to foster the journalism careers of qualifying college students with Connecticut ties.

Competition was especially steep for the second year in a row, with entrants from 10 universities in five different states.

Visit https://www.connecticutspj.org/bob-eddy-scholarship-program/ to see past winners.

To support the scholarships that go to these budding journalists, visit https://www.cfgnh.org/funds/bob-eddy-scholarship-fund.

This year’s winners are:

Rachel Shin ($2,500) – Rachel Shin is an English major and Journalism Initiative Scholar at Yale, where she served as editor-in-chief of The Politic: the Yale College Journal of Politics. Her reporting has appeared in The Atlantic, The Nation and Fortune, among other outlets.

Terell Wright ($1,500) – Terell Wright is a senior at Connecticut College studying political economy and history. 

Wright is a reporting intern at The Wall Street Journal. At the Journal, he covers the American economy. Wright is also a contributing reporter for The Day, where he localizes national trends impacting young readers. Additionally, he contributes to Connecticut Public Radio as a New London reporter. Previously, Wright reported as a Dow Jones News Fund intern for the Atlanta Business Chronicle focusing on labor, economics and housing.

Wright is also a New York Times Corps member and Bloomberg Journalism Diversity Program alum. Wright is keenly interested in diversifying news coverage and mentoring aspiring young journalists.

Alicia Tang ($1,000) – Alicia Tang is a junior majoring in journalism and economics at Northwestern University. She is a producer and reporter for her school’s student broadcast, Northwestern News Network, and has published for several national publications including The Fulcrum and United Press International. In her free time, she likes to bike along scenic paths and read psycho-thrillers and memoirs. As a journalist and reader, she’s always hungry for another story.

Sara Bedigian ($1,000) – Sara Bedigian is a junior at the University of Connecticut studying journalism and political science.  She is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Campus, UConn’s independent, student-run newspaper. Before she became editor, she wrote various articles regarding news at UConn and in Connecticut. This summer, she is interning at the Worcester Business Journal, covering real estate, manufacturing, health care and other local businesses in the Worcester, Mass., area. She has a passion for writing and aspires to become a journalist to educate her community about important issues.

Savanna Yelling ($500) – Savanna Yelling is a senior at Central Connecticut State University, studying journalism with a minor in political science. She is the editor-in-chief of The Recorder, CCSU’s student-run newspaper and works as an intern at the CT League of Conservation Voters. After college, Yelling hopes to be an environmental reporter and broadcast meteorologist. She enjoys going to the gym, thrift shopping and hiking.

Register for the 2023 CTSPJ dinner

Ticket sales are now open for the Dec. 6 CTSPJ dinner at the Hawthorne in Berlin.

Tickets for the event cost $20 for SPJ members and $25 for non-members. Ticket price includes a buffet dinner prepared by Casa Mia and non-alcoholic beverages. Cash bar will be available for individual purchases.

Payment can be made at the door by check, cash or PayPal. Please leave your email to be notified when PayPal is up and running.

Click here to register.

CTSPJ posthumously inducts two esteemed journalists into Hall of Fame

The Connecticut Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is proud to announce the posthumous induction of two highly distinguished journalists into its Hall of Fame: Denise D’Ascenzo and Lisa Chedekel. Both journalists made significant contributions to the field of journalism and left an indelible mark on the state of Connecticut.

Denise D’Ascenzo, an eleven-time Emmy Award winner, earned her place among the most revered journalists in the state of Connecticut. Her unwavering dedication to her craft and her incredible talent led to her election to the Silver Circle by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2013. Two years later, she made history as the first woman to be inducted into the Connecticut Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.

D’Ascenzo’s career spanned an impressive 33 years as the anchor of WFSB Channel 3. Her charismatic presence touched the lives of viewers across the state, making her a beloved and trusted figure in the world of journalism. Her commitment to excellence and numerous accolades are a testament to her exceptional career.

D’Ascenzo died Dec. 7, 2019, at her home in Branford at the age of 61.

Lisa Chedekel made an enduring impact through her fearless reporting. Her work was characterized by relentless coverage of city mayoral administrations and issues affecting residents from all walks of life. As a reporter at the New Haven Register, she showcased a deep commitment to the betterment of her community through her stories.

At the Hartford Courant, Chedekel’s work was nothing short of groundbreaking. She played a pivotal role in the coverage of the CT Lottery Corp. shooting, which ultimately won the Pulitzer Prize. Additionally, her lead role in the investigation into the military’s flawed mental-health policies led to Congressional hearings and significant policy changes that reduced suicides in combat.

Chedekel’s journalism was recognized with a multitude of awards, including the George Polk and Selden Ring awards, the Worth Bingham Prize from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard, and many more. Her dedication to exposing wrongdoing and advocating for positive change was unyielding.

In her later years, Chedekel co-founded C-HIT alongside fellow Connecticut Journalism Hall of Fame member Lynne DeLucia. As the lead reporter, Chedekel continued her impactful work by exposing misconduct in nursing homes, hospitals, and other healthcare organizations. Her reporting on prescription abuse among nurses and doctors in Connecticut even led to criminal investigations, highlighting her lasting influence on investigative journalism.

Chedekel died Jan. 12, 2018, at the age of 57.

The family and friends of D’Ascenzo and Chedekel will accept the honor at the Connecticut SPJ’s annual gathering on Dec. 6 at the Hawthorne, 2421 Berlin Turnpike, Berlin. At the dinner, the winners of the Stephen A. Collins Public Service Award, the Theodore Driscoll Award for Investigative Reporting and the First Amendment Award will also be recognized.

Click here for more information and to register for the dinner.

CTSPJ offering travel stipends for Vegas conference — apply by Sept. 1

Here’s the short version: If you write a good essay, you could get hundreds of dollars reimbursed for a trip to Vegas.

Details:

We’re happy to announce that the Connecticut Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is again offering travel stipends for the national SPJ Journalism Convention.

This year’s conference will take place at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas from Sept. 28-30.

Because we anticipate travel costs may be higher given the location, we have upped our travel stipends for this year.

Professional members of the CTSPJ chapter are eligible for reimbursements, with proof of receipt, of up to $1,200 toward conference expenses. Student members of SPJ in Connecticut are eligible for $750.

To apply, submit an essay of no more than 500 words about why you want to attend the conference, and how you have been, or would like to become, involved in CTSPJ events. That could include anything from helping with judging swaps to ideating and/or supporting programming.

Send the short essay, along with your SPJ member number, to Cindy Simoneau, a past president of the CTSPJ board, at simoneauc1@southernct.edu.

Simoneau will prepare all entries for a blind review by the CTSPJ board.

One professional member and one student member will be selected. The winners must be members in good standing of CTSPJ. New members are welcome to apply.

To confirm your membership status, contact membership@hq.spj.org.

The deadline to apply for the grants is 5 p.m. (ET) on Friday, Sept. 1. That’s a quick turnaround, but it’s always a worthwhile conference.

Please email the CTSPJ president at LBoyle@connecticutspj.org if you have any questions.

CTSPJ’s 2022 Excellence in Journalism Contest winners

Each year, the Connecticut pro chapter of SPJ recognizes the best in Connecticut journalism in its Excellence in Journalism Contest.

This year’s entries showcase the important work being done by journalists across the state. Despite the challenges of the past few years, Connecticut journalists continue to show up, hold public officials accountable and inform the public about their communities.

This contest also supports the mission of CTSPJ as our biggest fundraiser. The board continues to support journalists through professional development programming — most recently at the SPJ Region 1 Conference we co-hosted with Roger Williams University, which brought more than 100 journalists to Rhode Island for two days of programming.

We also give out thousands of dollars in scholarships to journalism students in or from Connecticut each year, and support other efforts, such as the Legal Defense Fund, CCFOI and CFOG.

We normally hand out the certificates at a spring or summer event, Instead, this year, we are planning a networking event for the fall, so we are announcing the winners here. All certificates will be mailed to the winners’ newsrooms, unless otherwise requested.

We thank you for your support. If you’d like to become more involved in the board and our activities, please contact one of the board members.

Announcing the winners of CTSPJ’s 2023 Bob Eddy Scholarships

Each year, the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists hands out scholarships intended to foster the journalism careers of qualifying college students with Connecticut ties.

Competition this year was particularly steep, with entrants from more than 10 universities in four different states.

To see past winners or learn more, visit connecticutspj.org/2020-scholarship-program/.

To donate to the fund, click here to visit the donation page through the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

Without further adieu, we are pleased to announce this year’s the winners, which are:

Madeline Papcun ($2,500) – Madeline Papcun is a senior at the University of Connecticut, studying journalism and human development and family science. Maddie is the Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Campus, UConn’s independent, student-run newspaper and has also worked as an intern at both the Connecticut Mirror and the Meriden Record-Journal. After college, Maddie hopes to pursue a career in which she will continue writing. In her free time, Maddie enjoys reading, rollerblading and playing sudoku.

Richard Podgorski ($1,500) – Richard (Ricky) Podgorski is a rising junior at the University of Maryland. He was born and raised in Farmington, Connecticut, and graduated from Farmington High School, where he was president of the class of 2021, captain of a state championship-winning basketball program, editor-in-chief of the school newspaper and lead anchor of its broadcast, the 9:05 news.

At the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, he is pursuing a sports broadcasting degree. He has been involved in a student-led sports broadcasting group called Terrapin Sports Central for three years and right now is its executive producer. He also has worked as a crew member for the Big Ten Student U as well as with ESPN for the production of national XFL broadcasts.

This summer Ricky will be working back in Connecticut as the Sideline Reporter for the Danbury Westerners, a collegiate summer league team of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. He’ll work side by side with the broadcaster to bring a new perspective to the team’s production, and will also create feature packages for the Westerner’s social media.

Juliana Lepore ($1,000) – Juliana Lepore is a rising senior at the University of Rhode Island majoring in journalism and communications with a minor in political science. She currently serves as the editor-in-chief of the Good Five Cent Cigar, the student-run newspaper at URI. She has appeared on “A Lively Experiment” on Rhode Island PBS, as well as moderated the Rhode Island Second Congressional District Forum in October.

Stacey Addo ($1,000) – Stacey Addo is a rising senior at Eastern Connecticut State University majoring in communications. She aspires to work in journalism doing features that tell inspiring stories. When she’s not in class, she’s serving as an editor for the school’s newspaper, working with Eastern’s television station or writing for College Fashionistas. In her free time she loves to read, crochet and enjoy music and theater.

Johanna Wolkoff ($1,000) – Johanna Wolkoff is a rising senior at the University of Maryland, College Park and studying journalism and history. Johanna is focused on studio production, especially in the sports industry. This summer, Johanna is interning for SNY in New York City as a Technical Operations Intern. During the school year, she works for the Washington Nationals, the Washington Commanders, NBC Sports Washington and B1G+.