The American Society of News Editors awarded The Hartford Courant one of two honorable mentions in the Distinguished Writing Award for Deadline News Reporting category for coverage of the tragedy in Sandy Hook. The lead writers on the stories were Dave Altimari, Matthew Kauffman, Josh Kovner and Ed Mahony, but the work included reporting by numerous staffers at the Courant.
Over at the Connecticut Mirror reporters have won awards from the Education Writers Association, from a national health association, and from a top state agriculture group. Reporters Jacki Rabe Thomas, Keith M. Phaneuf and Mark Pazniokas won a first prize for a series of investigative stories that led to the resignations of the two highest officials in the Connecticut State University system. “Nobody brought more accountability to the system than these reporters,” one judge said.
Jacki Rabe Thomas, who specializes in education coverage, also won a first prize for more than a half-dozen stories she wrote on various topics, including a story that revealed the difference in skill levels between children who attend charter schools and those in non-charter public schools.
In addition to those awards, Mirror health reporter Arielle Levin Becker won a third place from the Association of Health Journalists for her story on home caretakers.
Also, Jan Ellen Spiegel, who focuses on the environment, won recognition for excellence in reporting from the Connecticut Agricultural Information Council.
