Connecticut Press Club 2026 Communications Contest Winners

 

Writing

News Story Online Publication

 

First place –Marc Fitch, Inside Investigator, He’s ranked 2nd in the nation for youth rock climbing; AI just canceled him

 

Second place – Emilie Otte, CT Examiner, A Storm of Opposing Opinions as Old Saybrook Debates Next Steps for Police Force

 

Third place – Francisco Uranga, CT Examiner, As Rumors Fly, Little Evidence So Far of Expanded ICE Operations in Connecticut

 

Honorable Mention – Angela Carella, CT Examiner, Prostitution, Trafficking Ring Operated Across From Stamford Police Headquarters

 

Honorable Mention – Francisco Uranga, CT Examiner, Soaring Home Values Bring Tax Pain to Connecticut's Most Distressed City

 

Continuing Coverage or Unfolding News

 

First place – Ally LeMaster and Andy Thibault, CT Examiner, Ten Former Litchfield Students Recount Sexual Abuse by Renowned Coach, Many More Cases Expected

 

Second place – Angela Carella, CT Examiner, Veterans Fight Possible Closure of VA Clinic in Stamford

 

Third place – Marc Fitch, Inside Investigator, The Authority: A Power Struggle for PURA

 

Honorable Mention – Monique Fitzpatrick, DVM, The Granby Drummer, Exotic Pet Series

 

Honorable Mention – Nick Sambides, CT Examiner, Fire, Death at Long-Standing Homeless Encampment in Milford

 

In-depth Reporting

 

First place –Nick Sambides, CT Examiner, Consultant Warns Hamden Finances Could 'Implode' Without Major Overhaul

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Second place – Angela Carella, CT Examiner, Parent Seeks Charges Against Stamford Assistant Principal for False Arrest of Westhill Student

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Third place– Georgette Yacoub, New Canaan Darien + Rowayton Magazine, The Promise and Politics of Psychedelics

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Honorable Mention – Francisco Uranga, CT Examiner, After Viral Post Spreads Diquat Fears, a Chorus of Condemnation, but Little Said on the Science

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Honorable Mention – Marc Fitch, Inside Investigator, Auspices of Equity

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Editorial/Op-Ed

 

First place – Gregory Stroud, CT Examiner, On Funding the Press

 

Second place – Amy Polacko (Ridgefield), New York Daily News, Combs Was Acquitted on Coercive Control

 

Third place – Chandra Bozelko (Orange), The Los Angeles Times, California's Inmate Firefighters Deserve More Than a Raise: Make Them Employees

 

Honorable Mention – Bill De Nio, The Granby Drummer, Defending liberty: From battlefield to ballot box

 

Honorable Mention – Alyse Johnson (Brookfield), CUNY, Inside Higher Ed, The Case for Miscarriage Leave Policies

 

Feature Story, Print Newspaper

 

First place – Chandra Bozelko (Orange), Washington City Paper, Georgetown Professor and Lawyer Faces Domestic Violence Charges.

 

Second place – Mark Williams, The Granby Drummer, New this summer at the Wilcox House

 

Feature Story, Magazine, Newsletter or Other Publication

 

First place – Jamie Marshall, Greenwich Magazine, Carrying Hope

 

Second place – Lizbeth Ryan, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, A Tale of Rice Pudding

 

Third place – Robin DuCharme, Old Greenwich + Riverside Neighbors magazine, Meet Cecilia Cafferi and Family

 

Feature Story, Online Publication

 

First place – Marc Fitch, Inside Investigator, Target Investment: DOH commissioner awards extra funding to former employer

 

Second place – Brandon Whiting, Inside Investigator, Blight Fight: A foreclosure battle in Middletown

 

6A Personality Profile, 750 Words or Fewer

 

First place – Katie Stover, The Granby Drummer, Anchored by honor: Granby veteran’s path through service, family and transition

 

6B Personality Profile, 750 words or more

 

First place – Jill Johnson Mann, Greenwich Magazine, Charting His Course

 

Second place – Jill Johnson Mann, Greenwich Magazine, Resilience in Action

 

Third place– Timothy Dumas, Greenwich Magazine, Beetle Bailey Still Lazy After All These Years

 

Honorable Mention – Jill Johnson Mann, New Canaan Darien + Rowayton Magazine, Love Always Wins

 

Specialty Articles

 

Agriculture

 

First place – Alex Appel, Inside Investigator, Ideal Fish: The rise and fall of an experimental fish farm in Waterbury

 

Second place – Annabel Hoffman, CT Examiner, Glastonbury Orchards Adapt to Climate Extremes With New Tech, Varieties

 

Third place –Amy Wu, CT Examiner, For New Farmers, Agriculture Is a Calling, Not Just a Career

 

Arts and Entertainment

 

First place – Claire Byrne, CT Examiner, Two Conn College Student Choreographers Chosen Among 'Best of the Best'

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Second place – Meredith Guinness, CT Examiner, William Blake's 'Singular Vision' Opens at Yale Center for British Art in New Haven

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Third place – Gabi Coatsworth, Booktrib.com, Characters who take over your book

Honorable Mention – Claire Byrne, CT Examiner, 'Untitled Sad Piece' Headed to Quick Center

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Business

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Second place – Marc Fitch, Inside Investigator, High Impact: State contractor puts CEO on leave, launches investigation

 

Education

 

First place – Katherine Revello, and Brandon Whiting,  Inside Investigator, Partial Record: Sexual Misconduct and Transparency at CSCU

 

Second place – Emilie Otte, CT Examiner, Lamont Proposes $54M Boost for Special Education as Costs Balloon

 

Third place – Francisco Uranga, CT Examiner, Quaker Early Childcare Nonprofit Builds Free Housing for Teachers as a Model for the Nation

 

Honorable Mention – Marc Fitch and Alex Appel, Inside Investigator, Control the Narrative: Parents claim school downplayed teacher tickling concerns

 

Honorable Mention – Robert Storace, CT Examiner, New Britain Middle Schoolers Adapt to Cell Phone Ban

 

Food

 

First place – Chandra Bozelko (Orange), Chow Hall, From Institutional Trays to Healing Plates: One Care Home's Method of Culinary Comeback

 

Second place – Aline Weiller, 068 Magazine, Let's Get Cheesy! In Search of the Ultimate Grilled Cheese in the 068

 

Third place – Elizabeth Keyser, New Canaan Darien + Rowayton, A Feast for the Senses

 

Honorable Mention – Elizabeth Keyser, Greenwich Magazine, Taste Test

 

Honorable Mention – Gregory Stroud, CT Examiner, Details Matter at MOLI in Greenwich

 

Ghost-Written Articles

 

Honorable Mention – Thomas Renner, Mercury Marketing Communications, Demystifying Decarbonization

 

Government or Politics

 

First place – Katherine Revello, Inside Investigator, Secession: Could Connecticut become a new Canadian province?

 

Second place – Katherine Revello, Inside Investigator, Acting Blue: evidence of fraudulent political donations targeting retirees

 

Third place – Eric Obernauer, CT Examiner, Stamford Mayor's Pet Sale Veto Sparks Outcry, Claims of Undue State Pressure

 

Green/Environmental

 

First place –Ally LeMaster, CT Examiner, After Record-Setting Year, State Officials Warn of Spring Fire Risk

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Second Place – Ally LeMaster, CT Examiner, A Bill, a Veto, a Question of Where to Build What's Unwanted in Connecticut

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Third place – Thomas Renner, Mercury Marketing Communications, Wastewater System Brings Opportunity to Nebraska 

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Honorable Mention – Brian Scott-Smith, CT Examiner, Farmer Fights State Officials Over Unregulated PFAS From Nearby Waste Incinerators

 

Honorable Mention – Nick Sambides, CT Examiner, Report Calls Water Protection 'Greatest Environmental Engineering Challenge the State has Ever Faced

 

History

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First place – Martin Kivell, Connecticut Explored, The Miller Excitement: A Town at War With Itself

Second place – Katherine Revello, Inside Investigator, Sunshine on a Cloudy Day? The State of FOIA at 50

Honorable Mention – Claire Byrne, CT Examiner, Southern Connecticut Students Hold Archeological Dig in Guilford for 7th Year

 

Hobbies, Crafts

 

First place –Sabrina Boccuzzi, Mercury Marketing Communications, A Parking Garage Becomes a Caddo Canvas for Storytelling

 

Second place – Kristen Harnedy, The Granby Drummer, Made for the community: Library’s makerspace supports creativity

 

Obituary

 

First place – Daniel Tepfer, CT Examiner, Bridgeport Gangster, Stolen Car Kingpin Dead at 72

 

Second place – Shirley Murtha, The Granby Drummer, A grateful town remembers Jenny Emery

Personal essay

 

First place – Amy Polacko (Ridgefield), Huffington Post, I Help Women Escape Controlling Men. Here's Why I Believe Cassie Couldn’t 'Just Leave' Diddy.

 

Second place – Chandra Bozelko (Orange), The Boston Globe, Pressing Duty

 

Religion

 

First place – Alex Appel, Inside Investigator, Stranger Among You: Faith leadership amid changing immigration policy

 

Second place – Chandra Bozelko (Orange), ARC: Religion, Politics, Et Cetera, Progressives aren’t embracing religious freedom. Here’s their chance to change that.

 

Technology

 

Second place – Robert Storace, CT Examiner, Tong Pitches Social Media Curbs for Teens . . . But Not Porn?

 

Honorable Mention – Ally LeMaster, CT Examiner, Groton Company Pitches 'Disruptive' Sea Drone Technology as Answer to Supply Chain Delays

 

Social Issues

 

First place – Brandon Whiting, Inside Investigator, Disorder in the courts: two families struggle for justice

 

Second place – Marc Fitch, Inside Investigator, In Custody: Overdose and withdrawal deaths in police custody

 

Honorable Mention – Alex Appel, Inside Investigator, Evicted: What CT’s changing evictions laws mean for renters and landlords

 

Reviews

 

First place – Chandra Bozelko (Orange), Pop Autopsy, The Year We Blamed the Mothers

 

Second place – Claire Byrne, CT Examiner, Hew Lo>Third place – Claire Byrne, CT Examiner, 'A Vastly Entertaining' Musical at Ivoryton Playhouse

 

Honorable Mention – Elizabeth Busbee, CT Examiner, Bad Bunnies … In Review

 

Sports

 

First place – Scott Thomas, Stamford Magazine, Fighting Chance

 

Second place – Andy Thibault, CT Examiner, The Studious Fury of Marvelous Mykquan Williams

 

Third place – Karen Doherty, The Granby Drummer, Ride with the Granby Pony Club

 

Style (Fashion, interior design, furniture, architecture, landscaping, home economics)

 

First place – Thomas Renner, Mercury Marketing Communications, i + s magazine, Former Domino Sugar Industrial Plant Turns Mixed-Use Commercial Complex

 

Second place – Megan Gagnon, athome in Fairfield County, The Lovely Bones

 

Third place – Jill Johnson Mann, Greenwich Magazine, Good Vibes, Great Finds

Health

 

First place – Amy Polacko (Ridgefield), Ms., Ten Warnings the New Gabby Petito Netflix Doc Reveals About Coercive Control

 

Third place – Alex Appel, Inside Investigator, Toothless: Despite fraud, law lets dentists keep licenses

 

Travel

 

Third place – Megan Gagnon, athome in Fairfield County, Brit Pop

 

Honorable Mention – Megan Gagnon, athome in Fairfield County, Wild at Heart

 

Columns

General

 

First place – Chandra Bozelko (Orange), Witness LA How Discipline Plays an Outsized role in California Parole Decisions

 

Third place– Jessica Collins, Hamlet Hub, Books and Friendship

 

Humorous

 

First place – Mark Fiorentino, The Granby Drummer, Letter to Santa — 2025

 

Informational

 

First place – Elizabeth Busbee, CT Examiner, Keeping the Spark

Second place – Julie Jason, CT Insider, How 'Senior' Do You Need to Be to Benefit?

Third place – David Desiderato, The Granby Drummer, Mays, Shoulds and Musts

 

Honorable Mention – Julie Jason, CT Insider, Dementia is Not a Solo Affair. Be Financially Prepared.

Personal opinion, bylined (not editorial)

 

Honorable Mention – Katherine Revello, Inside Investigator, Three Deaths in a Black Box

Publications Regularly Edited by Entrant

 

Newsletter/other publication, corporate or for-profit

 

First place –Tom Quinn, Balancing Your Senses

 

Books
Novels

 

First place – Gabi Coatsworth, A Field Guide to Library Ghosts

 

Second place – Lisa Acerbo, Death and Coffee

 

Third place – Linda Avellar, Cassie Linden Finds Her Sweet Spot

 

Honorable Mention – Libby Waterford, A Small Town Spring

 

Honorable Mention  – Krista Beggan, A Life Saving Bullet

 

Honorable Mention  – Diane Rock, Maid for the Maestro

Novellas

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Honorable Mention – Robin DuCharme, WGCH, Would You Trust These Men

Nonfiction Books for Adult Readers

Biography or History

 

First place – Vincent Legg, Laurie Newkirk and Tom Young, Nuhawk LLC, For the Love of The Odd Couple: A Story of Laughs, Legacy and Lifelong Friendships 

Short Form Literature

Collection of Short Stories

 

Second place – Douglas Krohn, Kiki Productions, You're The Doctor: Short Stories From Inside the Exam Room

 

Flash Fiction

 

First place – Lisa Bernard, Freshwater Literary Journal 2025, Andrea’s Coda

 

Flash Non-Fiction

 

Second place – Lisa Bernard, 2025 Connecticut Literary Anthology, Stage IV: Early Mourning

 

Creative Verse

Single Poem

 

Second place – Mitzy Sky, Just Doing the Little Things on Substack, Access: Hoodwinked, Bamboozled, Run-A-Muck, & ‘Bruck’, Why the F***, am I Smiling? or Why is My Joy Still Lit?

 

Third place – Alyse Johnson (Brookfield), CUNY, Mothering Me, Mothering You

 

Honorable Mention – Jeanne Esterquest, 2025 Connecticut Literary Anthology, Old Age Walking

 

Honorable Mention – Adair Heitmann, Connecticut Bards Poetry Review 2025, published by Local Gems Poetry Press, Creation Pilgrimage

Book of Poetry

 

Honorable Mention – Emerson Gilmore, KDP Publishing, 1 Cold Brook Road

 

Honorable Mention – Wayne Lysobey, Amazon kdp North Haven, CT USA, Good Kittens Good Cats

 

Essay, Chapter or Section in a Book

 

First place – Gabi Coatsworth, Storied Stuff - Show and Tell for Grownups Vol 1, Scent of History

 

Second place – Gabi Coatsworth, Grief Like Yours, Saying Goodbye

Editing for Print or Online Publications

Single Page, Section or Supplement Edited by Entrant

Magazine/Newspaper

 

First place – Eileen Murphy, New Canaan Darien + Rowayton Magazine, Next to Heaven

 

Second place – Samantha Yanks, Westport, Westport & Wilton Magazine, Craig Melvin’s Passion and Purpose Shine on TODAY

Editing for Print or Online Publications

Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant

 

Magazine/Newspaper

 

First place – Gary Larkin, Westfair Business Journal

 

Second place – Megan Gagnon, at home in Fairfield County, A-List issue

 

Third place – Cristin Marandino, Greenwich Magazine, September issue

 

Honorable Mention – Cristin Marandino, Greenwich Magazine, October issue;

 

Honorable Mention – Eileen Murphy, New Canaan Darien + Rowayton Magazine, July issue

 

Newsletter/other publication – Non-profit, government or educational

 

First place – Conner Drigotas, Inside Investigator – Investigative journalism to root out corruption

 

Newsletter/other publication – Corporate or For-Profit

 

Third place – Tom Quinn, “Riding the roller coaster of life”

 

Honorable Mention – Tom Quinn, “Where do you fit on the boat?”

 

Photography

 

Single photograph – News or Feature Photo

 

First place – Kyle Norton, Greenwich Magazine, Balancing Act

 

Second place – Andrea Carson, New Canaan Darien + Rowayton Magazine, Courageous Carter

 

Third place – Katherine Calderwood, New Canaan Darien + Rowayton Magazine, The Good Life Cover / Queen of Gems

 

Honorable Mention – David Prince, New Canaan Darien + Rowayton Magazine, The Golden Era Manfredi COVER

 

Photo essay

 

First place – David Prince, New Canaan Darien + Rowayton, Legacy in Bloom

 

Second place – Katherine Calderwood, New Canaan Darien + Rowayton Magazine, Queen of Gems

 

Graphics

 

First place – Chandra Bozelko (Orange), Censie, The Red Pen of Censorship, "Jimmy Kimmel Pulled Off Air ‘Indefinitely’ After Refusing to Bend to MAGA"

 

Magazine or Newspaper

 

First place – Venera Alexandrova, Greenwich Magazine, The Promise And Politics of Psychedelics

 

Second place – Venera Alexandrova, New Canaan Darien Rowayton Magazine, The Golden Era Manfredi

 

Cover

 

Third place – Venera Alexandrova, New Canaan Darien + Rowayton Magazine, Legacy in Bloom

 

Radio and Television

Television On-the-Scene Report

 

First place – Nick Doscher, NBC Connecticut, Simsbury Bear Enters Home

Special Programming

 

First place – Nick Doscher, NBC Connecticut, WNPR Host Discusses Evolution of her Taiwanese Identity

 

30A Radio Interview

 

First place – Robin DuCharme, WGCH, Interview with author + domestic violence researcher and advocate Helen Winslow:

 

Second place – Robin DuCharme, WGCH, Interview with author Amy Friedman

 

Third place – Robin DuCharme, WGCH, How to Run for Office: and Why You Should: Interview with Patricia Russo

 

Radio and Television

Talk show Radio

 

First place – Robin DuCharme, WGCH, Denise Sargis Brown: Traveling Solo Through the Middle East: Iran + Beyond

 

Website Edited or Managed by Entrant

Nonprofit, Government or Educational

 

First place –Conner Drigotas, Inside Investigator

 

Podcast

 

First place – Kathleen Kiley, If You Only Knew the Half, with Soulja & Wild Child, EP: Tim Pena, Veteran, Journalist, Advocate Part I

 

Second place – Denise DiGrigoli, MAV's Coffee Clarity with Denise 

 

Third place– Tom Quinn, RSS.com,  Beware Who Packs Your Parachute

 

Personal Blog 

 

First place – Lisa Bernard, LisaBernard.wordpress.com, CamaREADerie: The Delight in Deep-Dive Book Discussions with Fellow Bookworms

 

Honorable Mention – Lisa Bernard, LisaBernard.wordpress.com,  Craft, Humanity & Artistry Continuously Flow Through Rhea Farbman's Fingers on Both 88 and 78 Keys

 

Social Media Campaign

Nonprofit, Government or Educational

 

Honorable Mention – Alec Biron and Linda Avellar, The Ferguson Library, 2025 Giving Tuesday Campaign

 

Electronic Newsletter

Nonprofit, Government or Educational

 

Honorable Mention – Chandra Bozelko, Chow Hall, There's an App for That: Hots&Cots Delivers What Troops Need Most

 

Video for Web

Special Interest Video

 

First place – Mitzy Sky, Just Doing the Little Things (Substack), Just Doing the Little Things Episode 7: Moving - One of Life’s Biggest Stressors

 

Second place – Mitzy Sky, Just Doing the Little Things Episode 5: Therapy vs Life Long Mental Patient, the balance between seeking help and avoiding labels

Public Relations Materials

 

Brochure – Nonprofit, Government or Educational

 

First place – Noel Appel, Katia Michailidis and Diane Sembrot, Greenwich Hospital, Smilow Cancer Hospital at Greenwich Hospital

 

Information for the Media

News or Feature Release – Single Release

 

First place – Aline Weiller, Wordsmith LLC, Book Launch for Ira Joe Fisher's New Poetry Collection at Ridgefield Library March 26

 

Second place – Sabrina Boccuzzi, Mercury Marketing Communications, Achievement First Bridgeport Academy Students Set Sail with SoundWaters

 

Third place – Sabrina Boccuzzi, Mercury Marketing Communications, Bendheim Glass Transforms NXP Lobby Design

 

Information for the Media – Media pitch

 

First place – Thomas Renner, Mercury Marketing Communications, West Papio Sewer Line Pitch

 

Speeches

 

First place – Robin DuCharme, Old Greenwich + Riverside Neighbors; My Father's House (General Israel Putnam Farm, Brooklyn, CT, c. 1750): A Happy Childhood in a House Where General Putnam's Ghost is Said To Linger

 

Second place – Adair Heitmann, Generation Women, The Public Theater/Joe's Pub, New York, Oh, What a Night: Rapture, Regret, Empowerment

 

Collegiate/Education

Prepared Report for Radio/Television Student Media

 

First place – Taciane Batista, Joseph Alicastro and Danielle Grillo, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield County News, Early Voting Opens Amid Growing Concerns Over AI-Driven Misinformation

 

Second place – Taciane Batista, Joseph Alicastro and Moira Staples, Sacred Heart University,  Fairfield County News, Listeners Rally to Support WSHU Amid Public Radio Funding Cuts