WALLINGFORD, May 21 — Stories about police departments failing freedom of information (FOI) compliance checks, train derailments along the Metro North line and a charter school CEO with a shady past were among those that garnered top awards at the journalism awards dinner sponsored by the Connecticut chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
More than 300 Excellence in Journalism awards were presented to journalists around the state, the Connecticut pro chapter of SPJ inducted a new member into its Connecticut Journalism Hall of Fame, and gave out four scholarships to college students. The contest received more than 800 entries.
Gerry deSimas, Jr., editor and publisher of the Collinsville Press, was recognized with two awards. A story on East Windsor outlasting Granby in overtime to win the NCCC Tournament in boys basketball was selected as the top sports news story in the online category while the story on the Canton High football team beating Avon in overtime to win the Pequot Conference Uncas Division title finished third in the online sports news category.
The First Amendment Award was given to Viktoria Sundqvist, Michelle Tuccitto Sullo and the Digital First Media staff for their entry “Connecticut police departments fail FOI compliance checks.” Judges said of the reporting: “Extensive reporting here really shed light on whether police departments were releasing mandatory information. An important package.”
The Stephen A. Collins Public Service Award was given to the Connecticut Post for its series Fix the Trains. Among those award from the post were Bill Cummings, Bill Lambrecht, Martin B. Cassidy, Neil Vigdor, Fausto Giovanny Pinto, Jason Rearick, Christian Abraham, Ned Gerard and Brian A. Pounds. Judges said of the Post’s reporting: “This was a strong example of aggressive, thorough and courageous journalism.”
The Theodore Driscoll Award for Investigative Reporting was given to the Hartford Courant staff for its entry, Charter school group investigation. The judges said: “In a field with some very good investigative reporting, the charter school group coverage stood out for its depth, detail and sheer doggedness. While covering the story of a CEO with a shady past that might or might not impact his job performance, these reporters carefully tugged at a number of threads to show how the story was bigger than one man’s disclosure mistake. They documented a pattern of potentially concerning issues that, taken as a whole, could not be ignored. This was thorough, clearly presented and very well done.”
CTSPJ awarded its Helen M. Loy award to a team from the Connecticut Law Tribune that fought a prior restraint ruling regarding its coverage of a DCF custody battle.
Read more about the winners here.
Since 2009, the Collinsville Press has been providing award-winning coverage of sports and news in the Farmington Valley and across Connecticut.


High School
2025 NCCC Winter Tournaments

High School
2025 CCC Winter Tournaments

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