Sam Stricker Photo
(L-R): Marcia Chambers, Sally E. Bahner, Diana Stricker & Bill O’Brien.
The Branford Eagle took home 11 awards last week at the Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Awards for 2017. The Eagle’s stories covered a range of topics, including affordable housing, politics, the opioid crisis, and the death of a Branford boy.
The Eagle’s Diana Stricker won first place in the hyperlocal category for continuing coverage of Branford’s Housing Authority efforts to rebuild an outdated housing complex that houses low-income seniors and people with disabilities.
Eagle Editor Marcia Chambers took first place for audio storytelling. Her story “Klau: We Need Leakers” centered on an interview with Attorney Dan Klau who voiced concern when President Donald Trump called journalists “the enemy of the people.” Klau made his observation on WNHH radio’s “Legal Eagle” program.
Our veteran reporters and photographer were honored for their work in 2017 by the Connecticut Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) at a dinner held at the Grassy Hill Country Club, a public golf course in Orange. The Eagle won two first place awards, three second place awards, and six third place awards.
The Branford Eagle is part of the Online Journalism Project, a non-profit organization, which publishes the New Haven Independent and the Valley Independent Sentinel and oversees the publication’s radio station, WNHH, which also won a second place award for Marcia Chambers for her story on ICE getting access to state data.
Stricker also took a second place award for her story, “Riffraff” Phobia Emerges at Parkside story. The story documents the testimony of some residents fearful that their neighborhood will no longer be safe if low-income families are allowed to move into proposed Parkside Village apartments.
In addition to Chambers and Stricker, staff members Sally E. Bahner and Bill O’Brien were honored for their stories in a variety of hyperlocal categories.
Bahner took a second place award for her ongoing series in the Hyperlocal/Reporting series entitled “Election Reflection.” She also took a third place award for her story on opioid use in towns and in the state. Her story, “First Annual Fed-Up Rally” covered the first annual International Overdose Awareness Day in Branford.
O’Brien took home two third place awards. One was for his story, “Tribute to Ben,” a story about Ben Callahan, 10, who lost his life in a drowning accident in the Branford River. O“Brien also took third prize in the sports category award for a photo accompanying a story entitled “Get out of My Way.”
Entries were judged by fellow journalists from SPJ Region 10 in Washington state, Oregon, and Alaska. In all there were 825 entries and 60 college entries. SPJ was founded in 1909 and has nearly 250 chapters across the nation. SPJ entry fees go toward the SPJ budget for the year, including donations to student scholarships, student chapters, conferences and the SPJ Legal Defense Fund.
Chambers also won three third place awards in separate categories. She won for breaking news about a Branford canine police officer suing over his termination. In the In-depth category Chambers took third place for story about a dog named Hope and in the humorous column category, she took third place for her column “What’s for Lunch?” a story about Short Beach Days and the annual sand sculpture contest.
The Eagle competed against other online publications and print publications in the so-called hyperlocal category.
Chambers was one of eight reporters nominated for the prestigious Stephen A. Collins Public Service Award, which was won by the Hartford Courant.
Journalists at the event were reminded of the importance of the First Amendment within this contentious political climate and the role reporters play in preserving our democracy. The First Amendment is printed on the final page of the program: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
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