Christopher Peak Photo
Underwriters, lawyers, finance analysts, alders review bonds one more time, before the August sale.
The Society for Advancing Business Editing & Writing has recognized New Haven Independent reporter Christopher Peak for getting the “scoop” on municipal debt.
The society, based out of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, has awarded Peak an honorable mention in the government reporting category of its 2018 “Best in Business” competition for his stories on New Haven’s decision to refinance $160 million in debt to plug short-term operating budget holes in return for paying much more down the road in loan repayments — a practice known as “scoop and toss.”
The judges wrote that they “wanted to particularly laud the effort required for this series, which dove into the complicated world of municipal finance debt. It’s not an easy subject, and it repels parachute journalism attempts.”