An image from the national website of the Society of Professional Journalists.
SEYMOUR — Valley Independent Sentinel freelance reporter Jean Falbo-Sosnovich won two journalism awards for her in-depth reporting about a retired Seymour police officer.
Falbo-Sosnovich won first place in the investigative category in the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists 2023 ‘Excellence in Journalism Awards.‘
Her October 2023 story “Seymour Cop With Long Disciplinary Record Was Allowed To Retire In Good Standing” used public record requests to explain how a police officer with five internal affairs cases was allowed to retire with a roughly $100,000 pay out.
The story also won third place in CT SPJ’s “in-depth reporting” category.
The CT SPJ Awards are open to SPJ members. Money raised from entry fees and an annual awards dinner funds scholarships and other journalism-related efforts.
The Valley Indy competes in the ‘hyperlocal’ classification.
The Valley Indy also took home a second-place win in the ‘breaking news’ category for a June 2023 story on a house fire in Derby, and a second place win in the ‘government’ category for its 2023 coverage of municipal elections.
The CT SPJ 2023 awards were posted to the organization’s website on June 27.
The Valley Indy has won 44 CT SPJ awards since launching in 2009.
Valley Indy reporter Eugene Driscoll accepts an award from The Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information in Hartford on June 12, 2024.
Separately, Valley Indy reporter-editor Eugene Driscoll on June 12 was awarded the Stephen A. Collins Memorial Award from The Connecticut Council of Freedom Information (CCFOI).
The award was given for Driscoll’s “pursuit of open and accountable government in the highest tradition of a free and vigorous press.”
The CCFOI Board of Directors noted The Valley Indy’s ‘Your Right to Know” section on the publication’s website, where all stories related to open government are displayed. In addition, the group noted how The Valley Indy weaves various facets of the FOI Act into its regular coverage.
CCFOI is an unincorporated membership association working for open, accountable government and a free press. Click here to visit the organization’s website.
Journalist Janet Manko was given a lifetime achievement award from CCFOI, and four state lawmakers were also honored for protecting the public’s right to know. Click here for more information.
In 2023, The Valley Indy had one full-time employee (Driscoll) and one freelance writer (Falbo-Sosnovich). Jasmine Wright was added as a full-time reporter in January 2024.
