The Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information will recognize lawmakers, journalists and FOI advocates at its annual awards reception to be held on Sept. 9.
The event will run from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at The Hartford Club, located at 46 Prospect St. in Hartford.
CCFOI’s mission is to advocate for and promote government transparency, public access, and strong Freedom of Information laws that help guarantee the rights and liberties of journalists and other persons under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and state constitution.
The awards honor the work of those who have worked toward those same goals.
The event is rescheduled from an earlier date (June 18), which had to be cancelled due to a water pipe breaking at the club.
Stephen A. Collins Awards
Two journalists, Andrew Brown and Joe Wojtas, will be recognized with the prestigious Stephen A. Collins Award.
Andrew Brown is a member of CT Mirror’s investigative team, and his coverage is largely focused on government accountability, financial oversight, abuse of power, corruption, safety monitoring, and compliance with law. Prior to joining CT Mirror, Brown was a news reporter at papers in North Dakota, West Virginia and South Carolina. He’s covered business, environmental issues, local governments and state legislatures. His stories garnered several investigative and public service journalism awards, including one for coverage of how utility executives strung along a failing $9 billion nuclear power project in South Carolina in order to cash in on bonuses. Brown grew up in western Pennsylvania and attended the University of Missouri’s graduate school of journalism.
Joe Wojtas is the night news editor at The Day in New London. He oversees a staff of 12 reporters and photographers, edits copy, assigns stories and coordinates daily coverage of southeastern Connecticut. He has been a journalist at The Day for 37 years, and he has successfully argued many cases before the FOI Commission including successfully obtaining disciplinary records and complaints against teachers, financial records, investigations of public employees and cold case files. He now assists Day reporters with navigating the FOI process.
Champions of Open Government
Four state lawmakers and CCFOI’s lobbyist will each be honored with a Champion of Open Government Award for their efforts to defend and preserve the Freedom of Information Act in Connecticut.
The recipients are:
- Rep. Lucy Dathan, co-chair of the Government Oversight Committee, who represents New Canaan and Norwalk.
- Elizabeth Gemski, senior vice president of government relations for Kozak & Salina. As CCFOI’s lobbyist, she has year after year accomplished what often seems impossible, protecting Connecticut’s historic Freedom of Information Act
- Sen. Rick Lopes, deputy majority leader, who represents New Britain, Berlin and Farmington.
- House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, who represents East Hartford and Manchester.
- Rep. Lezlye Zupkus, ranking member of the Education Committee, who represents Bethany, Cheshire, Prospect and Waterbury
Awards Reception
Tickets are $30 and include hors d’oeuvres. A cash bar will be available. Parking is available in the garage underneath the Hartford Club.
Please RSVP through this form.
You can pay in advance through PayPal (link available in form), or pay cash or check at the door.
If you have any questions, please contact Treasurer Jacky Smith at jacqueline.wordsmith@gmail.com.