The Connecticut Foundation for Open Government will host the 9th annual ‘Stories Behind the Big Stories’ panel discussion on Jan. 30 at the Elmwood Community Center in West Hartford.

Submitted

For the ninth year, the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government (CFOG) will hold a panel discussion consisting of top Connecticut journalists describing how they landed major news stories in the state in the past year.

The quick thinking, ethical guidelines, courage and sheer hard work of Connecticut journalists will be on display on Jan. 30 when CFOG holds the “The Stories Behind the Big Stories of 2024” event. It is set for 5 to 7 p.m. at the Elmwood Community Center at 1106 New Britain Ave. in West Hartford.

The discussion will be moderated by veteran television journalist Leslie Mayes. The panelists are:

• Len Besthoff, the chief investigative reporter at NBC Connecticut
• Andrew Brown, an investigative reporter at the CT Mirror
• Jessika Harkay, the CT Mirror’s education reporter
• Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, an investigative reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media Group and CT Insider
• Mike Stanton, UConn Journalism professor

The journalists will discuss the major stories they broke in 2024, including Harkay’s moving story about a young woman who graduated from Hartford Public High School without knowing how to read and who has now accused the Hartford school system of educational neglect. and who has now accused the Hartford school system of educational neglect.

Brown will discuss how he and a team of Mirror journalists analyzed more than 4,300 absentee ballots to describe the length to which supporters of Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim went in gathering those applications for the 2023 mayoral primary. Their impressive investigation showed that one Ganim supporter helped voters fill out at least 537 absentee ballot applications.

Besthoff will highlight how he and a team of reporters and producers completed a compelling, seven-part series called, “Traces of Doubt: The Forensics of Dr. Henry Lee.” During his celebrated career, Lee investigated criminal cases all over the world, but some attorneys, defendants and judges have raised questions about his scientific findings. Two Connecticut men were exonerated after spending 30 years in prison after courts found that Lee gave incorrect testimony at their trial. The men reached a $25.2 million settlement with the state.

Rabe Thomas will discuss her eye-opening investigation into State Sen. Paul Cicarella, R-North Haven. She discovered that years before becoming a state senator, Cicarella collected $123,000 in workers’ compensation payments after getting injured while working as a state correctional officer. Her investigation for CT Insider found that he did not report three sources of income he made during that span.

Stanton, a UConn journalism professor, will discuss a partnership between UConn students and the CT Mirror to investigate police enforcement of the state’s red flag law.

The event is sponsored by CFOG, a nonprofit organization founded in 1991 by residents of Connecticut interested in promoting open government and the public’s right-to-know. Its programs are carried out by a volunteer board of directors drawn from the news media, academia, the law and government.

“This panel discussion is sure to be fascinating for anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes work of reporters and editors in the demanding field of journalism today,’’ CFOG President Kate Farrish said. “The event is designed to help the public understand the resourcefulness that journalists use every day to uncover the truth behind important stories.”

The event begins at 5 p.m. with a reception, and the panel discussion will follow from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. A $10 donation is requested, which includes refreshments.

Tickets can be purchased in advance using the “donate button” at https://ctfog.org. Walk-ins are also welcome and can pay at the door with cash, checks made out to CFOG or credit cards through PayPal.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.