A panel of local journalists, including several who are West Hartford residents, will participate in the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government program on Jan. 16.

Submitted

The Stories Behind the Biggest Stories of 2017 will be presented by the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government (CFOG) on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, 5-7 p.m.

The second annual event, which brings together six accomplished, savvy journalists as they discuss the “stories behind the stories” will provide an opportunity to learn more – and get the inside story – about the state’s leading news stories of the year.

The discussion will be moderated by Susan Campbell, a columnist for The Hartford Courant, author, and professor at the University of New Haven. Panelists are:

• Christine Stuart, CT NewsJunkie
• Dan Haar, Hearst Newspapers
• Mark Pazniokas, CT Mirror
• Vinny Vella, The Hartford Courant
• Vanessa de la Torre, WNPR
• Josh Kovner, The Hartford Courant

“When the history of 2017 is written, scholars will need all their strength to analyze an amazing year in Connecticut,” said David Fink, vice president of CFOG and coordinator of the program. “An unparalleled state budget crisis. GE leaving for Boston. Aetna leaving for NYC (or maybe just merging). Puerto Rico devastated by Hurricane Maria. The Sheff magnet schools program under fire. Repeated patient abuse at Whiting Forensic – and on and on.”

The reporters on the panel will highlight the tips they received, the sources they consulted, the difficulties they faced, the doubts that troubled them, the barriers they overcame and how, ultimately, they produced some of the year’s finest reporting.

Suggested donation is $10. To reserve your seat, email [email protected] and indicate you’re planning to attend.

CFOG is a broad-based, nonpartisan organization intent on preserving and protecting the people’s right to know in the conduct of the public’s business. The organization is dedicated to promoting the open and accountable government essential in a democratic society. It seeks to achieve this by educating policymakers and citizens in general on the need for a free flow of information on all public policy matters.

CFOG provides educational programs for state residents of open government issues and offers an instructional curriculum for high school students and other interested groups and organizations. CFOG programs are open to the public, and the organization’s website, www.ctfog.org, provides news, resources and related information on the subject.

The Stories Behind the Stories program will take place at The Lyceum, 227 Lawrence St., Hartford. (For directions, www.lyceumcenter.org)

For more information about CFOG, and the Jan. 16 program, visit www.ctfog.org