• What is the Connecticut News Project?
• Why is the project needed?
• Is CTMirror.org another blog?
• Are you competing with the other Connecticut media?
• How is the project financed?
• Who is on the staff?
• Who is on the Board of Directors?
• What is the Board of Directors' role in defining CT Mirror's news coverage?
• Do you accept advertising?
• Can you really reach all Connecticut residents?
• What is the proper attribution when using CT Mirror content?

Q: What is the Connecticut News Project?

Answer: The mission of the Connecticut News Project, Inc. is to increase the level of civic engagement among state's residents. We are an independent, non-partisan, non-profit news organization created to reinvigorate coverage of Connecticut's state government, public policy and politics. Our primary goal is to ensure that the people of the state are better informed about their government and its activities, so they can more effectively participate in the development of public policy and hold officials accountable for understanding and addressing the state's needs. We will achieve this goal through original and reliable reporting presented on our website, www.ctmirror.org, and distributed through various other platforms and technologies. We will report, analyze, explain, and investigate the activities of state government, reasserting the "watchdog" role of the media. CNP also intends to encourage and facilitate discussion and debate on public policy matters, to create an archive of documents and data about state government and to help train a new generation of journalists.

Q: Why is the project needed?

Answer: Years of declining revenues have forced most traditional news organizations in the state to cut back coverage in all areas, including government and public policy. One indicator is the number of reporters covering the state Capitol: In 1989, two dozen reporters representing most of the daily newspapers in the state covered the Capitol full time; today, fewer than a third remain. Another indicator is the news space allotted to this coverage, which also has declined with the size of newspapers overall. Meanwhile, the pressures and responsibilities of state governments everywhere have increased enormously.

Q: Is CTMirror.org another blog?

Answer: No. The Connecticut Mirror, at ctmirror.org, is a news site that aims to combine the best of traditional and contemporary media. We will use our years of experience in journalism to break new ground with significant original reporting on the big issues and ideas of the day. We also will use the immediacy and flexibility of the Internet to provide background and context, to connect with the best work others are doing and to deliver breaking news. In addition, being online will allow us to establish and build a library of past stories, databases, government and non-government reports, and original source documents, and to make that information easily accessible to our users. Finally, the Internet will allow us to encourage communication between Connecticut's residents and their public officials.

Q: Are you competing with the other Connecticut media?

Answer: Yes and no. Certainly every news organization wants to be first with the best story, and we're no different. If that competition invigorates news coverage, the public wins. But we also believe our ability to focus on government, politics and public policy reporting will complement the broader range of traditional media coverage. Far from being adversaries, we are forming partnerships with other organizations to reach the broadest possible audience.

Q: How is the project financed?

Answer: The project has received funding from a wide variety of foundations and individuals. The funding now in place will allow the project to operate at a base level for at least three years. We plan to increase funding from a variety of sources and to build a sustainable business model.

Q: Who is on the staff?

Answer:

News Staff

• Jenifer Frank, editor of the CT Mirror
• Mark Pazniokas, Capitol bureau chief
• Robert A. Frahm, senior education writer
• Jacqueline Rabe, education reporter
• Keith M. Phaneuf, state Capitol reporter
• Arielle Levin Becker, health reporter
• Uma Ramiah, senior fellow
• Caitlin Emma, fellow

Administration

• James A. Cutie, Chief Executive Officer and Publisher

Q: Who is on the Board of Directors?

Answer:

• Julie Belaga
• Marcia Chambers, MSL
• William Cibes, Jr., PhD.
• Shelley Geballe, JD, MPH
• Stanley A. Twardy, Jr., JD, LLM
• Fahd Vahidy

Q: What is the Board of Directors' role in defining CT Mirror's news coverage?

Answer: None. Members of the board share a commitment to public service through their work in various non-profit and educational organizations. They also share a belief that vigorous coverage of government and public policy is essential to the common good. It is that belief, rather than commitment to any particular cause, that has led them to contribute their time and expertise to launching The Connecticut News Project. To ensure independence of the news operation, oversight of news coverage will be provided by a separate News Advisory Board.

Q: Do you accept advertising?

Answer: As of October 1, 2011 we accept advertising in addition to sponsorships and underwriting. This is a great way of associating your organization with the highly valuable service of providing news, information and knowledge to all Connecticut residents so they can make informed decisions that impact their communities, their families and themselves.

Q: Can you really reach all Connecticut residents?

Answer: Not by ourselves and not all on the first day. But with the help of distribution partners, other media, community groups and organizations and via a variety of platforms and technologies we think we can begin to deliver our content throughout Connecticut and reach the 3.5 million people who live in the urban, suburban and rural communities across Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland and Windham counties.

Q: What is proper attribution when using CT Mirror content?

Answer: At the top of the story please use the author's byline with “© The Connecticut Mirror". At the end of the story please use “This story originally appeared at CTMirror.org, the website of The Connecticut Mirror, an independent, non-profit, non-partisan news organization covering government, politics and public policy in CT."