File Photo
Ten years ago this April the Branford Eagle was born. We started as a column and a few years later, in 2009, we grew our staff and became an online news site. We are part of the New Haven Independent, which is published by the not-for-profit Online Journalism Project. The Indy celebrates its 11th birthday this year.
We have had quite a run.
Last year, the Branford Eagle staff, all veteran reporters and photographers, won a record 18 Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) awards for stories and photographs that captured all aspects of Branford life.
The Eagle won seven first place awards, five second place awards, and six third place awards. Staff members Sally E. Bahner, Diana Stricker, Mary Johnson, Bill O’Brien, and Emma Zehner, then our summer intern, were all honored for their work.
In 2014, CT Now’s Advocate voted the Branford Eagle the best hyperlocal news site in the New Haven area. And that year, the Connecticut SPJ honored the Branford Eagle with 17 awards, including three first place awards.
We feel honored and privileged to cover our town. Our two contributing reporters, Sally E. Bahner, the former editor of the Branford Review, and her top reporter, Diana Stricker, have decades of professional newspaper experience. Diana was a reporter for the Tribune-Review in Greensburg, Pa., and the Patriot News in Harrisburg, Pa. They joined our staff after the Review folded.
File Photo
Our editor, Marcia Chambers has been a reporter for The New York Times and the Associated Press, and a columnist for the National Law Journal. Mary Johnson, who freelanced for the Branford Review, has provided readers with stunning photo coverage. So has Bill O’Brien, our photo-journalist who is covering high school sports for us.
We have provided in-depth coverage of town government, the police, courts, education, business development, the environment and now sports. We have covered numerous breaking stories, features and profiles. We are also on Facebook and Twitter.
The Branford Eagle also has a television news show on BCTV where we interview the town’s newsmakers on the local and state level. And last year the New Haven Independent started a not-for-profit community radio station, WNHH. We are the Legal Eagle. On Tuesdays we discuss the legal issues of the day with lawyers, judges and academics.
Sending A Contribution
Our readers tell us they expect and rely on our professional coverage. You can help us provide that coverage by giving us a birthday gift. We are a 501C‑3 and all contributions are tax-deductible.
Please send a contribution in the amount you can afford to:
Online Journalism Project
P.O Box 2067, Short Beach Station
Branford, CT 06405.
Please mark “Branford Eagle” on your check.
Thank you, readers for all you do.
###
