Local news website NewCanaanite.com won seven “Excellence in Journalism” awards from the Connecticut Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the Woodbridge-based organization announced last week.
The awards, for work published in 2023 by columnist Laura Ault, sportswriter Donovan West and editor Michael Dinan, covered a wide range of categories within the hyperlocal space:
Laura Ault
- General Column, 2nd place — Who Knew? And Then, There Was Pizza
- Humorous Column, 2nd place — Who Knew: A Beginner’s Guide to Winged New Canaan
Donovan West
- Sports Feature, 1st place — ‘A Culture of Belonging and Hard Work’: NCHS Girls Cross-Country Wins Another State Championship
- Sports Feature, 2nd place — ‘I Feel Very Blessed’: NCHS ‘16 Grad Lucas Niang Wins Super Bowl with KC Chiefs
Michael Dinan
- Feature Story, 1st place — ‘It Was Supposed To Be You’: NCHS Grad Becomes Mom to ‘Safe Haven’ Baby
- Editorial, 1st place — ‘Checks and Balances’ at Town Hall
- Podcasting, 1st place — Podcast: Moving the 1913 Library Building
More than 50 Connecticut publications and broadcast stations submitted more than 700 entries across five divisions in 30-plus categories, according to the SPJ.
“The contest supports the mission of CTSPJ as our biggest fundraiser,” SPJ Treasurer and Contest Committee Chair Martha Shanahan said in a June 28 press release. “Thanks to the entry fees, we give out thousands of dollars in scholarships to journalism students in or from Connecticut each year, and support other efforts such as the Legal Defense Fund, CCFOI and CFOG.”
A New Canaan resident, Ault is a writer, creative director and creator of/sole contributor to the monthly “Who Knew?” column on the New Canaanite. Sponsored by Walter Stewart’s Market (new installment coming this week), the column spotlights the best (and most unusual/unexpected) of the New Canaan community and its businesses and organizations.
West is a rising senior at New Canaan High School, where he writes sports stories for the paper, The Courant—in addition to periodic feature articles and game coverage on the New Canaanite—and plays basketball and volleyball.
Dinan is editor of NewCanaanite.com, founded 10 years ago.
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Since 1966, the CT Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging journalism. The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry and works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists. The CTSPJ hosts professional development and networking events, offers travel grants to members and student members to attend the national SPJ conference, distributes thousands of dollars each year in scholarships, works with student chapters and hosts an annual contest for local journalists that helps raise money to support the CTSPJ mission.
Congratulations, Mike, for these well-deserved awards!
As I commented before, New Canaanite is my first read over a cup of hot coffee when I get up. I check it several times a day, and it’s my last read
before I sign off at night.
Congratulations! Well deserved.
Congratulations, Mike, Laura, and Donovan! Well deserved honor. You each add so much to New Canaan.
Congratulations, Mike and the NewCanaanite! The NewCanaanite is exceptional, but also Mike goes above and beyond to mentor and nourish young writers. Donovan has learned so much writing for Mike. He independently submitted Donovan’s work. Very grateful that he’s had Mike to help inform the writer he will become.
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Congratulations Laura, Donovan, and Mike!
Congratulations, Michael to you and your team for these well deserved awards. The NewCanaanite is my go to for news around town! Keep up the great work!
Mike – a well-deserved recognition to you and your team – congrats! We are so lucky to have you and the NewCanaanite!
Congrats Mike…..enjoy the NewCanaanite every morning
Well done Mike! I read the newcanannite every morning before I start my day. You and your staff always strive to inform and stick to the facts! And your support for our community and all the important work people of all ages are doing is truly exceptional. Well done mike, Laura and Donovan!
Major kudos to Donovan, Laura and Mike. The Newcanaanite is a unique treasure that helps make our community special. Libby and I are proud and grateful. Keep it up!
Congratulations and well deserved by all! Thank you, Mike, for providing the community with its daily dose of wit and integrity!
Congratulations on your well-deserved recognition! Mike, Laura, and Donovan, plus many others, provide a consistently well-written cornicle of everything that makes New Canaan so unique. These days, it is not easy to create authentic content that stands up to the clutter of click-bait media and these awards validate your efforts. Thank you!
Communications is the woof and warp of an informed society. Kudos to Mike and his team for their important role in helping to weave the delicate tapestry of our town. Mike complements this when many leaders and citizens come together in a monthly ‘town meeting.’ Congratulations on these fine journalistic awards, Mike!
Mike, Congrats to you and all the New Canaanite contributors. Great Work..
Congratulations Mike, Laura and Donovan!