What Connecticut media outlet enjoys the most influence in the state? For decades it was the Hartford Courant. But Hearst Connecticut Media has moved in with some sharp elbows, poaching respected Courant staffers, now poised for a deeper digital readership footprint in Connecticut backed by eight daily newspapers including the Connecticut Post. The media outlet announced the hiring of sports journalists Jeff Jacobs and Paul Doyle who earned their stripes at the Courant.
Three months ago Hearst landed a nice catch hiring Dan Haar away from the Courant.
Barbara Roessner, executive editor of Hearst Connecticut Media, served as managing editor of the Courant for nearly three years. Roessner joined Hearst Media more than five years ago shepherding the transition from conventional print to digital products as Hearst acquired a number of publications to achieve economy-of-scale journalism–one article, editorial or column feeding all its properties. So when Hearst political reporter Neil Vigdor shadowed Joe Ganim’s gubernatorial announcement day the coverage ran in all the Hearst publications.
Hearst Connecticut Media comprises eight daily newspapers in Connecticut–New Haven Register, Connecticut Post, The News-Times in Danbury, Stamford Advocate, Norwalk Hour, Greenwich Time, The Middletown Press and The Register-Citizen based in Torrington. It also owns Connecticut Magazine and a slew of weekly publications.
From Hearst:
Jeff Jacobs and Paul Doyle, both longtime Connecticut sports journalists, have joined Hearst Connecticut Media Group–Jacobs as a columnist and Doyle as sports enterprise editor. Jacobs’ column will debut in Hearst CT’s eight daily newspapers and multiple digital properties Sunday.
“Our goal is to continue to bring our readers the best content from the best journalists in Connecticut,” said Group Publisher Paul Barbetta. “Jeff and Paul fit that goal perfectly.”
Both Jacobs and Doyle come to Hearst after distinguished careers at the Hartford Courant, where each has covered just about every sport in the state. Their work has been recognized throughout New England and across the country. Jacobs is a 10-time Connecticut Sports Writer of the Year and four times has been honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors as one of the top 10 columnists in the country. Doyle was named 2016 Connecticut Sports Writer of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.
Full story here.
Ya it’s all good, but we still have the best “LENNIE GRIMALDI” and no one’s poaching him from us (I hope Not.)
When Barbara Roessner looks at her lineup, obviously she went to her priority need, sports reporting!! Do we assume that this improves her “bottom line” readership and related revenue more than finding investigative journalist talent (young or old) with a nose for financial reality? Provide them with the equipment to report trends in each community including revenues and sources, grand list valuations, grants and purpose, bonding and purpose, etc. Worthwhile concepts? We have 169 towns, and a tradition of “home rule”. How is that working out for the least prepared and most vulnerable school systems? What is our purpose as government? What are our priorities? Worthy topics for a newspaper whose game plan is to monopolize the newsstands in the State? Time will tell.