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Reporters and educators ask legislature to fund journalism fellowships to bolster local news pipeline
Summary
Newsroom and university leaders told the committee HB 7099 — a bill to fund journalism fellowships for graduates of public colleges — would help replenish local reporting capacity, train early‑career journalists and produce more local coverage. Testimony described program models and said fellowships create career pipelines into local newsrooms.
Local news leaders and journalism educators urged lawmakers to support HB 7099, a proposal to fund journalism fellowships for graduates of public institutions.
Bruce Putterman, publisher and CEO of the Connecticut Mirror, told the committee newsroom staffing has declined substantially over the last decade and that fellowship funding helps newsrooms hire and train early‑career reporters while expanding coverage. Harriet Jones, director of the Connecticut Student Journalism Collaborative and an adjunct instructor, said fellowship and internship experiences give student journalists bylines, newsroom relationships and practical portfolios that help them launch careers.
Speakers described how modest, targeted fellowship funding strengthens the local news pipeline, supports coverage of municipal and education boards, and helps inform civic decisions. Committee members asked about program design, eligibility and oversight. No vote was taken at the hearing.
