Insurance and Real Estate Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-1043
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING THE HARTFORD COURANT.
Vote Date: 3/22/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 3/18/2021
File No.: 368
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Insurance and Real Estate Committee
Sen. Matthew L. Lesser, 9th Dist.
Sen. Saud Anwar, 3rd Dist.
Rep. Matt Blumenthal, 147th Dist.
REASONS FOR BILL:
This bill prohibits the Hartford Courant Company and any of its legal successors from acquiring debt
or issuing dividends that are not in the public interest. If they violate this provision, the Attorney
General, or subscribers of the Courant, have the ability to apply to the Superior Court for injunctive
relief to urge the Hartford Courant Company or any successor to rectify the breach. The court may
award reasonable attorneys fees and costs obtained by the prevailing party. It has been publicly noted
that the primary ownership of the Hartford Courant by hedge fund corporations has caused detrimental
effects to the publication. The quality of the paper has diminished, and local news reporting has been
neglected. This bill would aid in preventing such corporations from continuing their attempts at
increased ownership of the Courant that is not in the public interest.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
None expressed
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Armond & Janet Barneschi support this legislation deeming the paper a vital source of information
and part of their daily routine. They urge for the effort in saving the Courant.
Michael Cooney he is worried that the reliable and important news source might diminish soon with
the possibility that it be overrun by Alden Global Capital. Mr. Cooney believes the Courant must be
saved for the sake of journalism, staff, and the community.
Mark Diamond believes that the Hartford Courant is the only reliable and credible news source for
statewide coverage. He supports the legislation but also suggests the idea of a tax credit for news
organizations that maintain their editorial staff.
David Bergman urges the passage of the bill to save the local newspaper. He explains that as new
owners have emerged for the Hartford Courant, the company has downsized tremendously in terms of
staff and subjects on which it reports on. Mr. Bergman notes that the company has significantly
reduced the number of reporters, photographers, and copy editors. He explains that this has continued
to ensue ever since Alden Global Capital became the largest shareholder for Tribune Publishing. With
the new plan for Alden Global Capital to purchase The Tribune Organization, Mr. Bergman believes
the integrity of the Hartford Courant is in jeopardy. Without prioritization of journalism citizens, will
become less engaged and communities will become invisible.
Carl Chisem, President Connecticut Employees Union Independent, SEIU Local 511 He believes
that due to Alden Global Capital becoming the Courants largest shareholder, the size and efficiency of
the company have decreased. As a result, Mr. Chisem has seen neglect of many important news
subjects, which is hindering the quality of the reported news. He believes that the passage of the bill
will prevent Alden from further destroying the establishment.
Carol Davidge believes that the quality of the newspaper has diminished by intentions driven by
profit, leading to a shortage in staff and coverage. She explains that The Hartford Courant has
maintained a prideful and important reputation, and efforts should be made to save it.
Michael Crowley & Judith Schmaltz Crowley emphasize the value of a local newspaper in our state
capital. They believe the Alden Global Capital group has made devastating changes by moving
printing headquarters out of state and diminishing the quality of news coverage. With the divide in our
country currently, it is important to maintain fair and reliable news coverage.
Sam Dostaler urges to save the paper. He explains that due to the relocation of headquarters to
Springfield, as a result of the Alden Global Capital, news tips that are given the night before are not
covered in the paper the next day. Mr. Dostaler believes Alden will only continue to diminish the
paper. As a result, he is questioning whether to continue his subscription.
James Case, Communications Workers of America Local 1298 states that predatory hedge funds
are putting the prestige and extensive history of the Courant in jeopardy. He explains that Tribune
Publishing has significantly neglected its employees, even administering a furlough for many of them.
Mr. Case also notes that the papers headquarters have been abandoned. He believes that this
legislation would prohibit the Alden Global Capital group from incurring debt and extracting value
from the company. He urges that such an important entity should be reserved for local ownership to
prioritize the quality of journalism.
Barbara Checknoff submitted testimony in support of the Courant's independence and hope that that
it can continue to survive and even grow.
Jim Colla supports this bill and the Hartford courant.
Mary Ellen Ellsworth supports this bill.
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The testifiers support the bill because they believe in maintaining the Hartford Courant as a local and
physical news source. They believe that this legislation would counteract the recent downward
trajectory of the corporation, in an effort to save the coveted newspaper.
Robert Englehart supports the bill because the internet and greed of the hedge fund racket have
destroyed the integrity that the Hartford Courant once embodied. Mr. Englehart notes that newspapers
used to solely prioritize journalism; they served as a strong and reliable source for news coverage. He
believes the Courant is now in the hands of people who do not prioritize the common good. As a result,
the paper is not serving the people as effectively as it used to.
Kevin Farmer expressed the Courant has served Connecticut communities for centuries. Mr. Farmer
believes that shining a light on the minuscule and major moments and occurrences, is vital to our
democracy. He comments that the Alden Global Capital has hindered the Courants capacity and
quality through cutting staff and expertise. It has eliminated many substantial jobs. Mr. Farmer
believes this legislation should be passed to protect the free and independent press.
David Fenn believes that allowing corporate greed to destroy the sanctity of our press should be
greatly inadmissible. He believes that further damage of the Hartford Courant will only damage our
Democratic Republic and directly affect Connecticut residents.
Kathy Flaherty notes that the Courant provides information on the state legislature, the country, and
the world. She believes the paper has become a shadow of its old self as Alden Global Capital has
prioritized cost-saving initiatives. This has directly hindered the quality of the paper, as well as its
work environment and functions. Local newspapers are vital to hold local elected officials accountable.
The history of the paper is quite extensive and important, and it should be saved.
Timothy Gabriele believes that one of the greatest fundamental threats to American democracy is the
loss of local and regional reporting. Without investigative journalism, corruption and unethical
behavior are pronounced, causing detrimental effects to the lives of citizens and our communities. He
explains that voices become silenced, and justice is not properly served. Mr. Gabriele believes that
Alden Global Capital has been stripping the Hartford Courant of its journalistic integrity in an effort to
absorb profit for itself. He quotes Chicago Tribune reporter Gary Pratt on a segment of NPR saying,
theyre shameless about cutting. They dont care about the social value of the news, at least not in any
meaningful way. The Hartford Courant, Americas oldest newspaper, has already faced years of
intense cuts to staff, journalists, photographers, and editors. He states that the disenfranchised in his
town feel left without a voice. Issues that matter most to some residents are shoved aside for financial
matters more important to the ownership class than everyday people. Mr. Gabriele emphasizes the
importance of protecting local news from hedge funds, and their lack of concern for the state of
democracy in Connecticut.
Deborah Gaffney is concerned that the Hartford Courant will eventually be sold or shut down. She
states that newspapers are vital to a democracy. Citizens must be assured that they are receiving the
proper and necessary facts and stories from news outlets so that they can gather information needed to
cast votes. Recent cuts had diminished the papers capacity to ensure full coverage of the facts. She
notes that only one reporter is left in Hartford and a few remain in surrounding towns. Only three
photographers remain, and there have been large cuts to editors and sports staff. Last fall, printing was
outsourced to Springfield, costing 151 jobs. She also notes that the local newsroom was also lost. She
emphasized that local ownership should be prioritized and urges for the passage of the bill.
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Christopher Gelino supports the bill as a subscriber to the newspaper. He is fearful of the future
damages that will ensue with Alden Global Capitals plan to acquire a controlling stake in Tribune
Publishing. The company has already downsized considerably leading to the lack of certain subjects
being covered in the paper. He states that since the Courant is one of the oldest continuously published
papers, it must be protected and saved. He goes on to explain that a reliable news source is pertinent to
democracy as it allows for fact-based public engagement, holding leaders accountable, and the
prioritization of vulnerable citizens. The paper will need local leadership to adapt to the modern news
cycle.
Philip Gialopsos is very concerned with the recent scale-back of the Hartford Courants size, staff,
and offices. Local journalism is very important especially in a growing economy to hold the
government and major corporations accountable. He also highlights the papers importance as an outlet
for aspiring writers. Bill 1043 is the first step in making sure our local news is not destroyed by large
corporations.
Rick Gregory supports this legislation because he has been a subscriber of the courant for over 30
years and is very disheartened by the way the paper has been gutted by hedge funds. The coverage of a
range of topics had dwindled, leaving Mr. Gregory to rely on non-professional sources for news. He
believes the amount he pays for the paper isnt worth the stories it provides anymore. He quotes a
Miami Columnist Carl Hiassen who wrote an article detailing that journalism is plummeting and as a
result, local news isnt being reported. As newspapers die, the citizens of local communities are being
affected the most. While there are sources to cover national and statewide news, a local paper is just as
important and needs to be maintained.
Winston Heimer states that the preservation of local newspapers is vital for the preservation of
democracy. As current owners have stripped the paper of its staff and previous headquarters in CT,
local news coverage has deteriorated. The local coverage made sure government agencies were being
held accountable. He describes how after 9/11, the US Justice Department began deporting Muslim
and Arab immigrants in secret court proceedings. Several newspapers a U.S. Rep. John Conyers fought
against this deeming it a violation of the first amendment to close immigration hearings to the public,
and the slogan democracy dies in the dark emerged. By shining a light on local issues, we ensure our
democracys strength.
Matthew J. Hennessy, Managing Director of Tremont Public Advisors believes that taxpayers
have a stake in how the paper conducts its business affairs. The Hartford Courant has been a vital
source of information, which allows citizens to hold the government accountable for its actions. The
dramatic cost reductions, including large reductions in staff, have a direct impact on our economy and
well-being. Additionally, the closure of the Courants Broad Street headquarters will have a cascading
effect on municipal tax revenues. It will result in the City of Hartford collecting less property tax and
ultimately asking the General Assembly to make up the lost revenue. The bill is the right thing to do on
behalf of the hardworking staff of the Hartford Courant and our communities.
Ken Herts, Director of Operations and Chief Operating Officer, The Lenfest Institute for
Journalism, LLC believes that The Lenfest Institutes experience with The Philadelphia Inquirer over
the past five years, as a public-benefit corporation owned by a non-profit parent company, can provide
insights into a possible future for the Hartford Courant. Gerry Lenfest and partners bought the Inquirer
from a group of hedge funds, including Alden Global Capital, in 2012. By the end of 2015, Mr.
Lenfest didnt believe that print newspapers had a long-term future as for-profit enterprises. But he
believed the journalism they provided served an important civic purpose, essential to the life of a city
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or region. Mr. Lenfest had a new structure in which he wanted to reiterate traditional journalism. The
Philadelphia Inquirer is a Public Benefit Corporation; it can both keep all the operating profits it
generates and receives support funds from the community. Rather than paying its earnings out to
shareholders, the Inquirer can invest in quality journalism and business transformation. The Lenfest
Institute raises funds on behalf of the Inquirer and makes grants to it from the funds raised and from
earnings on the Institutes endowment. Overall, this structure allows for prioritization of journalism
and he believes the Courant can benefit from a similar system.
Elizabeth Husmer is concerned that the Courant will fall into the hands of someone who prioritizes
the business rather than the journalism that provides necessary information about local communities.
Investigative journalism has preserved democracy for years as it promotes truth and transparency. She
believes we cannot solely rely on primary giants as our resource; local papers are essential. She
highlights the importance of the opinion page in the Hartford Courant as it provides different
perspectives from that of our own. She urges for any legislation that will save and protect the paper.
William Hyatt has been a reader of the Hartford Courant for 50 years, relying on it for thoughtful
news and analysis. He believes it is essential for the state that there are local news outlets that provide
factual news that goes beyond what is seen and shared on the internet. He says that the way news and
opinions have been delivered recently are engulfing our society and hindering the availability of
unbiased facts and thoughtful opinions being shared. He believes that this is harmful to our democracy,
and the Courant provides a balance of traditional formatting and coverage. He strongly urges the bill
be passed and also encourages other steps be taken to ensure the protection of the paper.
Renee James is appalled at the repercussions of Alden Global Capital securing a large stake in the
Hartford Courant. She had seen the paper shrink in size along with the local and state-wide coverage
under Tribune Publishing but only worsened with Alden. They have cut staffing by more than half and
even make employees pay expenses as a part of working there. She states that even more Connecticut
jobs will be lost under Alden since the paper isnt printed in our state anymore. She urges that the bill
be passed, or she worries that democracy is in danger.
Cherie Juhnke She believes newspapers have been diminishing quickly, thus freedom of speech is in
jeopardy. Local news is being left in the past as social media has taken over, however, we cant rely on
social media for reliable news and facts. She urges that Alden Global Capital be stopped from
destroying the paper. She also urges new voices and perspectives to be added to the paper, which can
only be done with local ownership and the prioritization of journalism.
Barbara LaFlesh believes hedge funds are destroying one of the oldest papers in the United States.
Owners have cut staff, sold property, and ultimately decreased the quality of the paper. She realizes it
is a function of capitalism but doesnt believe its the way business should be operated.
Luella Landis supports this legislation and local ownership of the newspaper so that journalism is
prioritized rather than profited off of.
Mary Larkin believes that the quality, and size, of the Courant has diminished. Many subjects are left
uncovered and only a small number of reporters, photographers, editors, and sports staff are left. There
were once around 400 newsroom employees and that figure is now down to 50. This has only
worsened as Alden Global Capital took share in the company. Since January 2020, another 24
employees have been cut. She urges for local ownership, so journalism is prioritized over profit.
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Sal Luciano, President Connecticut AFL- CIO considers the Hartford Courant a national treasure as
it is the countrys longest published newspaper. This bill stops predatory hedge funds from destroying
the papers they own. The paper has decreased in size which has worsened since Alden Global Capital
became the largest shareholder, cutting more staff and outsourcing the printing headquarters. Quality
journalism aligns with freedom of press and it must be protected. He explains that in the Revolutionary
War when its paper mill was burned down, the legislature authorized a lottery to raise money to build a
new one.
Rebecca Lurye, Union Chair of Hartford Courant Guild is the Courants Hartford city reporter.
She supports the bill because she believes Americas longest published newspaper is under attack by
corporate leaders who only