# CT Insider

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{{Short description|Connecticut news website}}
{{Infobox newspaper
| name = CT Insider
| logo = CTInsider-logo.png
| type = Daily news, sports and entertainment website
| format = Digital
| owners = [Hearst Communications](/source/Hearst_Communications)
| publisher = Mike DeLuca
| chief_editor = Wendy Metcalfe
| website = {{URL|https://ctinsider.com}}
}}
'''CT Insider''' is a news website launched in 2019 by the [Hearst Corporation](/source/Hearst_corporation). The site covers news, sports, business, entertainment and other topics related to [Connecticut](/source/Connecticut).

The website, which has offices in [Norwalk](/source/Norwalk%2C_Connecticut), [Meriden](/source/Meriden%2C_Connecticut), [Bridgeport](/source/Bridgeport%2C_Connecticut), [Stamford](/source/Stamford%2C_Connecticut), and [Danbury, Connecticut](/source/Danbury%2C_Connecticut), is part of [Hearst Connecticut Media Group](/source/Hearst_Communications)'s network of local news websites, newspapers and magazine.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hearst.com/newspapers/hearst-connecticut-media-group | title=Connecticut Media Group - HEARST }}</ref> CT Insider is the online home for many of Hearst Connecticut's brands, including [Connecticut Magazine](/source/Connecticut_Magazine), GametimeCT, the [Republican-American](/source/Republican-American) of [Waterbury](/source/Waterbury%2C_Connecticut), the [Journal Inquirer](/source/Journal_Inquirer) of [Manchester](/source/Manchester%2C_Connecticut), and the [Record-Journal](/source/Record-Journal) of [Meriden.](/source/Meriden%2C_Connecticut)

== History ==
CT Insider was started in 2019 as a subscriber gateway to Hearst Connecticut Media Group's newspaper websites. In 2021, the site relaunched as a regional news site<ref>{{Cite web |last=Veseling |first=Brian |date=2021-06-30 |title=Hearst Connecticut launches statewide platform aimed at new audiences |url=https://wan-ifra.org/2021/06/hearst-connecticut-launches-statewide-platform-aimed-at-new-audiences/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=WAN-IFRA |language=en-US}}</ref> covering statewide topics and areas of Connecticut not traditionally covered by Hearst Connecticut's newspapers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edmonds |first=Rick |date=2021-08-02 |title=How Hearst is conquering Connecticut with the latest in a growing roster of statewide networks |url=https://www.poynter.org/business-work/2021/how-hearst-is-conquering-connecticut-with-the-latest-in-a-growing-roster-of-statewide-networks/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=Poynter |language=en-US}}</ref> Some of Hearst Connecticut's other brands and newspapers were migrated to CT Insider's website,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schultz |first=Ray |title=Hearst Connecticut Group Launches News Site, Bolsters Staff |url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/364476/hearst-connecticut-group-launches-news-site-bolst.html |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=www.mediapost.com |language=en}}</ref> including Connecticut Magazine, GameTimeCT and the Shoreline Times. Today, the site covers a range of topics related to Connecticut, including breaking news, politics and elections, business, [real estate](/source/real_estate), entertainment and sports, with a heavy focus on the [UConn men's](/source/UConn_Huskies_men's_basketball) and [women's basketball](/source/UConn_Huskies_women's_basketball) teams and high school sports.

== Expansion ==
CT Insider has continued to grow, positioning Hearst Connecticut as "a dominant force in Connecticut's newspaper industry."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Larson |first=Andrew |date=2025-02-03 |title=Hearst CT set to close on Republican-American sale |url=https://hartfordbusiness.com/article/hearst-ct-set-to-close-on-republican-american-sale/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=Hartford Business Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> In June of 2023, Hearst acquired the Journal Inquirer of Manchester<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bordonaro |first=Greg |date=2023-06-04 |title=Hearst completes JI acquisition; offers jobs to half of newspaper's staff |url=https://hartfordbusiness.com/article/hearst-completes-ji-acquisition-offers-jobs-to-half-of-newspapers-staff/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=Hartford Business Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> and began publishing the newspaper's digital content on CT Insider. In late 2023, Hearst finalized a deal to purchase the RJ Media Group,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gambini |first=Hanna Snyder |date=2023-11-27 |title=Hearst CT Media nearing deal to acquire Meriden Record-Journal, parent company |url=https://hartfordbusiness.com/article/hearst-ct-media-nearing-deal-to-acquire-meriden-record-journal-parent-company/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=Hartford Business Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> which includes the Record Journal of Meriden, and moved that newspaper's online presence to CT Insider. In early 2025, Hearst purchased Waterbury's Republican-American newspaper with its website moved under the CT Insider banner.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schultz |first=Ray |title=Hearst Connecticut Media Group Takes Over 'The Waterbury Republican-American' |url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/403179/hearst-connecticut-media-group-takes-over-the-wat.html |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=www.mediapost.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Impact of investigations ==

CT Insider reporting on falsified state-police ticket records prompted a statewide data audit by the Connecticut Racial Profiling Prohibition Project and a federal probe by the [U.S. Department of Justice](/source/United_States_Department_of_Justice).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Andrew |date=2024-08-01 |title=Investigation into CT state police fake ticket scandal closed by feds |url=https://ctmirror.org/2024/08/01/ct-state-police-ticket-scandal-closed/ |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=CT Mirror |language=en-US}}</ref> As of October 2025, 18 officers had been disciplined for their part in the scandal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cummings |first=Bill |date=Oct 13, 2025 |title=Seven more punished in Connecticut state police ticket data scandal, records show |url=https://www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/article/ct-state-police-ticket-scandal-troopers-21073496.php |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=CT Insider}}</ref>

In response to a CT Insider investigation into the state disability pension program, Connecticut officials proposed an overhaul to the system to detect and prevent fraud and abuse.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pazniokas |first=Mark |date=2024-04-02 |title=Sean Scanlon proposes tighter oversight of CT disability pensions |url=https://ctmirror.org/2024/04/02/scanlon-proposes-tighter-oversight-of-disability-pensions/ |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=CT Mirror |language=en-US}}</ref> The state reached a deal with state employee unions on the proposed reforms within months of the investigation's publication.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-17 |title=Comptroller Sean Scanlon Announces Reform to State Disability Pension System |url=https://osc.ct.gov/articles/comptroller-sean-scanlon-announces-reform-to-state-disability-pension-system/ |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=CT Office of the State Comptroller |language=en}}</ref>

== Awards ==
A 2023 investigative series that uncovered Freedom of Information violations in Connecticut's largest city earned the 2024 Mitchell W. Pearlman Freedom of Information Award from the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-13 |title=Connecticut Foundation for Open Government Announces Winners of Third Annual Pearlman Freedom of Information Award |url=https://ctfog.org/pearlman/connecticut-foundation-for-open-government-announces-winners-of-third-annual-pearlman-freedom-of-information-award/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=Connecticut Foundation for Open Government |language=en-US}}</ref> as well as the Connecticut [Society of Professional Journalists](/source/Society_of_Professional_Journalists)' First Amendment Award.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeBenedictis |first=Gabby |date=2024-06-28 |title=CT Mirror wins top SPJ public service, investigative reporting awards |url=https://ctmirror.org/2024/06/28/ct-mirror-spj-awards/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=CT Mirror |language=en-US}}</ref> The series also won the 2023 Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information's Stephen A. Collins Memorial Freedom of Information Award.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-15 |title=CCFOI celebrates legislative wins, award winners |url=https://ctfog.org/news/newsletters/2023-volume-ix-issue-2/ccfoi-celebrates-legislative-wins-award-winners/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=Connecticut Foundation for Open Government |language=en-US}}</ref>

A 2023 investigation that revealed [Connecticut State Police](/source/Connecticut_State_Police) troopers had fabricated traffic tickets received a 2024 National Headliner Award, with judges noting the "series exposes everyday corruption, and restores our faith."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.headlinerawards.org/2024-print-photo/ | title=2024 – Print / Photo &#124; National Headliner Awards }}</ref>

A 2022 investigation into accusations that Connecticut State Police had fabricated traffic tickets won the 2023 Mitchell W. Pearlman Freedom of Information Award,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Besthoff • • |first=Len |date=2023-10-02 |title=False trooper ticket story author is 1 of 3 CT open government award winners |url=https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/false-trooper-ticket-story-author-is-1-of-3-ct-open-government-award-winners/3115946/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=NBC Connecticut |language=en-US}}</ref> as well as the Connecticut SPJ's Theodore Driscoll Award for Investigative Reporting<ref>{{cite web | url=https://connecticutspj.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2022CTSPJContestWinners-1.pdf | title=Excellence in Journalism Contest | date=2022 | access-date=2024-10-18 | archive-date=2024-07-16 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716025326/https://connecticutspj.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2022CTSPJContestWinners-1.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>

A 2022 investigation into the use of restraint and seclusion tactics in schools won the Connecticut SPJ's Stephen A. Collins Public Service Award<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-14 |title=Collinsville Press recognized with two Excellence In Journalism awards – The Collinsville Press |url=https://collinsvillepress.com/2023/06/collinsville-press-recognized-with-two-excellence-in-journalism-awards-4/33928 |access-date=2025-11-04 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

Category:Hearst Communications publications
Category:2019 establishments in Connecticut
Category:Mass media in Connecticut
Category:Companies based in Norwalk, Connecticut

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [CT Insider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CT_Insider) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CT_Insider?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.