A Note To Our Audiences

April 6, 2018

Our newsroom works hard each day to be thoughtful about the news and how we cover it. Here, and throughout public media, we take pride in being non-partisan, accurate, impartial, and independent. In pursuit of those aims, we also hold ourselves accountable.

To that end, we have two items to share.

First, Harriet Jones has been a trusted voice at Connecticut Public Radio for years. She is currently managing editor -- which means she runs our daily news operation. On February 20, 2018, her husband, Bob Statchen, filed to run as a Democrat for the 18th state senatorial district in the 2018 election.

In an effort to avoid real and perceived conflicts of interest, and after consultation with NPR, we are taking the following steps in advance of the election season:

• Jones will not report on, or edit reports on, Connecticut’s 2018 municipal, legislative, or gubernatorial elections.
• She will not participate in her husband’s campaign.
• She will not cover or edit political issues of concern in her husband’s race.

I'll be responsible for the newsroom duties from which Harriet is recusing herself.
I’ll continue to oversee and direct all local political coverage on Connecticut Public Radio. John Dankosky, Executive Editor of the New England News Collaborative and co-host of our news roundtable program, “The Wheelhouse,” will oversee all planning and production decisions for that show. Catie Talarski, executive producer of Connecticut Public Radio’s local talk shows, will direct decisions about the guests and content on those programs.

Transparency is an essential part of our work. That’s why we’re sharing this with you now. We’ll obviously revisit this issue as the campaign season progresses, and we welcome your feedback.

Jeff Cohen
News Director
Connecticut Public Radio
jcohen@ctpublic.org