The Connecticut chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is thrilled to announce the trio of journalists who will be inducted into the Connecticut Journalism Hall of Fame.

These three journalists, and the winners of the 2024 SPJ Excellence in Journalism public service, investigative reporting and First Amendment awards, will be recognized at the at the annual Hall of Fame and awards reception:

Racebrook Country Club

246 Derby Avenue

Orange, Connecticut

Kate Farrish is a veteran journalist and educator with over three decades of experience in Connecticut’s media and academic landscapes. Her career spans reporting, editing, teaching, and advocacy for open government, with a focus on health, education, and public accountability.

She is currently an assistant professor-in-residence in the Journalism Department at the University of Connecticut — her alma mater, where she graduated with honors in 1983 — where she teaches newswriting, editing and journalism ethics. Farrish spent 23 years at the Hartford Courant, America’s oldest continuously published newspaper. She held roles as a higher education reporter, bureau chief, and city editor, earning state and national awards for her work. Her reporting leveraged the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to bolster story credibility with public records.

After leaving the Courant, Farrish wrote for Connecticut Health Investigative Team (C-HIT), covering health-related issues such as opioid prescription violations, gender-affirming surgery restrictions, and elder abuse investigations. Notable stories include a 2022 report on a pediatrician surrendering his medical license after illegally prescribing oxycodone and a 2021 piece on healthcare disparities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She won a Publick Occurrences Award from the New England Newspaper & Press Association for a 2018 investigative story on Connecticut nurses and addiction. In that story, she detailed how in the depths of their addiction to opioids, one nurse robbed banks to get the money to buy heroin, others ripped fentanyl patches off their nursing home patients to use themselves and others stole laptops and jewelry in their patients’ homes to buy drugs.

As an assistant professor of journalism, she taught newswriting and editing at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) until January 2025. Students described her as a tough but fair grader with clear expectations, offering valuable feedback and real-world insights from her 30+ years in the field. She organized events like Pursue the Truth Day at CCSU, interviewing investigative journalists to promote transparency.

Farrish is president of the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government (CFOG) and a commissioner on the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission. She promotes FOIA as a tool for all citizens, not just journalists, and has led initiatives like the Mitchell W. Pearlman FOI Award to honor transparency advocates. Her work emphasizes making government accessible and reducing defensiveness among officials handling FOI requests.

Steven D. Kalb is an award-winning broadcast journalist and Instructor-in-Residence at the University of Connecticut’s Journalism Department, where he has taught since 2003. His career spans over 35 years in radio and television, with significant roles in Connecticut and Boston, marked by hands-on reporting and leadership in newsrooms.

Kalb began in radio as a reporter and talk show host, notably with the Connecticut Radio Network. His reporting covered high-profile cases, including the murder trial of Michael Skakel, the corruption trial of Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, and the sexual assault case involving Waterbury Mayor Phil Giordano. His work reached tens of thousands of listeners.

Kalb served as a TV news director in major markets, including Boston and Salisbury, and helped launch and manage a 24-hour news operation in Philadelphia. His role in Boston placed him in one of the top ten media markets, where he oversaw newsroom operations and shaped broadcast content.

Kalb’s career is marked by immersive, on-the-ground reporting. He covered events like floods, fires at Superfund sites, the Mianus River Bridge collapse, and the L’Ambiance Plaza construction disaster, which killed 25 workers. His reporting from a helicopter 1,000 feet in the air underscores his commitment to “being there” for the story. He credits journalists like Johnny Carson, Mike Wallace, Marvin Kalb (a friend, not a relative), and Ted Koppel for shaping his interview style.

UConn students praise him as an engaging, practical educator who draws on his extensive industry experience, with Rate My Professors reviews calling him “the coolest professor.” UConn students voted Kalb as best professor twice.

Kalb has been deeply involved in journalism organizations, serving twice as president of the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists and as a state coordinator for the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA).

1955-2000

Jack Kramer was a distinguished journalist whose 43-year career left a significant mark on Connecticut’s news industry. Born in 1955, Kramer began his journalism journey as a student at the University of Bridgeport, where he co-edited the student newspaper alongside his college roommate. His early connection to journalism was rooted in his hometown, as he started delivering the New Haven Register as a young boy, a publication where he would later rise to prominence.

Kramer spent over three decades at the New Haven Register, eventually serving as executive editor under the Journal Register Company. During his tenure, he was known for his hands-on leadership style, choosing to work in the newsroom alongside his staff rather than in a secluded office. Colleagues described him as a mentor who recognized potential in others, fostering the careers of many reporters and editors. His deep community involvement earned him the nickname “Mr. New Haven,” as he maintained close ties with local figures like police chiefs, mayors, and fire chiefs, making him a trusted voice in the region. Kramer’s commitment to readers was evident in his willingness to field their complaints, notably receiving a flood of calls when the Register accidentally ran the same Batman comic strip twice.

After leaving the New Haven Register, Kramer worked at the New Britain Herald before transitioning to digital journalism in the final five years of his career. He contributed to CTNewsJunkie, a watchdog outlet focused on state government, and Patch.com, where he covered hyper-local stories about schools, police, and municipal events. His reporting tackled significant issues, including the opioid crisis, which he covered extensively after attending a Guilford Community Center event that highlighted the epidemic’s toll. Kramer also played a key role in raising awareness about “Ethan’s Law,” a Connecticut gun storage law inspired by the tragic death of 15-year-old Ethan Song in 2018, which became a model for potential federal legislation.

Kramer’s dedication to journalism persisted even during his year-long battle with cancer. He continued reporting from his hospital bed, with his final story for CTNewsJunkie published on April 22, 2020, just weeks before his death on May 5, 2020, at age 65. His colleagues and family noted his relentless passion, with his daughter, Tamara, remarking that he “didn’t know how to stop reporting.” Kramer’s legacy is reflected in the outpouring of tributes from peers, who praised his mentorship, high standards, and ability to balance corporate pressures while maintaining newsroom integrity.

In his unpublished goodbye column, Kramer expressed pride in his contributions to local journalism, particularly through Patch, which he believed reinvigorated accountability in town governance. His career was defined by a commitment to storytelling, community engagement, and advocacy for impactful causes, cementing his reputation as a pillar of Connecticut journalism.