Connecticut by the Numbers Launches Weekly Opinion Columns, Voices From Across State Will Share Perspectives

Connecticut by the Numbers, the state’s leading numbers-driven news website, begins its fifth year of operation with the launch of weekly opinion columns, to run each Sunday, featuring contributing writers from across Connecticut. The articles will offer viewpoints and opinions on a range of issues that impact the state and its residents.

The news site, at www.ctbythenumbers.news, has established a network of contributing writers who will author columns throughout the year. In addition, opinion pieces from state residents will be published on the site’s Sunday perspeCTive page.

Among the contributing writers to be featured are Mary Cahalane, nonprofit fundraising consultant; Suzi Craig, Senior Director of Advocacy & Development, Mental Health Connecticut; Endia DeCordova, Dean of Institutional Advancement and Community Engagement, Manchester Community College; Alissa DeJonge, Vice President of Research, Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC); Peter F. Eder, retired marketing executive and AARP Connecticut community volunteer; Mary Glassman, Manager, Office for Regional Efficiencies, Capitol Region Education Council; and Richard Hollant and team, CO:LAB, a Hartford-based brand development and design firm.

Contributing writers also include Tim Hollister, land use attorney and author of two books about parenting and safe teen driving; Frances Padilla, President of Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut; Kim Sirois Pita, Principal, Kim Pita Peaces; Thomas Phillips and Sandra Rodriguez, Capital Workforce Partners; John Simone, President & CEO, Connecticut Main Street Center; and Richard Sugarman, Executive Director, Hartford Promise and Founding President of The Connecticut Forum.

Additional contributing writers will appear throughout the year, and public submissions will also be considered for publication.

CT by the Numbers is compiled by Bernard Kavaler, who began his career as a broadcast and print journalist, and went on to a career in public affairs and public policy. Kavaler is currently Managing Principal of Express Strategies, a Hartford-based independent communications consulting firm.

The news site provides articles featuring demographic data with a Connecticut focus, and includes news targeting healthcare, education, transportation, finance, business, tourism, public safety, housing, nonprofits and the environment.

“It has become quite evident in the course of developing news stories that there are a great many individuals throughout Connecticut with tremendous expertise, passion, insight and commitment on a range of issues,” Kavaler said. “In addition to the news stories that are reported each weekday, the perspective columns will provide another way for people to learn more our state and issues that affect us every day.”

On the Connecticut by the Numbers website, year-over-year traffic increased in 8 of 12 months the past two consecutive years, and the site has had nearly 273,000 views since inception. Between 2013 and 2015, the number of annual page views more than doubled. The site also ran public awareness advertising for more than two dozen non-profit organizations at no charge last year.

News stories are posted weekday mornings. News reported on the site has been featured on CT NewsJunkie, CT Capitol Report and various news, business, municipal, organization and association web sites. CT by the Numbers is a member of the Independent Media Network.

For more information, visit www.ctbythenumbers.news, or www.facebook.com/CTbytheNumbers, or follow @CTNumbers on Twitter. To contact CT by the Numbers, email info@ctbythenumbers.info.