Ridgefield Journalist Wins 3 Connecticut Press Club Awards

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Ridgefield journalist and divorce coach Amy Polacko has received three Connecticut Press Club awards for national journalism focused on coercive control and domestic abuse. According to the announcement, Polacko won two first-place awards and one second-place award for work published in HuffPost, Ms. magazine and the New York Daily News.

The honors recognized reporting and commentary centered on abusive relationships and the barriers victims face when trying to leave. Polacko was awarded first place in the Personal Essay category for HuffPost's “I Help Women Escape Controlling Men. Here’s Why I Believe Cassie Couldn’t ‘Just Leave’ Diddy.” She also won first place in Health Writing for Ms. magazine's “Ten Warnings the New Gabby Petito Netflix Doc Reveals About Coercive Control.”

Her third award was second place in the Editorial/Op-Ed category for the New York Daily News piece “Combs Was Acquitted on Coercive Control.” According to the announcement, that article examined what it described as the legal system’s failure to recognize and prosecute coercive control as a serious crime.

“I am a domestic abuse survivor on a mission to educate women–and men–about coercive control. I’m deeply grateful to the Connecticut Press Club for recognizing these stories,” Polacko said. “I coach women from our area and across the country daily who are trapped, confused and afraid so every time there’s a high-profile case like Cassie’s or Gabby Petito’s it’s a chance to educate and empower people.”

According to the announcement, Polacko's journalism and coaching work share the same goal of helping women identify controlling relationships and navigate a way out. The release states that her work has also appeared in The Washington Post, The Guardian, Newsweek, NBC News THINK, The Independent and Observer.

The announcement also says Polacko was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team that covered the TWA Flight 800 crash for Newsday. It states that she holds a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and is a master certified coach.

Polacko recently launched a podcast called Girl, Wake Up! focused on women’s and divorce topics, according to the announcement. More information about her work is available at www.freedomwarrior.info.