Connecticut Public Welcomes Áine Pennello as New Environment and Climate Change Reporter

HARTFORD [June 02, 2025] - Connecticut Public is pleased to announce journalist Áine Pennello will be joining the newsroom as its new Environment and Climate Change Reporter, a position made possible through a renewed partnership with Report for America. Based in Hartford, Pennello will begin her role on June 30th.

Pennello comes to Connecticut from WUFT, the NPR member organization in Gainesville, Florida, where she served as a newscaster and reporter. In addition to anchoring daily news coverage, Pennello was instrumental in mentoring student journalists from the University of Florida, contributing to a robust and collaborative local news operation.

Pennello is an alumnus of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Pennello’s career spans local news and national documentary production. She has contributed to projects with Soledad O’Brien Productions, Netflix, and HBO Films– bringing a strong visual and narrative sensibility to her reporting. Her previous roles include producer and writer at WCBS Radio in New York City.

At Connecticut Public, Pennello will report across radio and digital platforms, delivering people-focused stories that examine the impact of climate change on Connecticut's communities, natural resources, and infrastructure. Her work will feature accountability journalism, emphasizing how the state is adapting to environmental challenges while pursuing sustainability initiatives.

“We are excited to have Áine join our talented team of journalists,” said Eric Aasen, Connecticut Public’s executive editor. “Áine is eager to get started on an important beat. Connecticut is a picturesque state and our audience cares about the outdoors. They also pay attention to how our environment is changing, as well as efforts to address climate change. We look forward to Áine exploring all of these topics. Our audience will benefit in many ways from her reporting.”

This hire strengthens Connecticut Public’s commitment to covering critical issues with both depth and clarity. Pennello will contribute to the organization’s mission of serving the public through trustworthy journalism. She joins a collaborative newsroom that includes The Accountability Project’s investigative unit, visuals, social media, talk shows, the New England News Collaborative and Somos Connecticut, an initiative to better serve Latino audiences. Report for America is a national service program that places talented emerging journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered topics and communities. Connecticut Public is proud to continue its partnership with the organization to expand coverage on one of the most urgent issues facing the state.

About Connecticut Public
Connecticut Public is home to Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) and Connecticut Public Radio (WNPR). Together, Connecticut Public serves more than one million people each week through Connecticut Public Radio and Connecticut Public Television, as well as through our many digital and online platforms, including ctpublic.org. Through our mission to inform, educate and inspire the people of Connecticut, we connect people of all ages to high-quality journalism, storytelling, education and experiences, and amplify the voices of our diverse communities.  Connecticut Public’s main offices are located in Hartford, CT with studios at Gateway Community College in New Haven, CT as well as Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT. Connecticut Public is also sole owner of the for-profit MediaVision Creative agency in Norwalk, CT. Connecticut Public is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with a $22 million annual budget, funded primarily through community support from individuals, foundations and corporate sponsors.