By Amy R. Connolly

Orlando — Daily newspaper reporting isn’t easy. In one day, a reporter can interview a convict, talk to a group of schoolchildren about their community garden and hear from a public official about the newest improvement plans. 

For Amy R. Connolly, newspaper reporting was a jump-out-of-bed-and-go job that makes her think fast and consider her next question while the first is being answered.  

Connolly started her newspaper career while at the University of South Florida, where she later earned a degree in mass communications. Out of college, she quickly moved to the Stuart/Port St. Lucie News in South Florida, where she was a go-getter. 

When Fort Pierce’s city manager decided Connolly, who then went by the name Amy Rippel, was not allowed to see the city's public records, she didn't back down. Ultimately, the city was forced to pay $15,000 in legal expenses.

When she started at the Orlando Sentinel, she continued to work doggedly on news that mattered to our local communities. Some of her more notable stories include:

• A Florida medical examiner's quest to prove that local hospices were intentionally killing patients.

• The heartbreaking tragedy of a funeral director who killed his wife in a jealous rage and buried her in a casket with another woman.

• The senseless death of NASCAR great Dale Earnhardt and the Orlando Sentinel's efforts to shine a light on protective gear that is now standard for drivers.

•  A father's successful quest to clear his name in the death of his son, despite being imprisoned multiple times for the crime.

• The curious tale of mystery and intrigue surrounding a man who claims to channel a "non-physical entity" named Lazaris.

 
Even after she left the Orlando Sentinel, Connolly couldn't stay away from newspapers. She secured several freelance positions before moving into marketing, where she continued to excel.

“I'm proud of the work I've done as a newspaper reporter,” she said, “and I was grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in people's lives.”