Ken Simon helped to invent the modern alternative newsweekly when he founded The Syracuse New Times. It is now one of the oldest alternative newspapers in the country. Simon led the weekly for 11 years as it gained regional prominence for its coverage of arts and entertainment, media, business and politics. The Syracuse paper and another weekly founded by Simon, The Ithaca New Times, have received hundreds of awards for journalistic excellence.

After selling the newspapers, Simon worked as an editorial and publishing consultant for a wide range of companies and organizations, including the National Consumer Cooperative Bank, the Connecticut Commission on the Arts, the Connecticut Film Commission, and United Technologies Corporation. During that time he wrote a weekly newspaper series on the legacy of urban renewal in his hometown that won the Amos Tuck/Champion Award for Economic Understanding. He also authored The New England Handcraft Catalog (Globe Pequot Press), a widely acclaimed book on leading New England artisans and their work.

Since starting SimonPure Productions, Ken Simon has produced, written and directed numerous television programs, including documentaries, entertainment  programs, and corporate video. Programs include Colt: Legend & Legacy, a biography of gun manufacturer Samuel Colt; Left to Die, the story of the Navy’s scandalous loss during World War II of the USS Juneau and its crew; Schemitzun!, portraying the country’s biggest celebration of Native American music and dance; USS Nautilus, on the first nuclear sub and its role in both the Cold War and civilian nuclear power. and The Mark of Uncas, an HDTV documentary on the history of the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut. He also produced the PBS pledge concerts Carole King: A New Colour In The Tapestry and A Tribute To Harry Chapin and was post-production producer for PBS of The Eagles: Hell Freezes Over.

Simon has also created many programs broadcast statewide on Connecticut commercial and public television stations, including nine documentaries in The Connecticut Experience series, which has been recognized by the Federation of State Humanities Councils as the best state humanities project in the nation. His programs have won many regional and national awards, including three Emmy awards, 17 Emmy nominations and the American Bar Association Silver Gavel for Legal Reporting.

In the 1980s, Simon cofounded the Down on the Farm contemporary craft gallery on his family's old farm in Connecticut.

CT FARMING NEWS

Matchmaking for Farmers

STATEWIDE - Farmers and would-be farmers looking for working  land have a new resource compliments of  the state Dept. of Agriculture. Connecticut FarmLink lists both property owners with farmland for sale or rent and people who are searching for land to farm.

Farm Map Goes Digital

STATEWIDE - The Connecticut Dept. of Agriculture has introduced an interactive website guide to more than 200 destination farms in the state.

State Funds for CT Farms

HARTFORD - In the last two years, the state has granted more than $1.5 million to farmers, non-profit organizations and municipalities to help support economic viability.

Slaughterhouse for CT?

LITCHFIELD - State farmers start a process to bring a mobile slaughterhouse to Connecticut.

Disappearing Dairies

SHELTON - The state's remaining dairy farms are struggling to survive despite daunting odds. Farmer Terry Jones knows why it's important to help state dairies persevere.