New England First Amendment Coalition

Subscribe | Archives

April 2025

If you enjoy reading this newsletter, please forward it to a colleague or friend. If someone forwarded you this newsletter, please subscribe!

We Want to Hear From You!

As a member of the NEFAC Community, you are in the company of journalists, academics and other fans of the First Amendment and open government. We look forward to seeing you at our events and hearing from you about our programs.

First Amendment

Defamation and Privacy

May 14 | 5:30 p.m. ET

Saint Anselm College, Manchester N.H.

Instructor: NEFAC President Gregory V. Sullivan

Provided by NEFAC and the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications, this class will explore the federal and state laws governing libel, slander and wrongful invasion of privacy. Students will learn about the right to enjoy a positive reputation, the elements of a valid defamation claim, the defenses to such a claim, and the four types of wrongful invasions of privacy.

30 Minute Skills

Writing Workshop 101

Instructor: Edward Fitzpatrick | Boston Globe

Once the reporting ends, how should the writing begin? Journalists and other writers often have difficulty structuring their stories and making editing decisions. By viewing this lesson, you'll learn:

• An effective blueprint for writing your stories.
• How to determine what should be cut and what should be included in the final draft.
• Why "nose-pickers" and "warts" are essential to every profile.

▶ View All Previous Lessons

Register Now for Upcoming Classes



▶ May 13 | Writing Workshop 102

▶ June 12 | Broadcast Journalism 101

▶ July 22 | How to Use Signal

▶ Aug. 19 | Immigration Reporting 101

▶ Sept. 29 | How to Start a Non-Profit Newsroom

▶ Oct. 20 | How to Start Your Own Podcast

▶ Nov. 6 | How to Network and Find Your Next Great Opportunity

Your Right to Record

Lessons for All States Now Available to View

Learn about your right to record video or take photographs of government officials and records. Taught by the region's leading media attorneys, these lessons address the following:

• Recording open meetings.
• Recording and taking photos of public buildings.
• When, if ever, public officials have a right to privacy.
• Recording and taking photos during court proceedings.
• Taking photos of public records, including court documents.

Connecticut

Maine

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Rhode Island

Vermont

More Events and Presentations

The NEFAC Community can be seen throughout the region with expert speakers regularly presenting in classrooms, town centers and on college campuses. Here's where else you can find us:

▶ April 29 | University of Massachusetts Amherst | First Amendment and the Free Press

▶ May 2 | Boston University | New England Scholastic Press Association Conference

▶ June 27 | Endicott College | Young Journalists Workshop