NEFAC Report | April 2022

New England First Amendment Coalition

April 2022

Every year, NEFAC honors individuals who have promoted and defended the First Amendment. This year's program was on April 13 and featured Raney Aronson-Rath, executive producer for Frontline; the Worcester Telegram & Gazette; and Tara Gunnigle, a Webster, N.H. resident.

Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award Presentation to Raney Aronson-Rath of Frontline

Q&A with Award Recipient Raney Aronson-Rath and NEFAC's Ed Fitzpatrick

Michael Donoghue Freedom of Information Award Presentation to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette

2022 Antonia Orfield Citizenship Award Presentation to Tara Gunnigle

Antonia Orfield Citizenship Award Presentation to Webster, N.H., Resident Tara Gunnigle

MASSACHUSETTS

NEFAC: Mass. Libel Law Restricts Flow of Information and Encourages Self-Censorship

The New England First Amendment Coalition recently argued against a Massachusetts libel law that prohibits the truth as a defense in certain cases.

Truthful comments, the coalition explained in an April 14 amicus brief, are protected by the state’s Constitution even if they are on matters of private concern and published with malicious intent.

NEFAC and the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association filed the brief in Shane v. Regan. The Suffolk Superior Court case involves a state law (M.G.L. c. 231 § 92) that allows recovery for defamatory though truthful statements on matters of private concern if the speaker was motivated by common law malice. [...]

EDUCATION

How to Diversify Your Sources

As Neema Roshania Patel at The Washington Post explained in a recent Poynter article, diversity in sourcing is key to reaching and retaining a younger, more diverse set of readers. Diversifying your sources can also help strengthen your credibility and improve your overall journalism practices.

By attending this class, you will learn:

• How diversifying sources can make journalists more trustworthy arbiters of the news.

• Questions that can be asked while newsgathering to help diversify sources.

• How to develop a source audit to assess your reporting.

About Your Instructor

Neema Roshania Patel is editor of The Washington Post’s Next Generation Audience Development team. Previously, she was editor of The Lily. Before joining The Post in 2016, she worked at NPR member station WHYY and Kiplinger. Roshania Patel recently wrote “5 Questions Reporters and Editors Should Ask to Diversify Their Sources” for Poynter.

View All Previous 30 Minute Skills

U.S. SUPREME COURT

NEFAC, Press Advocates Recommend Changes to Proposed Rule on Sealing Judicial Records

The New England First Amendment Coalition recently joined fellow press advocates to call for more transparency within the U.S. Supreme Court.

In an April 27 letter, the organizations addressed the troubling trend of sealing documents in an increasing number of cases each year and suggested changes to the court’s proposed Rule 34.7.

“Undue secrecy in matters pending before the court is deeply concerning to members of the press who rely on access to the court’s records to inform the public about the court’s important work,” the groups wrote. [...]

MASSACHUSETTS

NEFAC, Open Government Groups Support Remote Access for Boston Public Meetings

With virtual public meetings set to expire in Massachusetts on July 15, the New England First Amendment Coalition recently joined several advocacy organizations to support a new Boston proposal to permanently establish virtual participation options for public meetings.

The groups — including disability rights and free press organizations — support an ordinance filed last week by City Councilor Liz Breadon to make local government more accessible to all Boston residents. [...]

Additional Coverage

Boston City Council to Weigh Virtual Access Mandate | GBH

Need for Remote Access and Participation Highlighted in Public Awareness Campaign

NEFAC and several Massachusetts non-profits recently began a public awareness campaign to show how remote access and participation benefits all citizens in the state. Unless action is taken, government agencies will soon no longer be required to provide virtual access to their meetings.

NEFAC's Emily Sweeney of The Boston Globe describes how remote access helps journalists better inform their communities.

Bob Ambrogi at the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association explains why online viewing public meetings should continue.

Holden resident Joe Bellil shares his experiences using remote access and online meetings helps those with disabilities.

Northampton resident Barbara Black discusses her experience being blind and engaging with government through remote meetings.

PUBLIC RECORDS LAW

Public Record Appeals: Learn How to Fight Back When Your Records Request is Denied

NEFAC is continuing its series on public record laws with new classes on how newsrooms use the appeal process in their respective states as well as the Freedom of Information Act.

The classes will feature local journalists who will explain how their newsrooms appealed a public records request denial and the stories that resulted.

This latest round of classes is provided by NEFAC with support from the Society of Professional Journalists Foundation, SPJ New England, the Rhode Island Foundation, MuckRock and the New England Society of News Editors.

View all previous lessons and topics.

May 4

Rhode Island

Eli Sherman

WPRI-Providence

May 11

New Hampshire

Mark Hayward

Union Leader

May 18

Massachusetts

Todd Wallack

WBUR-Boston

May 25

Federal FOIA

Jason Leopold

BuzzFeed News

June 1

Vermont

Alan J. Keays

VTDigger

June 8

Maine

Callie Ferguson

Bangor Daily News

June 15

Connecticut

Len Besthoff

NBC Connecticut

MORE NEFAC COMMENTARY

Governor’s Council Fades to Black

And into this fray comes a coalition that believes it’s actually a good thing for the cameras to keep on rolling. It includes the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association, the New England First Amendment Coalition, the Disability Law Center, and the League of Women Voters, all looking to promote a little transparency.

“The people deserve to know what their government is doing, including the Governor’s Council’s important work,” the group wrote in a letter following this week’s meeting. “The decision to discontinue online streaming of Governor’s Council meetings should be reversed and remote access should be made permanent and routine for all public meetings.” [...]

MORE FOI & FIRST AMENDMENT NEWS

Regional / National

Freedom of Religion

_________________________________________________

Connecticut

Maine

Access to Judicial Records

_________________________________________________

Cumberland County Judge Seals Documents Related to Eliot Cutler Search Warrant | Portland Press Herald

Massachusetts

Open Meeting Law

Right to Record

Privacy, Right to Protest

New Hampshire

Police Records

_________________________________________________

Defending ‘Divisive Concepts’ Statute, N.H. Argues Law is Not Vague | New Hampshire Bulletin

Rhode Island

Vermont

Thank You to Our Supporters

NEFAC appreciates the support of all its donors and volunteers. In particular, we would like to thank the following Leadership Circle donors ($10,000+) and Major Supporters ($2,500-$9,999) for their contributions:

LEADERSHIP CIRCLE

Rhode Island Foundation

Hearst Conn. Media Group

The Boston Globe

Paul and Ann Sagan

The Robertson Foundation

MAJOR SUPPORTERS

Boston University

WBUR-Boston

Academy of New England Journalists

SPJ Foundation

Genie Gannett for the First Amendment Museum

Linda Pizzuti Henry

Connecticut Public

GBH-Boston