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New England First Amendment Coalition

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November 2025

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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.

New England Reporters Attend NEFAC's 15th Annual Investigative Journalism Program

Journalists from a variety of media and all six New England states attended local workshops, viewed online lessons and received in-person instruction at Boston University last month.

They learned the latest investigative and database reporting techniques and public records access skills. The fellows chosen for this 15th annual Negri Institute reflected today’s diverse news media and come from daily and weekly newspapers, television and radio stations, and online publications.

▶ Learn More About NEFAC's Negri Institute

▶ View This Year's Curriculum

▶ Institute Photos

CNN's John King Headlines Annual Awards Program For Local Journalism, Transparency

The New England First Amendment Coalition recently honored individuals who have promoted and defended the First Amendment throughout the region.

Honored this year were:

★ John King

Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award

★ The Boston Globe

Michael Donoghue FOI Award

★ Laurie Ortolano

Antonia Orfield Citizenship Award

★ Katherine Revello

Special Recognition

▶   Learn About the New England First Amendment Awards

▶   View Award Ceremony Photos

30 Minute Skills

Now Available to View

Networking as a Superpower

Instructor: Kevin Deeb | Brandeis University

Networking matters now more than ever — especially for journalists who are either breaking into the practice or looking for new opportunities in other newsrooms. More than 60 percent of freelance assignments, for example, come from editors journalists already know.

View this lesson to learn:

• Ways for journalists to "tap into" networks and potential opportunities.

• Practical strategies and tips for those looking to brand themselves and promote their work.

• Specific action items that can be worked on immediately to better position yourself for a career boost.

How to Start Your Own Podcast

Instructors: Edward Fitzpatrick | The Boston Globe and Megan Hall | The MHC Group

Looking for ways to expand your reporting and reach new audiences? Consider launching a podcast. What may seem like an expensive and time-intensive process can be done relatively easily.

View this lesson to learn:

• The equipment necessary to begin recording.

• Helpful and inexpensive editing software.

• Preparation and interview strategies.

▶ View All Previous Lessons

Open Government Classes - Register Now

Learn how your state's public records law has changed during the last four years and what developments — for better or worse — may be on the horizon. By attending these lessons, you'll get a full update to supplement everything you learned in our previous public records lessons.

New to our classes? Start by viewing previous lessons in our FOI Guide.

Registration Now Open

First Amendment and the Free Press

NEFAC made campus stops last month at Boston University, Simmons University and University of Massachusetts Amherst. The coalition also led First Amendment discussions at Suffolk University Law School and for the New Hampshire Bar Association.

Pictured (left to right) are NEFAC President Gregory V. Sullivan, Beryl Lipton at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman at Simmons University.

Upcoming Presentations

The NEFAC Community can be seen throughout the region with expert speakers regularly presenting in classrooms, town centers and on college campuses. Email NEFAC’s Justin Silverman at justin@nefac.org to schedule a guest speaker for your event.

Here's where you can find us:



▶ Nov. 17 | Norwell (Mass.) Public Library