NEFAC Report | May 2022

View as Webpage

New England First Amendment Coalition

Subscribe | Archives

May 2022

SPRING FUNDRAISER

We Cannot Be Complacent

Democracy is at risk around the world and here at home.

According to a recent study by Economist Intelligence, the state of democracy globally fell to a record low last year. The United States, plagued by diminished public trust in political parties and government institutions, ranked just 26th in last year’s Democracy Index.

Despite the study’s reference to a recent “tarnishing of America’s democratic credentials,” the First Amendment remains a pillar of freedom and government accountability. NEFAC is working overtime to keep it that way. [...]

NEW ENGLAND FIRST AMENDMENT INSTITUTE

Applications for NEFAI 2022 Now Available

Exclusive Investigative Reporting Program Returns to Northeastern University This Fall

The New England First Amendment Coalition will host its 12th annual New England First Amendment Institute from Oct. 23 to Oct. 25 at Northeastern University.

The previous two institutes were held online due to COVID-19 concerns.

“We’re excited to be back at Northeastern this year welcoming a new class of journalism fellows,” said Justin Silverman, executive director of NEFAC. “We have an excellent curriculum planned for those selected to attend the program.” [...]

Application Materials - Deadline August 12, 2022

FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE FREE PRESS

A Cyberattack Against RIPTA: Using Public Records to Complete the Story

Tolly Taylor at WPRI in Providence describes how he reported on a recent cyberattack against the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority and the role public records played.

Discussion Notes and Links

EDUCATION

How to Diversify Your Sources

Diversifying your sources can help strengthen your credibility and improve your overall journalism practices. Taught by Neema Roshania Patel at the Washington Post, this lesson focuses on the following areas:

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

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

• Where to find resources to help build new source lists.

View All Previous 30 Minute Skills

FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE FREE PRESS

Medical Costs in Connecticut: Turning Large Datasets Into Compelling Stories

Mary Katherine Wildeman of Hearst Connecticut discusses her investigation into hospital pricing. Wildeman collected publicly available documents and reported on the inequities she found within Connecticut communities.

Discussion Notes and Links

FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE FREE PRESS

NEFAC Provides Expert Speakers for University of Massachusetts Journalism Workshops

The New England First Amendment Coalition is providing workshop instructors to the University of Massachusetts Amherst as part of the group’s First Amendment and the Free Press program.

NEFAC launched the program in 2018 to help educate the public about the role journalism plays in the country. The program brings reporters, academics and legal scholars onto campuses and into the region’s classrooms and community centers. [...]

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 feature local journalists who 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 Previous Lessons and Register For Upcoming Classes

Rhode Island

Eli Sherman

WPRI-Providence

New Hampshire

Mark Hayward

Union Leader

Massachusetts

Todd Wallack

WBUR-Boston

Federal FOIA

Jason Leopold

BuzzFeed News

Vermont - June 1

Alan J. Keays

VTDigger

Maine - June 8

Callie Ferguson

Bangor Daily News

Connecticut - June 15

Len Besthoff

NBC Connecticut

MORE NEFAC COMMENTARY

Mandatory Virtual Access to MA State Government Ends July 15. Some Want It to Continue

“Over these last two and a half years of remote access, they have been able to engage with government and engage with their elected officials in ways they never could before,” said Justin Silverman, executive director of the New England First Amendment Coalition. “It’s not just about government accountability, it’s also about equity and fairness in making sure that all citizens — regardless of their circumstances — have an opportunity to engage with government and see how their officials are acting on their behalf,” Silverman said. [...]

Can HUPD Reform?

NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman said HUPD can make incident reports available to the public while still protecting sensitive information. “You can address that concern by allowing for certain information to be withheld or for certain redactions to be made, similar to how that can occur under our state’s public records law,” Silverman said. “They can continue to write very detailed reports.” [...]

MORE FOI & FIRST AMENDMENT NEWS

Regional / National

Viewpoint Discrimination

_________________________________________________

Connecticut

Maine

Vanity Plates, Freedom of Speech

_________________________________________________

Appeals Court Revives First Amendment Lawsuit Against Maine’s Court System | Techdirt

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Freedom of the Press

Police Records

_________________________________________________

Rhode Island

Vermont

Vermont Conversation: Fighting a Wave of Censorship | VTDigger

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