New England First Amendment Coalition |
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The New England First Amendment Coalition recently launched a new multimedia guide to freedom of information laws in the region.
The FOI Guide provides answers to commonly asked questions about public records, cites notable case law and links to additional resources, including recent legislation for all New England states. It also features video tutorials on public records and discussions with journalists, attorneys and other open government experts on how records can be obtained. [...]
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The New England First Amendment Coalition is calling for body-worn cameras to be used consistently among police departments in Rhode Island with timely release of footage and adequate safeguards for constitutionally-protected activity.
“We start from the position that the use of body-worn cameras is a welcome measure for holding police officers and police departments accountable as they exercise the police powers of the state,” wrote NEFAC and other members of Access/RI in a Sept. 23 letter to the Office of the Attorney General. [...]
Additional Coverage
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NEFAC’s Edward Fitzpatrick, a reporter at The Boston Globe, appeared on A Lively Experiment to discuss a new police body camera initiative and when footage should be released. Fitzpatrick and other panelists also spoke about the lack of access to 911 calls in the state. |
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Transparency is the first the step to justice. Learn more about how NEFAC is working to keep law enforcement transparent and accountable.
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After interviewing people who have suffered great loss or covering various conflicts, journalists of all backgrounds may need help coping with their own exposure to traumatic events. By viewing this class, you will be able to: |
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• Explain the rationale for good self-care
• Identify areas where self-care practical tools may be necessary
• Begin to implement specific self-care strategies or practical tools
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The classes will feature a local journalist from each New England state. The journalist will explain how to make three specific requests using their respective state public records law and what stories can be reported with the records received.
There will also be a similar class focusing on the federal Freedom of Information Act.
This new round of classes will be provided by NEFAC with support from the Society of Professional Journalists Foundation, SPJ’s New England Chapter, MuckRock and the New England Society of News Editors. [...]
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Registration Now Open for All Classes |
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NEFAC’s Emily Sweeney, a reporter at The Boston Globe, will speak about professional information vetting strategies and provide guidance on how to best assess online news sources.
Emily Rosenberg, a student at Framingham State University, will begin the program by presenting her research about social media use and the prevalence of misinformation online.
The program — titled “Seeking Truth: Verifying Information Online” — will begin at 4:30 p.m. on October 20 in the university’s McCarthy Center Alumni Room. The university is located at 100 State Street, Framingham, Mass. [...]
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The New England First Amendment Coalition recently joined a group of newsrooms and advocacy organizations to call for permanent live audio access to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“Providing live audio access to cases during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has convincingly demonstrated the public’s appetite to observe the operations of the Court,” the groups wrote in a Sept. 8 letter. “It has also shown that the Court can balance increased public access with the integrity of its proceedings.” [...]
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Melissa Wasser, policy counsel at the Project on Government Oversight, discusses ways the U.S. Supreme Court should expand public access to its proceedings. POGO, NEFAC and more than 80 other organizations recently called on the court to permanently provide live audio streaming of oral arguments.
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Dan Marshall, general counsel and litigation director for the Human Rights Defense Center, explains a recent ruling by the Vermont Supreme Court that helps keep certain private companies subject to the state’s public records law. NEFAC and other advocates served as amici curiae in the case.
Additional Coverage
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Access/RI, a group of open government advocates in Rhode Island that includes the New England First Amendment Coalition, recently wrote to Gov. Daniel McKee urging him to issue an executive order that would allow government bodies to once again hold online meetings and require remote access for members of the public.
The groups wrote to the governor out of concern about the lack of accessibility to government caused by the current wave of COVID-19 infections. [...]
Additional Coverage
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Learn more about how NEFAC is helping to keep government open and accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The New England First Amendment Coalition provides educators throughout the region a variety of resources to incorporate into their classroom lessons this academic year, including access to expert speakers.
NEFAC's Judy Meyer, executive editor at the Sun Journal in Lewiston, Maine, spoke this month to journalism students at Boston University. Additional NEFAC presentations are scheduled for this month at the University of Connecticut and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. [...]
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Learn more about how NEFAC can help your classroom.
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Attorneys who are not involved in the case said even amid a pandemic, denying any access to the jury selection process without providing an explanation first — or giving the press an opportunity to argue against the closure — is problematic.
“You can do it in Russia, you can do it in Cuba, but you can’t really do it in America. You can’t close the courtroom,” said Peter Caruso Sr. of Caruso & Caruso LLP, who works with the New England First Amendment Coalition. “You need to have a very specific reason, and it has to be articulated.” [...]
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MORE FOI & FIRST AMENDMENT NEWS
Regional / National
Connecticut
Defamation, Free Speech
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Maine
COVID-19, Religious Freedom
Freedom of Speech, Social Media
Open Meetings
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Massachusetts
Police Records
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New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Social Media, Public Officials
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Vermont
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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:
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LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
Hearst Conn. Media Group
The Boston Globe
Paul and Ann Sagan
The Robertson Foundation
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MAJOR SUPPORTERS
Boston University
WBUR-Boston
Academy of New England Journalists
SPJ Foundation
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