NEFAI 2018

About the New England
First Amendment Institute

Journalists from a variety of media and all six New England states will gather Sept. 16-18 in Boston to learn the latest investigative and database reporting techniques and public records access skills. The fellows chosen for this eighth annual New England First Amendment Institute reflect today’s diverse news media and come from daily and weekly newspapers, television and radio stations and online publications. Learn more about previous institutes here.

Supporters

This year’s institute is made possible by the generosity of the Providence Journal Charitable Legacy Fund, Northeastern University, the New England Newspaper & Press Association, the Academy of New England Journalists and Boston University.

Other supporters of NEFAC for this year include the Barr Foundation, The Robertson Foundation, The Boston Globe and WBUR-Boston.

Locations

Northeastern University, Boston

The institute will be held at Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Mass. For more than 40 years, the university’s School of Journalism has combined academic excellence with practical experience, preparing students to be analytical thinkers and successful communicators. Here’s more information on Northeastern University. A campus map can be found here.

Maggiano’s Little Italy and Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant

Dinner on Sept. 16 will be served at Maggiano’s Little Italy, 4 Columbus Avenue in Boston. On Sept. 17, there will be dinner and a presentation at Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant, 425 W. Broadway in South Boston.

Courtyard by Marriott Boston-South Boston, Boston

Lodging will be available at the Courtyard by Marriott, 63R Boston Street in Boston. Please notify NEFAC by Aug. 31 if a hotel room is needed.

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Institute Materials

• Schedule
• Program
• Evaluations

Application Materials — (Closed)

• Application and Recommendation Form

NEFAI 2018 News

• Nesi’s Notes | WPRI-Providence
• The Item’s Bridget Turcotte is a 2018 New England First Amendment Fellow | The Item
• CT Journalists to Focus on First Amendment, Press Freedoms | Connecticut By the Numbers
• NEFAC Announces Journalism Fellows for Annual New England First Amendment Institute
• Deadline Today: Local Reporters, Editors, Producers Encouraged to Apply for NEFAI 2018 Fellowships
• Washington Post’s Stephanie McCrummen, 2018 Pulitzer Prize Winner, to Deliver NEFAI Keynote
• Fellowship Applications Due August 1 for Annual New England First Amendment Institute
• 2018 New England First Amendment Institute Applications Available; Deadline August 1

Speakers and Presenters Include

• Mike Beaudet | WCVB-Boston, Northeastern University
• Robert A. Bertsche | Prince Lobel Tye LLP
• Collin Binkley | Associated Press
• Jennifer Bjorhus | Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minn.)
• Karen Bordeleau | Emerson College, The Providence Journal (retired)
• Dieter Bradbury | Portland Press Herald
• Peter J. Caruso, Sr. | Caruso and Caruso, LLP
• David Cuillier | The University of Arizona
• Michael Donoghue | Vermont Press Association
• Nicole Dungca | The Boston Globe
• Lia Ernst | ACLU of Vermont
• Matt Kauffman | Hartford Courant
• Michael Kilian | Burlington Free Press
• Rick Gagliuso | Gagliuso and Gagliuso, PA
• Cindy Galli | ABC News
• Jeff Howe | Northeastern University
• Ally Jarmanning | WBUR-Boston
• Samata Joshi | Boston University
• Raymond A. Marcaccio | Oliverio & Marcaccio, LLP
• Amanda Milkovits | The Providence Journal
• Stephanie McCrummen | The Washington Post
• Jenifer McKim | New England Center for Investigative Reporting
• Eric Moskowitz | The Boston Globe
• Emilie Munson | Hearst Connecticut Media
• Diana Pinzon | WPRI-Providence
• Eric Rasmussen | Boston 25 News
• Sigmund Schutz | Preti Flaherty
• Mary Schwind | Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission
• James H. Smith | New England First Amendment Coalition
• Terence Smith | Contributing Columnist for Capital Gazette (Annapolis, Md.)
• Gregory V. Sullivan | Malloy & Sullivan
• Cheryl W. Thompson | George Washington University, Contributing Investigative Reporter for The Washington Post
• Todd Wallack | The Boston Globe
• Brooke Williams | Boston University
• Tim White | WPRI-Providence

Journalism Fellows

Pictured above, from left to right: (Row One) Dwyer, Welker, Betancourt, Berleant, Kalunian (Row Two) Lambert, Creamer, Turcotte, Lytton, Moser (Row Three) Buni, Frazer, Lu, Bonner, Rowlings (Row Four) Hubbard, McIntyre, Gavigan, Landen, Post (Row Five) Glauber, Edelstein, DaSilva, Amaral, Ohm.

Connecticut
• Skyler Frazer | New Britain Herald
• Ben Lambert | New Haven Register
• Barry Lytton | The Stamford Advocate
• Erica Moser | The Day

Maine
• Anne Berleant | Penobscot Bay Press
• Joe Glauber | WMTW-Portland
• Rachel Ohm| Morning Sentinel
• Amanda Post | WGME-Portland

Massachusetts
• Sarah Betancourt | Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism
• Michael Bonner | The Standard Times
• Lisa Creamer | WBUR-Boston
• Dialynn Dwyer | Boston.com
• Jennifer Lu | Independent
• Angela Rowlings | Boston Herald
• Bridget Turcotte | The Daily Item
• Grant Welker | Worcester Business Journal

New Hampshire
• Breanna Edelstein | The Eagle Tribune
• Sierra Hubbard | The Keene Sentinel
• Meg McIntyre | The Keene Sentinel

Rhode Island
• Brian Amaral | Providence Journal
• Parker Gavigan | WJAR-Cranston
• Kim Kalunian | WPRI-Providence

Vermont
• Catherine Buni | Independent
• Staci DaSilva | WFFF/WVNY-Burlington
• Xander Landen | VTDigger

Program Topics Include

• Tales from the Trenches | Panelists will share their practical experience in investigative work through painstaking interviewing and use of freedom of information laws to unearth corruption and bring truth to light.

• Common Pitfalls | Panelists will discuss how to accessing documents through FOI requests and how to respond to denials.

• Tips for Staying Out of Legal Trouble | A team of media attorneys will explain common issues of concern in defamation and privacy law.

• State FOI Law | The specifics of each state’s public records and open meeting laws will be discussed and cases will be reviewed in break-out sessions with knowledgeable attorneys and journalists from each state.

• The Confrontational Interview & Transition to Audio or Video | Veteran journalists will discuss how to prepare for difficult interviews and provide strategies on how to engage viewers and listeners.

• Writing Workshop and Narrative Flow | Fellows will learn narrative writing techniques and how to improve their storytelling.

• Hunch to Headline | Fellows will learn the steps necessary to follow up on a lead using publicly available databases and how to turn that information into a compelling story.

• Effective Sourcing | Panelists will discuss how to best develop sources and relationships, and how to evaluate information.

Event Photos