Journalists from a variety of media and all six New England states will gather Oct. 29-31 at Northeastern University in Boston to learn the latest investigative and database reporting techniques and public records access skills. The fellows chosen for this 13th 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 NEFAI 2023.
LOCAL FOI WORKSHOPS
Local FOI workshops will be scheduled prior to meeting at Northeastern University of Oct. 29. These workshops will address each state’s respective public records and open meeting laws. Fellows are expected to attend and discuss specific access challenges they are experiencing.
CONNECTICUT
October 18 | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
ACLU of Connecticut
765 Asylum Avenue, Hartford
Dan Barrett | ACLU of Connecticut
Mike Savino | American Business Media
Required Viewing: (1) Introduction to Public Records (2) Public Record Appeals (3) Introduction to Open Meetings (4) How Newsrooms Respond to Executive Session Secrecy
MAINE
October 10 | 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Sun Journal
64 Lisbon Street, Suite 201, Lewiston
Judith Meyer | Sun Media Group
Sigmund Schutz | Preti Flaherty
Required Viewing: (1) Introduction to Public Records (2) Public Record Appeals (3) Introduction to Open Meetings (4) How Newsrooms Respond to Executive Session Secrecy
MASSACHUSETTS
October 18 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
WBUR
890 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
Peter J. Caruso, Sr. | Caruso & Caruso
Todd Wallack | WBUR-Boston
Required Viewing: (1) Introduction to Public Records (2) Public Record Appeals (3) Introduction to Open Meetings (4) How Newsrooms Respond to Executive Session Secrecy
NEW HAMPSHIRE
October 16 | 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
ACLU of New Hampshire
18 Low Avenue, Concord
Gilles Bissonnette | ACLU of New Hampshire
Paul Cuno-Booth | New Hampshire Public Radio
Required Viewing: (1) Introduction to Public Records (2) Public Record Appeals (3) Introduction to Open Meetings (4) How Newsrooms Respond to Executive Session Secrecy
RHODE ISLAND
October 27 | 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Oliverio & Marcaccio
30 Romano Vineyard Way, Suite 109, N. Kingstown
Raymond A. Marcaccio | Oliverio & Marcaccio
Eli Sherman | WPRI-Providence
Required Viewing: (1) Introduction to Public Records (2) Public Record Appeals (3) Introduction to Open Meetings (4) How Newsrooms Respond to Executive Session Secrecy
VERMONT
October 12 | 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Seven Days
255 So. Champlain Street, Burlington
Harrison Stark | ACLU of Vermont
Courtney Lamdin | Seven Days
Required Viewing: (1) Introduction to Public Records (2) Public Record Appeals (3) Introduction to Open Meetings (4) How Newsrooms Respond to Executive Session Secrecy
REMOTE PROGRAMMING
Online programming will be scheduled prior to meeting at Northeastern University and will be accessible via Zoom.
INTRODUCTION TO R — PREP SESSION (Mandatory for Fellows Attending Introduction to R Class)
Fellows will have the option of attending either Basic Database Analysis or Introduction to R during the Institute. Those choosing Introduction to R must attend this prep session prior to the Institute.
October 16 | 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sarah L. Ryley | The Boston Globe
Introduction: Justin Silverman | New England First Amendment Coalition
HOW TO COVER CURRENT AI ISSUES (All Fellows)
October 17 | 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Recording
Garance Burke | Associated Press
Introduction: Emily Sweeney | The Boston Globe
OCTOBER 29
1:00 Registration [Curry Student Center – Room 333]
1:30 – 2:30 Introductions and Icebreakers [Curry Student Center – Room 333]
2:30 – 2:45 Break
2:45 – 3:45 Keynote Speaker [Curry Student Center – Room 333]
Eric Meyer | Marion County Record
Introduction: Gregory V. Sullivan | New England First Amendment Coalition
5:30 – 8:00 Networking and Dinner Program [Tuscan Kitchen, 64 Seaport Boulevard, Boston]
NEFAC will provide transportation from the hotel to the restaurant at 5:15 p.m. and from the restaurant to the hotel at 8:30 p.m.
OCTOBER 30
8:15 – 8:30 Announcements [Curry Student Center – Room 333]
8:30 – 9:30 Common Pitfalls with FOI Requests and How to Respond [Curry Student Center – Room 333]
Samantha Hogan | Maine Monitor
Mark Walker | The New York Times
Tim White | WPRI-Providence
Moderator: Robert A. Bertsche | Klaris Law
9:30 – 9:45 Break
9:45 – 11:15 How AI Can Support Local Journalism [Curry Student Center – Room 333]
Ernest Kung | Associated Press
Margaret Cronan | WCVB-Boston
Moderator: Robert A. Bertsche | Klaris Law
Required Viewing: How to Cover Current AI Issues
Class Materials: The Associated Press | How AI Can Support Local Journalism (Slides)
11:15 – 11:30 Break
11:30 – 1:45 Break-Out Sessions [Assignments]
11:30 – 12:30 Round 1
12:30 – 12:45 Break / Lunch Served
12:45 – 1:45 Round 2
CLIMATE [Curry Student Center – McLeod 1]
Beth Daley | The Conversation
EDUCATION [Curry Student Center – McLeod 2]
Jacqueline Rabe Thomas | Hearst Connecticut Media Group
HOW TO STAY SAFE WHILE REPORTING [Curry Student Center – Room 342]
Stephanie Sugars | U.S. Press Freedom Tracker
COURTS AND COPS [Curry Student Center – Room 344]
John R. Ellement | The Boston Globe
COVERING TRAGEDY [Curry Student Center – Room 346]
Gal Tziperman Lotan | GBH News
Required Viewing: Interviewing Traumatized Sources
1:45 – 2:00 Break
2:00 – 3:30 Introduction to Copyright Law and Newsroom Legal Q/A [Curry Student Center – Room 333]
Robert A. Bertsche | Klaris Law
Gregory V. Sullivan | New England First Amendment Coalition
Introductions: Penelope Overton | Portland Press Herald
Required Viewing: (1) How to Respond to a Subpoena (2) How to Avoid Libel in Your Reporting (3) How to Balance Newsgathering with Privacy
4:45 – 5:45 Former Fellows Roundtable [The Westin Copley, 10 Huntington Avenue, Boston]
Temi-Tope Adeleye | WJAR-Providence
Emily Duggan | Kennebec Journal
Brad Petrishen | Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Moderator: Penelope Overton | Portland Press Herald
5:45 – 8:30 (or later) Dinner and Presentation [The Westin Copley, 10 Huntington Avenue, Boston]
6:15 – 7:15 Keynote Speaker
Sisi Wei | The Markup
Introduction: Penelope Overton | Portland Press Herald
6:45 Dinner
NEFAC will provide transportation from Northeastern University to The Westin Copley at 3:45 p.m.
OCTOBER 31
8:15 – 8:30 Announcements [Curry Student Center – Room 333]
8:30 – 10:00 Effective Sourcing [Curry Student Center – Room 333]
Jenifer McKim | GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting
Len Besthoff | NBC Connecticut
Cindy Galli | ABC News
Moderator: Penelope Overton | Portland Press Herald
10:00 – 10:15 Break
10:15 – 12:15 Database Analysis Break-Out Sessions [Assignments]
Using database technology to analyze publicly available or FOI-request-won data to understand societal, financial, and economic trends is an important tool for the seasoned reporter.
Suggested Viewing: (1) Data Cleaning 101 (2) Data Cleaning 102 (3) Data Visualization 101
BASIC DATABASE ANALYSIS [Curry Student Center – Room 346]
Brooke Williams | Boston University
Required Viewing: (1) Class Introduction and Database Basics
INTRODUCTION TO R [Curry Student Center – Room 344]
Sarah Ryley | The Boston Globe
12:15 – 1:45 Lunch [Curry Student Center – McLeod Suites]
12:45 Keynote Speaker
Brian Rosenthal | The New York Times, IRE
Introduction: Gregory V. Sullivan | New England First Amendment Coalition
1:45 – 2:30 Photo/Break [Location TBD]
2:30 – 3:30 Media Break-Out Sessions [Assignments]
CONFRONTATIONAL INTERVIEWS AND TRANSITION TO A/V [Curry Student Center – Room 346]
Mike Beaudet | Northeastern University, WCVB-Boston
WRITING WORKSHOP AND NARRATIVE FLOW [Curry Student Center – Room 344]
Dick Lehr | Boston University
3:30 – 3:45 Concluding Remarks [Curry Student Center – Room 333]
Justin Silverman | New England First Amendment Coalition