FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition recently called for increased access to Massachusetts trial court documents, submitting comments to a state committee tasked with writing new rules on where and how electronic copies of judicial records can be obtained. The comments — in a letter sent on […]

Dear Friend of the First Amendment, Public access has a face. It’s the face of ordinary citizens trying to understand their government in order to make an informed decision or to expose a wrong.  Boston resident Michael A. Champa shared these words in February after receiving NEFAC’s 2016 Antonia Orfield Citizenship Award. Champa recently prevailed […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition filed an amicus brief today with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit arguing that a New Hampshire law prohibiting “ballot selfies” is an unconstitutional restriction on political speech and could impede the public’s ability to monitor […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition today denounced Monday’s Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling allowing police to withhold details of an investigation into a 2012 underage-drinking incident at the home of former Gov. Lincoln Chafee that involved his son, Caleb. “This ruling flips the public records law on its head,” […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition recently joined 12 other open government and media organizations in the filing of an amicus brief supporting the need for same-day access to civil court documents. The case, Courthouse News Service v. Planet, is pending in the U.S. District Court of California. It involves a state […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | justin@nefac.org | 774.244.2365 Applications are now available for fellowships to the 2016 New England First Amendment Institute. This sixth annual institute will be held from Oct. 16-18 in Dedham, Mass. Application materials can be obtained here. The New England First Amendment Coalition provides the three-day investigative journalism workshop each year […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition and the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition filed an amicus brief last month arguing that Maine’s Freedom of Access Act should not prevent parties in judicial proceedings from obtaining evidence.  “We’re participating in this case to make sure that government records aren’t kept secret […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org As police departments around the country increasingly use body cameras, many questions arise about access to these video records under freedom of information laws and how journalists can use the videos ethically. On April 8, the New England First Amendment Coalition will conduct a panel discussion of […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition will be joining open government advocates for the next seven days to celebrate the 11th annual Sunshine Week. This national campaign, from March 13-19, is an initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of transparency and freedom of information. […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | NEFAC Executive Director | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org; David Tirrell-Wysocki | Nackey Loeb School Executive Director | 603.627.0005 | dtwysocki@loebschool.org In recognition of Sunshine Week, a national initiative to promote open government, the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications and the New England First Amendment Coalition will present a […]