News

Thank You For Supporting the First Amendment

Dear Friend of the First Amendment, As the year comes to a close, I’m writing to thank you for your support of the New England First Amendment Coalition. With your help, we have worked hard during the last 12 months to protect First Amendment freedoms and the public’s right to know. Here’s just a sampling […]

NEFAC Decries Conn. Court Order Banning Publication of Article Based on Public Record

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition is deeply concerned about a recent court order preventing the Connecticut Law Tribune from publishing an article based on a publicly released document related to a child custody case. NEFAC believes this order is an unconstitutional prior restraint and […]

NEFAC Joins Effort to Protect Public’s Right to Immediately Access Civil Court Documents

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition recently joined 25 other news media organizations in an amicus brief filed in support of the public’s right to immediately access civil court complaints. The case, Courthouse News Service v. Planet, is currently in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and involves a Superior Court […]

NEFAC Announces Journalism Fellows for 2014 New England First Amendment Institute

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition is pleased to announce its incoming class of fellows for the 2014 New England First Amendment Institute. These journalists — representing print, online, radio and television news organizations — will gather in Dedham, Mass., from Nov. 16-18 to learn […]

Proposed Rules Limit Public Access to Rhode Island Court Documents, Open Government Groups Allege

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition and four other local organizations dedicated to open government have raised concerns that rules proposed by the Rhode Island Judiciary to implement a new electronic filing system for court documents could lead to increased secrecy and limited access to […]

NECIR Co-Founder Bergantino Detained in Russia After ‘Illegally’ Training Journalists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org Joe Bergantino, co-founder of the New England Center for Investigative Reporting, was detained by Russian authorities on a suspected visa violation this morning while at a journalism workshop in St. Petersburg. Authorities also detained Randy Covington, director of Newsplex at the University of South Carolina. […]

Applications Due Oct. 3 for Fellowships to NEFAC’s Annual New England First Amendment Institute

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org Twenty-five of the region’s most promising journalists will attend the New England First Amendment Institute in November to learn the latest in investigative reporting techniques and freedom of information law. Those interested in attending the institute must submit their application by October 3. Applications can […]

Silverman Begins as NEFAC Executive Director; Cavanagh to Remain with Coalition in Advisory Role

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org Justin Silverman, an attorney based in Westborough, Mass., and a former board member of the New England First Amendment Coalition, is NEFAC’s new executive director. Silverman assumed the role Sept. 1 and replaces Rosanna Cavanagh, who spent four years in the position before resigning to focus on her growing family. Cavanagh […]