News

NEFAC Says Holder Should Push for Shield Law, Train Justice Personnel on Subpoenas

PRESS RELEASE  CONTACT Rose Cavanagh | 401.331.7209 | rosecavanagh.nefac@gmail.com PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The New England First Amendment Coalition registered “extreme dismay” at the government seizure of phone records of The Associated Press and urged Attorney General Eric Holder to work for passage of a federal shield law and take other steps to avert a repeat of […]

Digital Journalism Must Focus on Traditional Media Virtues, Balboni Tells NEFAC Luncheon

PRESS RELEASE  CONTACT Rose Cavanagh | 401.331.7209 | rosecavanagh.nefac@gmail.com BOSTON —  The “relentless focus” on building an audience must not overwhelm digital journalism’s obligation to report complex issues and investigate public and private corruption, GlobalPost co-founder and CEO Philip Balboni said Wednesday. “This is why we have First Amendment protections; and in order to preserve them digital journalism […]

NEFAC Luncheon Honoring Balboni, Citizen Award Winners Set for April 10 at Seaport Boston Hotel

PRESS RELEASE  CONTACT Rose Cavanagh | 401.331.7209 | rosecavanagh.nefac@gmail.com BOSTON — The New England First Amendment Coalition awards luncheon whited out by the February blizzard will be held April 10 at the Seaport Boston Hotel. Philip Balboni, NECN founder and GlobalPost co-founder, will receive the third annual Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award. Inaugural right-to-know awards will go to a retired New Hampshire firefighter […]

NH Firefighters’ Union Head, Hartford Courant Reporter Win New NEFAC Awards

PRESS RELEASE  CONTACT Rose Cavanagh | 401.331.7209 | rosecavanagh.nefac@gmail.com PROVIDENCE, R.I. — One pursued a nine-year crusade that yielded an order refunding $53 million to New Hampshire public employees. The other cracked a shell of silence to expose misconduct in the New Britain, Conn., Police Department. Both are being recognized by the New England First Amendment Coalition with first-time […]

Deadline Extended to Jan. 14 for NEFAC Awards to Citizen, Journalist Who Advanced the Public’s Right to Know

PRESS RELEASE  CONTACT Rose Cavanagh | 401.331.7209 | rosecavanagh.nefac@gmail.com PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The New England First Amendment Coalition is extending to Jan. 14 the entry deadline on new awards to private citizens and professional journalists who advanced the public’s right to know in 2012. Rosanna Cavanagh, NEFAC executive director, said the fact the awards were introduced only last […]

Happy New Year from NEFAC — Let’s Resolve to Keep the Right-to-Know Mission Going in 2013!

PRESS RELEASE  CONTACT Rose Cavanagh | 401.331.7209 | rosecavanagh.nefac@gmail.com Start marking your 2013 calendar at Jan. 7, the deadline for entries in the New England First Amendment Coalition’s first Citizen Right to Know Award and the FOI Award. The next date of note is Feb. 8, when we’ll honor the winners at our third annual Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award luncheon […]

NEFAC Introduces Awards to Private Citizen, Journalist Who Advanced the Public’s Right to Know in 2012

PRESS RELEASE  CONTACT Rose Cavanagh | 401.331.7209 | rosecavanagh.nefac@gmail.com PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The New England First Amendment Coalition is introducing a pair of annual awards to recognize both private citizens and professional journalists who aggressively advance the people’s knowledge of what government is doing — or failing to do — on their behalf. The Citizen Right to Know […]