FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org
The New England First Amendment Coalition will recognize Maine Trust for Local News later this month with its annual Michael Donoghue Freedom of Information Award.
Maine Trust for Local News — which includes publications such as the Sun Journal, Portland Press Herald and Kennebec Journal — fought relentlessly for information about the Oct. 25 mass shooting in Lewiston.
The newsrooms began making public record requests just hours after the shooting and spent more than six months fighting denials and other challenges to the public’s right to know about the tragedy. Reporters faced enormous and consistent resistance by Maine State Police who attempted to block access to information about how they responded.
Named after Vermont reporter Michael Donoghue, the FOI Award is given each year to a New England journalist or team of journalists for a body of work from the previous calendar year that protects or advances the public’s right to know under federal or state law. Preference is given to those who overcome significant official resistance.
NEFAC will honor the Maine Trust for Local News on June 27 during its 14th annual New England First Amendment Awards. The coalition will also present its Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award and Antonia Orfield Citizenship Award during the program.
Supporters of NEFAC and the New England First Amendment Awards include Boston University, The Boston Globe, Hearst Connecticut Media Group, Emerson College, Morgan Lewis, Northeastern University, Roger Williams University, University of Connecticut, The Day, University of Rhode Island and WCVB-Boston.
Previous recipients of the Michael Donoghue Freedom of Information Award:
Nancy West at InDepthNH (2023); the Worcester Telegram & Gazette (2022); The Bangor Daily News (2021); Hearst Connecticut Media Group (2020); the Hartford Courant (2019); Todd Wallack of The Boston Globe (2018); The Sun Journal in Lewiston, Maine (2017); Jenifer McKim of the New England Center for Investigative Reporting (2016); James W. Foley (posthumously), the war correspondent and New Hampshire native killed by the Islamic State (2015); Brent Curtis of the Rutland Herald in Vermont (2014); and Don Stacom of the Hartford Courant (2013).
NEFAC was formed in 2006 to advance and protect the Five Freedoms of the First Amendment, including the principle of the public’s right to know. We’re a broad-based organization of people who believe in the power of an informed democratic society. Our members include lawyers, journalists, historians, academics and private citizens.
Our coalition is funded through contributions made by those who value the First Amendment and who strive to keep government accountable. Please make a donation here.
NEFAC is supported by the Estate of Gloria Negri. Additional funding is provided by Leadership Circle donors including the Rhode Island Foundation, The Boston Globe, Paul and Ann Sagan, and the Robertson Foundation. Major Supporters of NEFAC’s work are Hearst Connecticut Media Group, Boston University, the Academy of New England Journalists, Connecticut Public, WCVB-Boston and WBUR-Boston.