FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition testified today in support of a Rhode Island bill that would strengthen the state’s public records law by making long-overdue common sense improvements. “The Access to Public Records Act has not been significantly reformed in more than a decade,” […]
Please note that NEFAC submitted similar testimony for House Bill No. 5454 which proposes the same changes as the Senate legislation described below. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition testified today in support of a Rhode Island bill that would strengthen the state’s “often failing public records […]
Moore v. United States of America (U.S. 2022) The technology at issue in this case poses an untenable threat to confidential association, and with it the freedom to gather news. Too many lower courts have acquiesced in a framework that would give the government discretion to surveil citizens in the most constitutionally sensitive of locations […]
Maura Healey Takes Right Step in Pledging Transparency as Governor | MassLive 12.29.22 Government transparency has been an objective of the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association, the New England Newspaper & Press Association and the New England First Amendment Coalition. It isn’t just members of these organizations who will benefit, though, but the public at large. […]
Transparency is the first the step to justice. As our country debates the role of police in our communities, it’s important to remember that the public’s right to know about government is a prerequisite to accountability. Citizens must know how their law enforcement agencies operate in order to understand if they are working in the […]
Coalition Testimony Outlines Measures Needed to Improve Accountability and Public Oversight FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition sent a letter to Connecticut lawmakers today recommending specific transparency requirements that should be included in recently proposed police accountability legislation. “With those in Connecticut now discussing how […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition sent a letter today to Vermont representatives demanding more transparency within law enforcement agencies and describing changes that could be made to improve public oversight. “During the last several weeks, the issue of police brutality has risen in our […]
Why Burlington Police are Withholding Diver’s Name | Burlington Free Press 12.28.18 “This is the first time in 50 years of reporting that they’ve refused me a name,” said Mike Donoghue, executive director of the Vermont Press Association, a vice president at the New England First Amendment Coalition and former Free Press reporter. “What Burlington is […]
By Zachary Carlton The New Jersey Supreme Court recently ruled that police dashboard camera footage should be released under the state’s public records law in most circumstances, a decision that states grappling with similar access issues ought to consider. The laws on releasing police video — most often taken with dashboard or body cameras — in […]
Journal Reporter, Former Columnist Join NEFC Board | Providence Journal 12.7.16 A Providence Journal reporter and a former Journal columnist will join The New England First Amendment Coalition board, which promotes greater understanding of the right to free speech and freedom of the press nationally. Washington Post Media Columnist Wins New England Prize | Associated Press […]