Hello. I’m Sig Schutz, an attorney at Preti Flaherty in Portland, Maine. I’ve been a member of the New England First Amendment Coalition Board of Directors since 2008. I joined NEFAC nearly a decade ago to help Maine residents keep their government accountable. The coalition is a much-needed advocate for freedom of the press and […]
Hello. I’m Lia Ernst. I’m a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont. I’m also a member of the New England First Amendment Coalition Board of Directors. I joined the NEFAC board because those of us who seek to hold the government accountable can only do our work with robust enforcement […]
Michael Donoghue, first vice president of the New England First Amendment Coalition and a former reporter for the Burlington Free Press, testified April 4 on behalf of NEFAC and the Vermont Press Association in favor of legislation protecting student journalists in the state. The legislation can be read here. Below are his planned remarks. Thank you […]
The following blog post is one of several that the New England First Amendment Coalition will publish during Sunshine Week, highlighting the need for government transparency and addressing freedom of information concerns throughout the New England states. When posted, these articles can be read here. By Michael Morisy | MuckRock Public record laws are a bit like […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | mail@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition will present two panel discussions today, exploring recent ethical questions facing newsrooms and the legal challenges of student journalism. Both discussions will occur as part of the New England Newspaper & Press Association’s winter conference at the Boston Marriott […]
Submissions Must Be Received By January 15; Journalists, Citizen Watchdogs Encouraged to Apply FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | mail@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition is seeking applicants and nominees for its Michael Donoghue Freedom of Information and Antonia Orfield Citizenship awards. The deadline for both is January 15. Submission forms and […]
By Robert A. Bertsche and Jeffrey Pyle This New Year’s Day, journalists in Massachusetts can look forward to more than just a hangover: They’ll have a new public records law to try out. Like a night of epic carousing, the “Act to Improve Public Records,” which goes into effect January 1, has upsides and downsides. […]
Our freedom to learn about our leaders and to speak about what matters most is always at risk. The New England First Amendment Coalition is celebrating 10 years of protecting those freedoms and helping to hold our government accountable. Help us now prepare for another decade of advocacy. #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition is seeking applications for its 2017 Michael Donoghue Freedom of Information Award. 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 […]
The following blog post is one of six that the New England First Amendment Coalition will publish during Sunshine Week, highlighting the need for government transparency and addressing freedom of information concerns throughout the New England states. When posted, these articles can be read here. By Jim Condos Vermont Secretary of State Sunshine Week, which is now […]