Massachusetts ‘Show Cause’ Hearings | NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman speaks to NBC10 Boston about a Pembroke, Mass., police officer who caused a serious car crash just to have the case quietly dismissed behind closed doors. Watch full video here. Learn about secret clerk-magistrate hearings in Massachusetts and why more transparency is needed. Also check out our multimedia FOI Guide to research the laws in your state.
Massachusetts: Introduction to Open Meeting Law | NEFAC is continuing its series on freedom of information laws with new classes on open meetings. This class features attorney Jon Albano, a partner at Morgan Lewis and a member of NEFAC’s Board of Directors. All video tutorials and additional resources can be found in our FOI Guide. Want to learn more about Massachusetts public records and open meeting laws? Start here.
Maine: Introduction to Open Meeting Law | The New England First Amendment Coalition is continuing its series on freedom of information laws with new classes on open meetings. This class features attorney Sigmund Schutz, a partner at Preti Flaherty and a member of NEFAC’s Board of Directors. All video tutorials and additional resources can be found on our YouTube channel or in our FOI Guide. Want to learn more about Maine public records and open meeting laws? Start here.
30 Minute Skills: Microsoft Excel 101 | The first step in database analysis is learning how spreadsheets function and how data can be used to share compelling stories. This is the first of two introductory classes on Microsoft Excel. By viewing this class, you will learn (1) how to sort and filter data imported into Microsoft Excel (2) how to use the sum, median, percent and whole functions and (3) other basic functions of Excel that can be used to begin database analysis.
Did a Grand Isle County Town violate Vermont’s Open Meeting Law? | NEFAC’s Justin Silverman speaks to Rachel Mann at WCAX about a directive given to the press by a town Select Board member and the open government and First Amendment implications. View full interview here. Want to learn more about Vermont’s public records and open meeting laws? Check out the resources in our multimedia FOI Guide and view our many video tutorials.
Vermont: Introduction to Open Meeting Law | The New England First Amendment Coalition is continuing its series on freedom of information laws with new classes on open meetings. This class features Lia Ernst, legal director at the ACLU of Vermont. All video tutorials and additional resources can be found on our YouTube channel or in our FOI Guide. Want to learn more about Vermont public records and open meeting laws? Start here.
New Hampshire Humanities Ideas on Tap: Free Speech and Social Media | Do social media companies unfairly censor speech or allow misinformation to flourish? NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman recently joined Anna Brown at Citizens Count, Professor John Greabe at Franklin Pierce School of Law, Professor Meg Mott and NHPR’s Nick Capodice for a conversation about the First Amendment and social media regulation. View the full program here.
30 Minute Skills: How to Balance Newsgathering with Privacy Interests | The line between responsible public interest reporting and the invasion of individual privacy can often be difficult to see. By viewing this lesson, you will learn: (1) what constitutes “invasion of privacy” under the law (2) the scope of First Amendment protection when reporting in public areas and (3) ways to stay within the legal bounds of privacy when newsgathering.
New Hampshire: Introduction to Open Meeting Law | The New England First Amendment Coalition is continuing its series on freedom of information laws with new classes on open meetings. This class features Gregory V. Sullivan, counsel to Union Leader Corp., who provides an introduction to the state’s open meeting law. All videos can be found on our YouTube channel or in our FOI Guide. Want to learn more about New Hampshire’s Right to Know Law? Start here.
Maine Press Freedom Experts Evaluate Ethics and Legality of Uvalde Surveillance Release | NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman speaks to Terry Stackhouse at WMTW about the Maine Freedom of Access Act and how it applies to school surveillance videos. “You would very likely see law enforcement agencies being hesitant to release this kind of information until they’ve been able to go through it and make sure all their officers acted appropriately,” Silverman said.
Connecticut: Introduction to Open Meeting Law | The New England First Amendment Coalition is continuing its series on freedom of information laws with new classes on open meetings. This class features Dan Barrett at the ACLU of Connecticut who provides an introduction to the state’s open meeting law. All videos can be found on our YouTube channel or in our FOI Guide. Want to learn more about Connecticut FOIA? Start here.
Provenza v. Town of Canaan: Open Government Victory in New Hampshire | Henry Klementowicz at the ACLU of New Hampshire discusses a recent state Supreme Court case involving access to police records. In 2018, the town of Canaan hired a company to investigate an allegation of excessive force against one of its officers and to issue a report on its findings. The police department later dismissed the allegations as “unfounded” and refused to release the report.
Connecticut: How Newsrooms Fight Public Record Denials | The New England First Amendment Coalition is continuing its series on public record laws with new classes on how newsrooms use the appeal process in their respective states. This class features Len Besthoff of NBC Connecticut who shares his experiences appealing a public records denial. All videos can be found on our YouTube channel or in our FOI Guide. Want to learn more about Connecticut FOIA? Start here.