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COMMENTARY
Roped-Off R.I. State House Rotunda Seen as Part of ‘Playbook’ for Muting Dissent
Over the years, government officials and politicians have established so-called “First Amendment areas” at political conventions and others events, NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman said. “Often they are a very restricted area with limited visibility,” he said. “The purpose is typically to make sure that protesters are not seen and heard and do not cause any kind of disturbance or embarrassment for the organizers for the event.”
Police Heavily Redact Records From Two Domestic Violence Calls Made Just Days Before a Double Homicide
Police cited privacy concerns as the primary reason for the redactions, but in this case, everyone involved is dead. “The privacy interest there just doesn’t exist,” NEFAC’s Justin Silverman recently told WMTW. “So, all we have is secrecy on behalf of the police department as far as how the investigation occurred, what was investigated, and how, and we’re left wondering, was there an opportunity to prevent this tragedy in the first place?”
Worcester’s Revamped Online Spending Portal Omits Police Settlements, Court Judgments
Justin Silverman, executive director of the New England First Amendment Coalition, said that while privacy concerns shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand, it didn’t appear to him the city’s justification for them was specific enough to justify the broad withholding of all legal payments. “Whose privacy is the city looking to protect here?” he asked.
Sidney Homicide Raises Question: Why Won’t Authorities Release Victim’s Name?
NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman said it is unusual for the name of an alleged murder victim to be withheld by officials, when it seems many people already know it. “Here, you had a murder that occurred in our community, and the public should have accurate information about what occurred and who the victim was,” he said. “And if most of the people in the community already know the name of the victim, then that would be an argument against any kind of secrecy on behalf of the AG’s office.”
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ADVOCACY
NEFAC, Vermont Press Association Defend Right to Record in Milton
The Milton Library Board of Trustees had planned to discuss a possible policy that would prohibit attendees of its meetings from recording. NEFAC and the Vermont Press Association sent a letter to Board Chair Alan Fletcher on Nov. 14 and explained that “recording is not just legally protected but it’s encouraged under the law.”
NEFAC: Access to Massachusetts Courts Limited By Inoperable, Overused Public Terminals
“Due to a combination of out-of-service kiosks and individuals using kiosks for an unreasonable amount of time, public access can frequently be denied. This is a major concern given that many court records, such as documents in criminal cases, cannot be thoroughly researched remotely but must instead be searched for through these kiosks.”
NEFAC, R.I. Open Government Groups Renew Call for Changes to Police Body Camera Policies
“By providing the means for greater transparency and accountability in police work, the implementation of police body-worn cameras (BWC) serves as an important oversight tool for both law enforcement and the public,” wrote the groups to the Department of Public Safety. “However, BWCs can only accomplish this goal if the policies and regulations governing them enshrine that role.”
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COMMUNITY
Jan. 29 | Online | First Amendment in the 21st Century
Jan. 31 | Online | 30 Minute Skills: Business Reporting 101
Feb. 12 | Online | What the Government Is Up To and Your Right to Know
Feb. 18 | Online | 30 Minute Skills: Covering Marginalized Communities
March 6 | Online | Your Right to Criticize: Revisiting New York Times v. Sullivan
April 8 | Online | 30 Minute Skills: Writing Workshop 101
May 13 | Online | 30 Minute Skills: Writing Workshop 102
June 12 | Online | 30 Minute Skills: Broadcast Journalism 101
30 Minute Skills: Copyright Law 102
Copyright law can be a complex and nuanced area for journalists and non-journalists alike. Questions of ownership, fair use and other intellectual property concerns are especially relevant to newsgathering as more information is found through social media and other online sources. This is the second of two classes introducing copyright law and suggesting best practices. View the first class here.
NEFAC Discusses Journalism, First Amendment to Lebanese and African Delegations
The New England First Amendment Coalition recently continued its international outreach with constitutional lessons for Lebanese and African journalists, academics and community advocates. The U.S. State Department sponsors short-term visits to the United States for foreign officials, executives, journalists and other professionals to learn about a variety of topics, including the First Amendment. Since 2011, NEFAC has partnered with WorldBoston, a local non-profit organization, to coordinate presentations and educational programming during those visits.
First Amendment and the Free Press at UMass Amherst
NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman recently spent a day at the University of Massachusetts Amherst speaking to journalism classes about how the First Amendment protects newsrooms. Silverman discussed the importance of public record laws and how students can better access government information. The visit was part of the coalition’s First Amendment and the Free Press program which provides guest speakers for classroom, campus and community center events.