Registration Now Open
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org
The New England First Amendment Coalition recently launched a monthly educational series featuring short, practical lessons on journalism and the First Amendment.
The goal of the program — called “30 Minute Skills” — is to provide reporters and other citizens knowledge they can use immediately in newsgathering, data collection, storytelling and other areas of journalism and First Amendment law.
The lessons will be provided in a 30-minute format to accommodate the demanding schedules faced by many working in New England newsrooms.
The program is free and open to the public. Registration for each lesson is required.
Protecting Women Journalists
April 28 | 12 p.m.
Throughout 2020, the Coalition for Women in Journalism identified 716 miscellaneous attacks worldwide on female reporters — more than double than the year prior. The first months of 2021 foreshadow another demanding year ahead. Women experience the kind of assault and harassment that rarely affects their male counterparts. These attacks are focused not on the reporting, but on the journalists themselves, including death and rape threats. With newsrooms often lacking effective support systems, women journalists are regularly belittled, have their professionalism questioned and endure mistreatment strictly based on their gender. By attending this class, you will learn about:
• How to secure your presence online and avoid attacks and trolling.
• How to stay safe while covering riots and protests.
• What can be done to prevent harassment (including mistreatment in the workplace) and what kind of support you should demand from your own newsroom.
About Your Instructor
KIRAN NAZISH | Kiran Nazish is the founding director of the Coalition For Women In Journalism, a worldwide support organization for women journalists. Nazish is a long-time journalist, and worked as a war correspondent covering the Middle East, South Asia and Mexico among many other locations. She is also a Distinguished Professor at Brandon University in Canada. Nazish can be followed on Twitter @kirannazish.
About the Coalition for Women in Journalism
The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) is a global support organization for women journalists. CFWIJ supports women journalists in their careers and advocates for their safety, globally. Its security related work involves documentation of physical and online threats women journalists face around the world. CFWIJ conducts safety and professional development workshops and offers a mentorship program for mid-career women journalists. Its Press Freedom Newsroom publishes daily reports of violations taking place anywhere in the world. CFWIJ also publishes detailed reports of violations monthly, quarterly and annually that evaluate the press freedom status for women journalists.
Recent 30 Minute Skills
How to Respond to a Subpoena | For an increasing number of New England newsrooms without regular access to attorneys, these legal orders can be intimidating and infringe on the rights of local journalists. Taught by attorney Matthew Byrne of Gravel & Shea in Burlington, Vt., this lesson teaches you: (1) the history of subpoenas and their legal authority (2) arguments and strategies that can be made in response to a subpoena (3) and how to advocate for yourself and newsroom when in court.
Data Cleaning 102 | This lesson is taught by NEFAC’s Maggie Mulvihill. It is the second of two introductory lessons on cleaning datasets obtained online or through public records requests. By completing this lesson, you will: (1) advance your data cleaning skills with OpenRefine (2) learn how to import dirty data from websites and increase memory in OpenRefine (3) build your facet and clustering skills (4) and learn how to split and merge data.
Data Cleaning 101 | The first of two introductory lessons on cleaning datasets obtained online or through public records requests. Instructed by NEFAC’s Maggie Mulvihill, a professor at Boston University. By completing this lesson, you will: (1) understand what data cleaning is and why it’s necessary (2) learn about the free tools available to help clean data and (3) begin building your data cleaning skills.
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.
Major Supporters of NEFAC include Hearst Connecticut Media Group, Paul and Ann Sagan, The Boston Globe, WBUR, Boston University and the Robertson Foundation.