FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org
The New England First Amendment Coalition is celebrating Sunshine Week with several open government programs and an op/ed available to all newsrooms and advocates for publication.
The goal of Sunshine Week — March 12-18 this year with related events occurring throughout the month — is to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include news media, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and others interested in the public’s right to know.
NEFAC will be honoring the occasion in the following ways:
COMMENTARY
If you are looking for an expert speaker to discuss government transparency or a source for news commentary, please contact NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman at justin@nefac.org.
OP/ED
Silverman wrote an op/ed that is available to be published by all newsrooms and other FOI advocates. The op/ed focuses on the need for permanent changes to state laws allowing hybrid access to government meetings.
“New England states have resorted to a patchwork of live streams, short-term remote meeting requirements, and in some cases, reverted back to pre-COVID policies and in-person meetings only,” Silverman wrote. “There’s a better way forward.”
Download Op/Ed
Download Headshot
PROGRAMS
New Hampshire: Keeping the Light On and Holding Government Accountable
March 16 | 5:30 p.m. ET | UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law
Featured Speakers
Casey McDermott (moderator) | New Hampshire Public Radio
Gilles Bissonnette | ACLU of New Hampshire
Hon. N. William Delker | N.H. Superior Court Justice
Emily Gray Rice | City of Manchester City Solicitor
Gregory V. Sullivan | Malloy & Sullivan and Board Member of Loeb School and NEFAC
Prior to attending this discussion, it is recommended that you view NEFAC’s New Hampshire FOI Guide which includes introductory lessons on the state’s Right to Know Law and other open government resources.
Rhode Island: Open Meetings and Public Commentary
March 22 | 6 p.m. | Remote
Raymond A. Marcaccio is the co-founder of Oliverio & Marcaccio LLP. He represents local news media organizations and brings claims for access to public records and court and government proceedings. Marcaccio is also an instructor at NEFAC’s annual investigative journalism institute.
Recommended Viewing: (1) Introduction to Rhode Island Open Meeting Law and (2) How Newsrooms Respond to Executive Session Secrecy
Massachusetts: Open Meetings and Public Commentary
March 24 | 5 p.m. | Remote
Jon Albano is a partner at Morgan Lewis and a board member of the New England First Amendment Coalition. His practice is focused on commercial, media, and appellate litigation, as well as representing newspapers, entertainment and news broadcasters, and publishers.
Recommended Viewing: (1) Introduction to Massachusetts Open Meeting Law and (2) How Newsrooms Respond to Executive Session Secrecy
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.
Leadership Circle donors include the Rhode Island Foundation, Hearst Connecticut Media Group, The Boston Globe, Paul and Ann Sagan, and the Robertson Foundation. Major Supporters include Boston University, the Academy of New England Journalists, the Society of Professional Journalists Foundation, Genie Gannett for the First Amendment Museum, Linda Pizzuti Henry, the Champa Charitable Foundation Fund, Connecticut Public and GBH-Boston.