David Barboza of The New York Times to Provide Keynote Address at 2017 New England First Amendment Institute

Boston Globe Editor Brian McGrory, Former Associated Press Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll Among Featured Speakers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org

The New York Times’ David Barboza, a Pulitzer Prize winner, will deliver the keynote address at this year’s New England First Amendment Institute.

The New England First Amendment Coalition offers the three-day institute each year at no cost to 25 New England journalists. The seventh annual institute is from Oct. 29-31 at Northeastern University in Boston.

“David is one of the country’s premier journalists and we’re excited to have him open NEFAI 2017,” said Justin Silverman, NEFAC’s executive director. “We have an incredible roster of speakers this year and we’re eager to train another class of fellows. We’re honored to have David join us.”

BARBOZA

The institute provides editors and reporters with the support and training necessary to become accomplished investigative journalists, well versed in the freedom of information laws that govern today’s difficult reporting landscape. Many exceptional, award-winning journalists and First Amendment attorneys volunteer as faculty each year.

This year’s institute is made possible by the generosity of the Providence Journal Charitable Legacy Fund, the program’s primary supporter; as well as Northeastern University, the New England Newspaper & Press Association, the Academy of New England Journalists, Boston University and the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Foundation.

MCGRORY

Joining Barboza as featured speakers are Brian McGrory, editor at The Boston Globe, and Kathleen Carroll, former executive editor of the Associated Press.

Other speakers include Wesley Lowery of The Washington Post; Politico’s Josh GersteinEric Eyre, reporter for the Gazette-Mail (W.Va.) and winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting; Cindy Galli, investigative journalist for ABC News; Jenifer McKim of the New England Center for Investigative Reporting; and Michael Rezendes of The Boston Globe. A full list of speakers can be viewed here.

CARROLL

In 2013, Barboza was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting “for his striking exposure of corruption at high levels of the Chinese government, including billions in secret wealth owned by relatives of the prime minister, well documented work published in the face of heavy pressure from the Chinese officials.” Barboza was also part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting.

Barboza won two awards in The Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW) 2007 Best in Business Journalism Contest. He was also part of the team that won the 2008 Grantham Prize for environmental reporting for the series “Choking on Growth: China’s Environmental Crisis.” In 2002, he was part of a team that was named a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Enron scandal.

Previous keynote speakers include The Marshall Project’s Bill Keller, former editor of The New York Times; members of the 2003 Pulitzer Prize-winning Spotlight Team at The Boston Globe; Martin Kaiser, the award-winning editor formerly of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel; Boston Globe Editor Brian McGrory; Michael Oreskes, former senior managing editor of the Associated Press; and Robert Rosenthal, executive director of the Center for Investigative Reporting.


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 for this year include the Barr Foundation, The Providence Journal Charitable Legacy Fund, The Robertson Foundation, Lois Howe McClure, The Boston Globe and Boston University. Celebration Supporters include The Hartford Courant and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.