FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org
The New England First Amendment Coalition will lead two upcoming classes at the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications in Manchester, N.H. The classes will be held online and are free to attend.
Both classes — Introduction to Public Records Law and Common Exceptions to Free Speech — will be taught by Justin Silverman, NEFAC’s executive director. Silverman is a Massachusetts-based attorney and former journalist and publisher. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Maine School of Law and New England Law Boston.
NEFAC is the region’s leading advocate for the First Amendment and the public’s right to know about government. The coalition provides many educational programs and resources. Learn more about how NEFAC can help you or your classroom.
Introduction to Public Records Law
Feb. 1 | 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
This introductory course on state public record laws will focus on the general principles of open government and where they intersect with other interests such as privacy, law enforcement and public health. This course is an opportunity for students to wrestle with challenging hypotheticals and engage with the instructor about the many common challenges between state interests and the public’s right to know about government.
Common Exceptions to Free Speech
Feb. 15 | 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
While the First Amendment protects our right to free speech, that protection is not absolute. This course will introduce students to common exceptions to our right to free speech and explore the seminal cases that helped shape the boundaries of First Amendment protection. Students will be introduced to the legal concepts of incitement, libel, obscenity and threatening speech, among others.
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 for 2021 include Hearst Connecticut Media Group, The Boston Globe, Paul and Ann Sagan, and the Robertson Foundation. Major Supporters include Boston University, WBUR-Boston, the Academy of New England Journalists, Genie Gannett and Linda Pizzuti Henry.