The New England First Amendment Coalition will lead three upcoming classes at the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications. The classes will be held online and are free to attend.
The classes will be taught by:
Justin Silverman is executive director of the New England First Amendment Coalition. A Massachusetts-based attorney, Silverman helps lead NEFAC’s First Amendment and open government advocacy throughout the six-state region. His commentary has appeared in dozens of publications including The New York Times, Washington Post and The Boston Globe. A former journalist and publisher, Silverman is also an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut, University of Maine School of Law and New England Law | Boston.
Gregory V. Sullivan, Esq. is the president of Malloy & Sullivan, Lawyers Professional Corporation and teaches First Amendment Media Law at Suffolk University Law School in Boston. He serves as the president of NEFAC and on the New Hampshire Supreme Court Committee on the Judiciary and the Media. He has argued numerous landmark First Amendment and Right to Know cases before the Supreme Court of New Hampshire and serves as General Counsel to Union Leader Corporation. He is a founding Member of the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications.
The First Amendment in the 21st Century
Jan. 29 | 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Instructor: Gregory V. Sullivan, NEFAC President
The First Amendment guarantees five basic freedoms: freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. These sacred freedoms are not absolute. Obscenity, defamation, bribery, perjury, true threats, child pornography, anti-trust conspiracies, false advertising and solicitation to commit murder are classes of speech that get no First Amendment protection. During the past one hundred years the courts, federal and state, have wrestled with the clash between free expression on the one hand, and privacy, public safety and national security on the other. This class is a First Amendment primer for students new to the topic and a great refresher for those whose work or volunteer service involves the Five Freedoms.
What the Government Is Up To and Your Right to Know
Feb. 12 | 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Instructor: Gregory V. Sullivan, NEFAC President
This class is an introduction to New Hampshire’s Right to Know law, allowing students to go deeper into the law with real case examples, and stories ripped from the headlines. Your instructor will also walk you through the ways in which you can file your own requests to local, state and Federal government agencies to seek information.
Your Right to Criticize: Revisiting New York Times v. Sullivan
March 6 | 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Instructor: Justin Silverman, NEFAC Executive Director
This class will cover an in-depth exploration of one of the most influential cases in First Amendment law. This session revisits the landmark New York Times v. Sullivan decision, examining its profound impact on press freedom and the critical protections it provides against libel claims. Participants will gain insights into how the ruling safeguards public discourse, as well as why these protections face growing challenges in today’s legal and political landscape. This class is particularly valuable for journalists, local government officials, public relations professionals, and others whose work intersects with public communication and the free exchange of ideas.
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.
NEFAC is supported by the Estate of Gloria L. Negri. Additional funding is provided by Leadership Circle donors including the Rhode Island Foundation, The Boston Globe, Paul and Ann Sagan, and the Robertson Foundation. Major Supporters of NEFAC’s work are Hearst Connecticut Media Group, Boston University, the Academy of New England Journalists, Connecticut Public, WCVB-Boston and WBUR-Boston.