THE NEFAC REPORT | July 2015
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'It Is Critical That We Do Something'
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 We recently honored retired federal judge Nancy Gertner with our annual Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award. Gertner spoke about the need for transparency within government and reminded those at our awards luncheon that "it is critical that we do something." Please help us fight for our First Amendment rights and our access to public information. Democracy depends on an informed citizenry and a vigorous press. We're working every day to help maintain both. But we need your support. Please consider a contribution to the New England First Amendment Coalition. In Judge Gertner's words, it is critical that we do something. With your help, we can. [More] [Contribute]
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Applications Available for 2015 NEFAI Fellowships; Deadline September 4
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The fifth annual New England First Amendment Institute will be held from Oct. 18-20 in Dedham, Mass. The New England First Amendment Coalition provides the three-day investigative journalism workshop each year to 25 journalists working within the region. Journalism fellows attend at no cost and learn from many of the country's elite investigative reporters, editors and media attorneys. [More] [Application]
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Mass. Public Records Reform Long Overdue
MassFOIA: House Bill 3665 a 'Good and Balanced' Solution
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Changes to the Massachusetts public records law are critical because too many agencies and municipalities have been ignoring the law for many years. Some even flout the law openly by telling reporters and citizens that they do not have to comply because there are no consequences for inaction. While there have certainly been good actors, the excessive number of bad actors at both the state and municipal level have poisoned the well. Because they have exploited every potential loophole in the law, the reforms in H.3665 are critically important. [More] [Full Coverage]
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Did UConn's 'Behind Closed Doors' Budget Discussion Violate the Conn. FOIA?
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 Answer: Yes. Explanation: Without a single word of discussion, the UConn board of trustees recently voted to adopt a $1.3 billion budget for the upcoming year. How is it possible to adopt a budget of that magnitude without any public discussion? According to UConn, by having the discussion behind closed doors before the formal vote in public session. [More] [Full Coverage]
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State of the First Amendment Report a Source of Concern, Guidance for Journalists
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Every journalist has at least some familiarity with the beloved constitutional amendment that protects his or her craft. But the Newseum Institute recently found that not everyone appreciates the First Amendment as much as journalists do - and worse, some don't even know what it is. [More]
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Are Unfounded Privacy Concerns Preventing Access to N.H. Voter Ballots?
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 The First Amendment protects the press and helps inform citizens before they cast their votes. But does the First Amendment also protect the right of New Hampshire residents to inspect those ballots after they are cast? New Hampshire has an explicit exemption to its Right to Know law that prevents the public from inspecting cast votes. [More]
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 A New Hampshire legislator who sponsored a bill making it a crime for voters to post "ballot selfies" on social media. A Massachusetts district attorney who told members of Congress that online privacy measures would only serve to protect terrorists and sexual deviants. A Maine principal who ordered students to remove a #blacklivesmatter poster. These are among the winners of the 2015 New England Muzzle Awards, an annual round-up of outrages against free speech that I've been writing since 1998. [More]
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OTHER FOI AND FIRST AMENDMENT NEWS
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