10th Annual NEW ENGLAND FIRST AMENDMENT INSTITUTE Presented by the New England First Amendment Coalition
September 26 - October 3, 2020 | Online
Fellowship Application Materials Deadline August 15, 2020
nefai 2020 About the New England First Amendment Institute WHAT IS NEFAI? SUPPORTERS Founded in 2011, the New England First Amendment In- Primary support for our Institute is generously provided by stitute provides intensive training for 25 specially selected the Academy of New England Journalists. journalism fellows in the use of freedom of information laws and investigative techniques. In a rich and collegial en- vironment, the fellows interact with acclaimed media law- yers and award-winning journalists to acquire knowledge designed to enhance their watchdog journalism skills. The 2020 Institute will be held online from Sept. 26 to Oct. 3. Other supporters of NEFAC in 2020 include: WHO IS IT FOR? NEFAI is designed for both up-and-coming and veteran print, digital and broadcast journalists working in New En- gland. Applicants should have at least two years of profes- sional news reporting experience and long-term plans to stay within the profession. STAY CONNECTED WHAT DO YOU LEARN? Please stay updated on NEFAI news — including speaker Though our curriculum is often changed to reflect the evolv- announcements and faculty additions — by referencing the ing needs of journalists, each Institute typically includes lec- following hashtag: #NEFAI2020. You can also connect with tures and workshops that focus on the following: NEFAC in the following ways: n State public records and open meetings laws FiveFreedoms n The federal Freedom of Information Act n Database reporting skills www.tinyurl.com/nefaclinkedin n How to respond to FOI request denials and rejections n Inspiring stories from award-winning journalists www.facebook.com/nefac.org
WHAT DOES IT COST? KnowNewEngland The 25 fellows selected for this year’s Institute will attend at NEFirstAmendmentCoalition no cost.
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Former Fellows
CONNECTICUT 2012 2013 Alec Johnson 2015 2016 Martha Shanahan 2011 Shawn Beals Lisa Backus Republican-American Lindsay Boyle Julia Bergman The Day Richard Campbell Hartford Courant The Bristol Press Viktoria The Day The Day 2018 The Register Citizen Beau Berman Jenna Carlesso Sundqvist Suzanne Carlson Anna Bisaro Skyler Frazer Jenna Cho WTIC-TV Hartford Courant The Middletown Press Hartford Courant New Haven Register New Britain Herald The Day Alexander Tina Detelj 2014 Susan Haigh Mikaela Porter Ben Lambert JC Reindl Goldstein WTNH Jason Bagley The Associated Press Hartford Courant New Haven Register The Day The Day Jessica Glenza TruthInAdvertising.org Esteban 2017 Barry Lytton Alexandra Sanders Kevin Litten The Register Citizen Kelly Catalfamo Hernandez Stephen Busemeyer The Stamford New Haven Register Republican-American Maggie Gordon The Day New Haven Register Hartford Courant Advocate Julie Stagis Erin Logan Hearst Newspapers Jennifer Swift Patrick Skahill Jill Konopka Erica Moser Hartford Courant WTNH David Iversen New Haven Register WNPR-Connecticut WVIT-Hartford The Day Fran Silverman WTNH Tess Townsend Kaitlyn Krasselt Hearst Newspapers The Day Norwalk Hour Former Fellows Continued
2019 Callie Ferguson Neal Simpson Michael Bonner Peter McGuire 2013 Olga Peters Kimberly Drelich The Forecaster The Patriot Ledger The Standard Times Forecaster Bill Malinowski The Commons The Day 2018 Schuyler Velasco Lisa Creamer Newspapers Providence Journal Jennifer Reading Meghan Friedmann Anne Berleant Christian WBUR-Boston Kerry Miller Mark Reynolds WCAX Hearst Connecticut Penobscot Bay Press Science Monitor Dialynn Dwyer Eagle Times Providence Journal 2014 Media Group Joe Glauber 2014 Boston.com 2015 2014 Taylor Dobbs Jo Kroeker WMTW-Portland Sean F. Driscoll Jennifer Lu Jeremy Randal Edgar Vermont Public Radio Hearst Connecticut Rachel Ohm Cape Cod Times Independent Blackman Providence Journal Abby Ledoux Media Group Morning Sentinel Beryl Lipton Angela Rowlings Concord Monitor Paul Grimaldi Milton Independent Justin Papp Amanda Post MuckRock Boston Herald Megan Doyle Providence Journal Allison Teague Hearst Connecticut WGME-Portland Priyanka Bridget Turcotte Concord Monitor Janine Weisman The Commons Media Group 2019 McCluskey The Daily Item Rob Wolfe Newport Mercury 2015 Sarah Craighead The Boston Globe Grant Welker Valley News 2015 April Burbank MAINE Dedmon Alexa Mills Worcester Business 2016 Jennifer Bogdan Burlington Free Press 2011 Machias Valley News The Boston Globe Journal Peter Biello Providence Journal Lola Duffort Susan Cover Observer Alex Ruppenthal 2019 NH Public Radio Alex Kuffner Rutland Herald Maine Today Dan Lampariello Medford Transcript Amanda Burke Tim Camerato Providence Journal Lesley Engle Emily Guerin WGME-Portland Eli Sherman Fall River Valley News Steph Machado Fox44/ABC22 The Forecaster Patty Wight Waltham Herald News Meghan Foley WPRI-Providence Courtney Lamdin Jesse Nankin Maine Public Radio News Tribune Jo C. Goode The Keene Sentinel 2016 Milton Independent Watchdog 2015 Fall River Allie Morris Jacqueline 2016 New England MASSACHUSETTS Samantha Allen Herald News Concord Monitor Tempera Jess Aloe Eric Russell 2011 Worcester Zoe Greenberg Ella Nilsen Providence Journal Burlington Free Press Bangor Daily News Keith Eddings Telegram & Gazette The Boston Globe Concord Monitor 2017 Colin Flanders 2012 Eagle-Tribune Jonathan Dame Gal Tziperman 2017 Kate Bramson The Essex Reporter Will Graff Jim Haddadin GateHouse Media Lotan Caitlin Andrews Providence Journal and Colchester Sun The Forecaster Arlington Advocate Nicole Dungca The Boston Globe Concord Monitor Susan Campbell Stephanie Gorin Lindsay Tice Laura Hutchinson The Boston Globe Haven Allison DeAngelis WPRI-Providence NBC5-Vermont Sun Journal WWLP 22News Jenna Fisher Orecchio-Egresitz Eagle-Tribune Derek Gomes Katie Jickling 2013 Lyle Moran GateHouse Media Berkshire Eagle Casey McDermott Newport Daily News The Herald Matthew Curren Lowell Sun Allison Manning NHPR Diana Pinzon Elizabeth Murray WGME David Riley Boston.com NEW Paige Sutherland WPRI-Providence Burlington Free Press David Harry MetroWest Daily News Jordan Mayblum HAMPSHIRE NHPR 2018 2017 The Forecaster Rory Schuler Wellesley Townsman 2011 2018 Brian Amaral Alicia Freese 2014 Taunton Daily Jan Ransom Joseph Cote Breanna Edelstein Providence Journal Seven Days Jon Chrisos Matthew Stout The Boston Globe Nashua Telegraph The Eagle Tribune Parker Gavigan Tommy Gardner CBS13/Fox23 The Enterprise 2016 Mark Davis Sierra Hubbard WJAR-Cranston Stowe Reporter Michael Shepherd 2012 Zeninjor Valley News The Keene Sentinel Kim Kalunian Hilary Niles Kennebec Journal Alex Bloom Enwemeka Maddie Hanna Meg McIntyre WPRI-Providence Independent 2015 The Enterprise WBUR Concord Monitor The Keene Sentinel 2019 Adam Silverman Jordan Bailey George Brennan Jordan Frias 2012 2019 Jessica Botelho Burlington Free Press Courier Publications Cape Cod Times Boston Herald Maggie Cassidy Hadley Barndollar WJAR-Cranston Greg Sukiennik Nate Holst Deirdre Fernandes Phil Marcelo Valley News Portsmouth Herald Laura Damon New England WMTW-Portland The Boston Globe Associated Press Maryalice Gill Paul Cuno-Booth The Newport Newspapers David Sherwood David Eisenstadter Tom Relihan Nashua Telegraph Keene Sentinel Daily News 2018 Maine Center for The Transcript The Recorder Meg Heckman Mary McIntyre Hannah Dickison Catherine Buni Public Interest Sarah Favot Susan Spencer Concord Monitor NHPR WPRI-Providence Independent Reporting Lowell Sun Worcester Annmarie Timmins Leah Willingham Nadine Maya Sebai Staci DaSilva 2016 Martine Powers Telegram & Gazette Concord Monitor Concord Monitor The Public’s Radio WFFF-Burlington Matthew Daigle The Boston Globe Gerry Tuoti 2013 Xander Landen Sun Journal Patrick Ronan Gatehouse Media Todd Bookman RHODE ISLAND VERMONT VTDigger Stephanie Grinnell Patriot Ledger 2017 NH Public Radio 2011 2011 2019 The Republican Shaun Sutner Collin Binkley Sarah Brubeck Amanda John Briggs Liam Journal Worcester Associated Press Valley News Milkovits Burlington Free Press Elder-Connors Kyle Jones Telegram & Gazette Amanda Drane Christopher Providence Journal Anne Galloway Vermont Public Radio WMTW News Ryan Walsh Berkshire Eagle Garofolo David Vermont Digger Christopher Mays Joshua Moore WWLP Melissa Hanson Eagle Times Scharfenberg Shay Totten Brattleboro Reformer Maine Center for 2013 MassLive Kathryn Providence Phoenix Seven Days Alex Nuti-de Biasi Public Interest Doug Fraser Brad Petrishen Marchocki Karen Ziner 2012 Journal Opinion Reporting Cape Cod Times Telegram & Gazette NH Union Leader Providence Journal Dan D’Ambrosio Orrin Schonfeld Marina Villeneuve Wes Lowery Greg Ryan Kaitlin Mulhere 2012 Burlington Free Press WPTZ-Burlington Associated Press The Boston Globe Boston Business The Keene Sentinel Lynn Arditi Jennifer Cleveland Cat Viglienzoni 2017 Joshua Miller Journal 2014 Providence Journal Caledonian-Record WCAX-Burlington Abigail Adams The Boston Globe 2018 Emily Corwin Ian Donnis Andrew Stein Lincoln County News Shawn Musgrave Sarah Betancourt NH Public Radio RI Public Radio Vermont Digger Charles MuckRock Boston Institute Alyssa Dandrea Kathleen Mulvaney 2013 Eichacker Neena Pathak for Nonprofit The Keene Sentinel Providence Journal Nathan Burgess Kennebec Journal Schuster Institute Journalism Nora Doyle-Burr Stowe Reporter Valley News New England First Amendment Institute Fellowship Application Deadline August 15, 2020
nefai 2020
The New England First Amendment Institute will select 25 journalists — including editors, reporters and producers — to remotely attend a multi-day training course on freedom of information laws and investigative techniques between Sept. 26 and Oct. 3. To be eligible, an applicant must be a working journalist in print, digital or broadcast media in New England. The Institute is designed for both relatively new and veteran journalists, however, applicants should have at least two years of professional news reporting experience and long-term plans to stay within the profession. Applicants working for a news organization must submit letters of recommendation from their current editors or supervisors, along with the application and required attachments. One additional recommendation from a former editor or supervisor is optional. Self-employed applicants may submit recommendations as described below. Broadcast journalists should submit their stories via links if possible, and on DVDs if not possible. To apply, please submit a letter of application and the documents listed below. On a separate sheet of paper, fully answer the following questions, restating the question in your answer.
(1) Describe why you would like to attend the New England First Amendment Institute. What do you hope to take away from the program? What do you hope to add to the program?
(2) Describe a problem you have encountered while investigating a story and how you reacted to it. Do you think attend- ing the Institute might help you with similar difficulties in the future? If so, how?
(3) Describe what you believe is your best asset as a journalist. Please tell us what you feel has been your greatest success as a journalist.
(4) Tell us how you would spread the knowledge you gain at the Institute to others in your news organization.
(5) The Institute is designed for professional journalists, with different levels of experience, who are committed to con- tinue working in journalism after the Institute. What skills do you hope to acquire during NEFAI to help your journalism career over the next several years?
(6) Have you applied to or attended the Institute in a previous year?
Required Documents
(1) Resume
(2) Recommendation from a current editor/supervisor or, if self-employed, a former or current editor of your freelance work. Please use the Recommendation Form included in this application.
(3) Portfolio of your three best investigative stories. If you have not done investigative work, please attach three news- based stories that represent your best effort.
Please submit your application, resume, portfolio and recommendation in one single PDF file via email by August 15, 2020, to [email protected]. If there is no acknowledgment from NEFAC, please confirm that your ap- plication has been received. New England First Amendment Institute Recommendation Form Deadline August 15, 2020 nefai 2020
Applicant Name
Applicant Position
Your Name
Your Organization and Position
Phone/Email
Please fully answer the questions below in your letter of recommendation and attach your letter to this form.
(1) How long have you worked with the applicant, and in what capacity?
(2) How long have you known the applicant?
(3) In detail, what is your assessment of the quality of the applicant’s work, and the level of investigative reporting the applicant is capable of currently?
(4) Why do you believe the applicant is firmly committed to freedom of information and will use the knowledge gained through this fellowship to improve his or her reporting — as well as to help colleagues with their own reporting — during the next several years?