First Amendment freedoms and government transparency. This is the foundation to a healthy democracy. Welcome to the NEFAC Report where we discuss your rights to free speech, freedom of the press and an open, accountable government. This program is produced by the New England First Amendment Coalition (https://www.nefac.org/) in partnership with Roger Williams University’s Communities of Hope (https://www.communitydrivennews.org/).
Meghan Irons, NEFAC mentor and Boston University professor, describes the state of student journalism and its vital role in our communities. Mike Hiestand, senior legal counsel for the Student Press Law Center, discusses the detainment of a student op/ed writer by federal immigration authorities… and why this should alarm us all.
Guest Bios and Contact Information
Meghan Irons (https://www.bu.edu/com/profile/meghan-irons/) | mirons@bu.edu (mailto:mirons@bu.edu)
Mike Hiestand (https://splc.org/staff/) | mhiestand@splc.org (mailto:mhiestand@splc.org)
Additional News and Resources
Student Journalism
NEFAC Mentors (https://www.nefac.org/mentors/)
The Increasingly Important Role of Student Journalists | East Bay Media Group (https://www.eastbayri.com/bristol/stories/the-increasingly-important-role-of-student-journalists,119952)
A Possible Role for Student Journalists and Student Journalism in Helping to Provide Communities with Local News (https://communicationleadership.usc.edu/local-news-and-student-journalism-report-summary/)
ICE Detentions and Student Press
NEFAC, National First Amendment Groups Condemn Detention of Tufts University Student Op/Ed Writer (https://www.nefac.org/news/nefac-national-first-amendment-groups-condemn-detention-of-tufts-university-student-op-ed-writer/)
Detention of Tufts Student is a Brazen Attack on the First Amendment | The Day (https://theday.com/news/725646/detention-of-tufts-student-a-brazen-attack-on-first-amendment/)
Writing an Op-Ed is Not Grounds for Deportation | ACLU (https://www.aclu.org/news/free-speech/writing-an-op-ed-is-not-grounds-for-deportation)
17 Apr 2025
FOI Trends and Online Court Systems
Megan Rhyne at the National Freedom of Information Coalition describes troubling freedom of information trends throughout the country. Bangor Daily News reporter Sawyer Loftus discusses online access to Maine court records and how a promise made 10 years ago remains unfulfilled.
Guest Bios and Contact Information
Megan Rhyne (https://www.nfoic.org/about/staffbios/) | mrhyne@opengovva.org (mailto:mrhyne@opengovva.org)
Sawyer Loftus (https://www.bangordailynews.com/author/sloftus/) | sloftus@bangordailynews.com (mailto:sloftus@bangordailynews.com)
Additional News and Resources
Open Government Trends
National Freedom of Information Coalition (https://www.nfoic.org/)
Sunshine Week (https://sunshineweek.org/)
Sunshine Week 2025 | NEFAC (https://www.nefac.org/sunshine-week-2025/)
MuckRock Survey of FOIA Fees Points to Uneven Picture Across Country (https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2023/dec/20/muckrock-survey-of-foia-fees-points-to-uneven-picture-across-the-us/)
Beast or Burden: Nuisance, Vexatious, or Burdensome Public Records Requests | NFOIC (https://www.nfoic.org/wp-content/uploads/pages/2018-12/NFOIC_WP_112818_Vexatious_PR_requests_0.pdf)
Maine Online Court Record Access
NEFAC to Maine Judicial Branch: Online Court Records System Broken, Needs Immediate Fix (https://www.nefac.org/news/nefac-to-maine-judicial-branch-online-court-records-system-broken-pressing-concern-for-public/)
Maine Has Spent Millions to Digitize Court Records — and They’re Still Mostly Not Online | Portland Press Herald (https://www.pressherald.com/2025/03/17/maine-has-spent-millions-to-digitize-court-records-and-theyre-still-mostly-not-online-2/)
Online Access to State Court Documents in Maine (video) (https://youtu.be/_XA42uo3UnM)
Maine FOI Guide (https://www.nefac.org/foiguide-maine/)
3 Apr 2025
CivDoc and Search Warrants
Melanie Plenda, a NEFAC advisor and director of the Granite State News Collaborative, speaks about Civic Documenters, a program she launched with the coalition that supports newsrooms in New Hampshire. WBUR investigative reporter and NEFAC advisor Todd Wallack discusses search warrant records in Massachusetts, how the public’s access to them can be limited, and why that’s a problem.
Guest Bios and Contact Information
Melanie Plenda (https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanieplenda/) | melanie.plenda@collaborativenh.org (mailto:melanie.plenda@collaborativenh.org)
Todd Wallack (https://www.wbur.org/inside/staff/todd-wallack) | twallack@bu.edu (mailto:twallack@bu.edu)
Additional News and Resources
New Hampshire Civic Documenters
Civic Documenters | NEFAC (https://www.nefac.org/civdoc/)
Introducing Civic Documenters: Empowering Communities to Strengthen Local News Coverage | NEFAC (https://www.nefac.org/news/introducing-civic-documenters-empowering-communities-to-strengthen-local-news-coverage/)
How Civic Documenters Empower Communities and Strengthen Local News Coverage (audio) (https://granitebeatnh.podbean.com/e/how-civic-documenters-empower-communities-and-strengthen-local-news-coverage/)
Granite State News Collaborative (https://www.collaborativenh.org/)
Massachusetts Search Warrant Records
Improved Access to Search Warrant Records Needed in Massachusetts | NEFAC (https://www.nefac.org/news/nefac-improved-access-to-search-warrant-records-needed-in-massachusetts/)
Boston Police Failed to Arrest ‘Serial Rapist' for Years Despite DNA Evidence | WBUR (https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/04/22/boston-alvin-campbell-rape-case-police)
20 Mar 2025
Public Commentary and Court Records
NEFAC President Gregory V. Sullivan describes speech ordinances at open meetings in New Hampshire. He explains why such restrictions often conflict with our First Amendment rights and what NEFAC is doing in response. Attorney Harrison Stark discusses our lack of online access to court records in Vermont and how that frustrates the public’s right to know.
Guest Bios and Contact Information
Gregory V. Sullivan (https://www.nenpa.com/gregory-v-sullivan/) | g.sullivan@mslpc.net (mailto:g.sullivan@mslpc.net)
Harrison Stark (https://www.acluvt.org/en/about/staff) | hstark@acluvt.org (mailto:hstark@acluvt.org)
Additional News and Resources
New Hampshire Speech Ordinances
NEFAC, ACLU to City of Manchester: Change Unconstitutional Rules on Public Comments (https://www.nefac.org/news/nefac-aclu-to-city-of-manchester-change-unconstitutional-rules-on-public-comments/)
NEFAC, ACLU to Nashua Officials: Repeal Unconstitutional Civility Ordinance (https://www.nefac.org/news/nefac-aclu-to-nashua-officials-repeal-unconstitutional-civility-ordinance/)
Civility and Government Meetings | NEFAC (https://www.nefac.org/civility-and-government-meetings-how-towns-in-new-hampshire-region-are-addressing-public-commentary/)
Video: New Hampshire Open Meetings and Public Commentary (https://www.nefac.org/foiguide-newhampshire/)
Vermont Court Records
NEFAC, Vt. Open Government Advocates Recommend Changes to Court Records System (https://www.nefac.org/news/nefac-vt-open-government-advocates-recommend-changes-to-court-records-system/)
Video: Online Access to Vermont Court Documents (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSh8eK9b83M&list=PLPGqW8uU8mnJgiUtZezxBPaHtISsf-8vD&index=14&pp=gAQBiAQB)
6 Mar 2025
Shield Laws and Connecticut FOIA
Attorney Jonathan Albano discusses a little-known controversy in the high-profile Karen Read murder trial and what reporter confidentiality protections exist in Massachusetts. Former NEFAC legal fellow Lindsey Vickers describes the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act and her experience trying to obtain public records under the law.
Guest Bios and Contact Information
Jonathan Albano (https://www.morganlewis.com/bios/jonathanalbano) | jonathan.albano@morganlewis.com (mailto:jonathan.albano@morganlewis.com)
Lindsey Vickers (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lLNkPSNZ0MFzgCtDJleXpUgD3IPNnW-2o11WLjfB6yc/edit?usp=sharing) | lindsvix@uw.edu (mailto:lindsvix@uw.edu)
Additional News and Resources
Reporter Confidentiality Protections in Massachusetts
Reporter's Privilege Compendium | Reporters Committee (https://www.rcfp.org/privilege-compendium/massachusetts/)
The Karen Read Case Shows Why We Need a Shield Law | Media Nation (https://dankennedy.net/2024/11/09/the-karen-read-case-shows-why-we-need-a-shield-law-plus-a-state-police-outrage-and-trump-and-the-press/)
States Must Step Up to Protect Journalist-Source Confidentiality | Freedom of the Press Foundation (https://freedom.press/issues/states-must-step-up-to-protect-journalist-source-confidentiality/)
Press Groups Argue Against Forced Disclosure of Reporter’s Notes in Karen Read Case | NEFAC (https://www.nefac.org/news/nefac-press-groups-argue-against-forced-disclosure-of-reporters-notes-in-karen-read-case/)
Connecticut Public Record Laws
The Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (https://portal.ct.gov/foi/quick-links/the-foi-act)
Connecticut Public Records: Video Tutorials | NEFAC (https://www.nefac.org/connecticut-public-records-videos/)
Connecticut Public Records Law FAQs | NEFAC (https://www.nefac.org/connecticut-public-records/)
NEFAC Connecticut FOI Guide (https://www.nefac.org/foiguide-connecticut)
20 Feb 2025
Scanner Encryption and Police Reports
Investigative reporter Tim White discusses encrypted police scanners and how this growing practice is making it difficult for communities in Rhode Island to stay informed. Journalist Norah Hogan describes a tragedy in Bath, Maine, and how police there are keeping certain details about the investigation secret.
Guest Bios and Contact Information
Tim White (https://www.wpri.com/author/tim-white/) | twhite@wpri.com (mailto:twhite@wpri.com)
Norah Hogan (https://www.wmtw.com/news-team/344b8199-6f52-4b30-afa4-e464954f66bb) | norah.hogan@hearst.com (mailto:norah.hogan@hearst.com)
Additional News and Resources
Police Scanner Encryption
Police are Increasingly Encrypting Their Radios to Block Scrutiny By Journalists | Truthout (https://truthout.org/articles/police-are-increasingly-encrypting-their-radios-to-block-scrutiny-by-journalists/#:~:text=Following%20the%20BLM%20protests%20in%202020%2C%20during,introduced%20encryption%20protocols%20for%20routine%20police%20communications.)
The Wildly Popular Police Scanner Does Silent for Many | The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/22/us/police-scanner-encryption.html)
Police Dodge Journalists By Encrypting Radio | Freedom of the Press Foundation (https://freedom.press/issues/police-dodge-journalists-by-encrypting-radio/)
Encryption Status of Police Channels in Providence County (https://www.radioreference.com/db/browse/ctid/2311)
Fully Encrypted Channels for Police Agencies in New England (https://www.snewiki.com/wiki/index.php/Encryption)
Cranston Police Department Policy (https://x.com/AnitaBaffoni/status/1877445617481298115)
NEFAC Rhode Island FOI Guide (https://www.nefac.org/foiguide-rhodeisland/)
Investigation in Bath, Maine
Police Heavily Redact Records From Two Domestic Violence Calls Made Just Days Before a Double Homicide | WMTW (https://www.wmtw.com/article/redactions-obscure-police-reports-from-calls-before-double-homicide/63434508)
Bath Mother, Daughter Killed in Murder-Suicide Remembered as Generous People | Portland Press Herald (https://www.pressherald.com/2024/10/08/bath-mother-daughter-killed-in-murder-suicide-remembered-as-generous-people/)
Officials Refuse to Release Information in Bath Double Murder | Times Record (https://www.pressherald.com/2025/01/23/officials-refuse-to-release-information-in-bath-double-murder/)
National Domestic Violence Hotline (https://www.thehotline.org/)
Maine Domestic Violence Resources (https://uwc.211ct.org/domestic-violencepartner-abuse/)
NEFAC Maine FOI Guide (https://www.nefac.org/foiguide-maine/)
Reach and audience
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YouTube views
20,482
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 41 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
56
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
0
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