The NENPA Press Freedom and Local News Committee is taking its next major step in protecting press freedom and strengthening local journalism: launching a region-wide public education campaign on Constitution Day, Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
The campaign — Know Your News: Understanding Press Freedom and the Value of Local News — will roll out a series of in-depth, reader-friendly stories and ready-to-use social media content designed to inform the public about their rights, the role of the press, and the essential role local news plays in civic life.
The effort is aimed at giving newspapers across New England the tools to educate their audiences on topics ranging from “What the First Amendment Really Says About the Press” and “How You Can Request Public Records” to “How to Spot Trustworthy News” and “What If Your Town Lost Its Local News?”
A Month-Long, Four-Week Series
The campaign will unfold over four themed weeks:
- Week 1 – Press Freedom and Why We Should Care
Stories explaining First Amendment protections, open meetings and records laws, and what’s at stake when press access is denied. - Week 2 – Building News Literacy and Trust
Coverage on identifying credible sources, understanding bias, and how schools and parents can teach media literacy. - Week 3 – Understanding Local News
Insight into how local newsrooms work, how editorial decisions are made, how AI is used, and why local journalism matters. - Week 4 – Solutions for the Future
Reporting on communities rebuilding news coverage, innovative funding models, and ways readers can support their local outlets.
How to Participate
Editors, publishers, and marketing managers are invited to join the NENPA Press Freedom and Local News Collaborative, which will serve as the distribution hub for the full series of stories and social media assets. Participants will receive:
- Weekly story packages with art and social media posts ready for print and digital publication
- Coordinated launch timing to maximize regional impact
- Opportunities to share your own local reporting connected to press freedom and local news
Please complete this short sign-up form for interested publications to join the Collaborative and be ready to start publishing content on Constitution Day.
By working together, we can make this campaign a powerful, unified call to protect press freedom and support the local news organizations that keep our communities informed, engaged, and strong.