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Recognizing the importance of open government during Sunshine Week March 13-19

As journalists, we rely on open government and freedom of information principles to keep the public informed about its government. Too often, though, we are met with roadblocks.

Sunshine Week was launched in 2005 by the American Society of News Editors, now the News Leaders Association.

In 2022, Sunshine Week is March 13-19. We invite you to hold our government leaders and agencies accountable by running an editorial on the importance of open government.

NENPA is working with the New England First Amendment Coalition (NEFAC) on this initiative. On March 7 we will distribute an editorial in support of Sunshine Week, written by NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman.

Please join us in raising our collective voice for transparency and access to public information, and what it means for your readers and community, by either publishing the editorial during Sunshine Week, March 13-19, or writing your own editorial.

Let us know that you’ll be participating, and we’ll collect all editorials submitted and feature them in our eBulletin at the end of the month.

Yes We Will Participate

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Carol Young

During 45 years at The Providence Journal, Carol rose from small-town bureau reporter to statewide education reporter, and eventually to deputy executive editor – second in charge of the news department. She was a leader of the Providence Newspaper Guild during a time of labor strife, before becoming the first woman to join the Journal’s management team in 1979. She was a guiding force behind the newspaper’s intern program, serving as a mentor for many who would go on to careers at The Journal and at other publications around the nation. Since retirement, Carol has remained extremely active in the Rhode Island community. She is chairwoman of the board of directors at Inspiring Minds, which provides tutors and mentors for students in the Providence public schools. She is also a member of the advisory council to the president of the University of Rhode Island; and an active volunteer with Leadership Rhode Island, which named her one of the state’s “inspiring leaders’ in 2018.

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Julia Wells

Julia Wells has devoted her entire professional career to covering her Island community. After moving to Martha’s Vineyard fresh out of Wells College, she joined the New Bedford Standard Times’ two-person bureau in 1973, then worked for the Cape Cod Times when that newspaper eclipsed the Standard Times as the Vineyard’s preferred mainland paper. In 1984, she joined the Vineyard Gazette, where she served as senior reporter for many years before being named editor in 2004. Over more than four decades, Julia has chronicled the Vineyard’s evolution from a quiet backwater where artists and writers mixed easily with farmers and fishermen to an elite resort and vacation getaway for Presidents Clinton and Obama. A fearless reporter, graceful writer and skillful editor, Julia is also a demanding leader who holds herself as much as her staff to the highest standards. A guardian of the public’s right to know and a mentor to many young journalists, Julia Wells is a shining example of a consummate news professional.

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John Dennis Harrigan

John Dennis Harrigan has been an important part of New Hampshire journalism and newspapering, both daily and weekly, for more than a half century and counting. He is the quintessential newsman. He has done it all in various media, often appearing on public television and radio, but most of his world has revolved around newspapers. He is probably best known for working full time for several years at the New Hampshire Sunday News, and he kept writing his column, “Woods, Water & Wildlife,” even long after he left the paper’s employ, continuing the column for a 37-year run, one of the longest-running columns in the state. As publisher of the Coos County Democrat, he founded the weekly direct-mail tabloid, the Northern Beacon. He also purchased and ran a four-unit Goss press producing his newspaper and the newspaper long published by his father, the late Judge Fred Harrigan. His informed, respectful, and often humorous columns have introduced and educated generations of readers to New Hampshire’s outdoor vistas and wildlife.

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Vermont Law School Seeks Journalists for 2022 Summer Media Fellowships in Environmental Law and Animal Law

Vermont Law School (VLS), home to one of the top-ranked environmental law programs in the United States, seeks applications from qualified journalists for its 2022 Summer Media Fellowships.

As fellows, selected journalists will participate in the 2022 Summer Session, taught by internationally recognized scholars and leaders in environmental and animal law and policy in Randolph, Vermont.

The position includes a stipend, books, a tuition waiver, and an incredible stay in a vacation home situated near the campus. This is a great opportunity for journalists looking to enhance their journalism skills and deepen their understanding of environmental or animal law and policy.

Every summer since 2002, Vermont Law School has invited journalists to participate in the program. Last year’s media fellows were Claire Brown of The Counter, Lisa Held of Civil Eats, Pamela King of E&E News, and freelance journalist Jessica Scott-Reid. 

“During their visit to Vermont Law School, Summer Media Fellows learn to ‘think like lawyers’ while they report like journalists,” said Associate Dean Jennifer Rushlow, director of the Environmental Law Center. “They interact with experts in environmental law and animal law from around the world, forming connections that provide sources for stories and often evolve into years-long professional relationships.” 

The program also provides an opportunity for members of the VLS community to interact with respected journalists reporting on the frontlines of animal and environmental protection issues. 

Fellows, audit one Summer Session course and have access to VLS’s distinguished faculty and visiting policy leaders. Fellows receive a stipend, free housing and books, and a tuition waiver. In addition to attending class, they present on a topic of their choice as part of the Summer Session’s “Hot Topics” series on current issues. 

VLS is seeking four fellows for 2022: two journalists focused on environmental law, and two focused on animal law. 

Environmental Law Media Fellowships are open to full-time journalists who cover issues related to the environment. Each fellow will choose to audit one two-week course from a wide selection of topics, from Global Energy Law and Policy to Environmental Crimes. A full schedule of 2022 Summer Session courses is available here or at vermontlaw.edu/summer-session. Environmental law media fellowships have been made possible since 2002 by a grant from the Johnson Family Foundation and major donors. Fellows are selected based on work history and samples, commitment to covering environmental law, and their potential for increasing understanding of environmental law and policy issues nationwide. 

Animal Law Media Fellowships are open to full-time journalists covering issues related to animal law and policy. Fellows will choose to audit a course from VLS’s summer animal law courses, which include Animal Welfare Law, Animal Ethics and Conservation, and Undercover Investigations of Animal Operations (view the course catalog for more information). One applicant will be selected for a weekend-long fellowship, and one applicant will be selected for a two-week fellowship. Animal law media fellowships have been made possible since 2021 thanks to a grant from the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®). Fellows are selected based on work history and samples, commitment to covering animal issues, and their potential for increasing understanding of animal law and policy issues nationwide. 

“Animal law is a rapidly growing field, with many facets and implications for our daily lives and relationships with the other beings we live alongside,” noted professor Delci Winders, director of VLS’s Animal Law and Policy Institute. “Animal Law Media Fellows get to learn about these issues from leading animal law scholars and practitioners, and to build relationships with these experts.” 

“The ASPCA is thrilled to fund Animal Law Media Fellowships at Vermont Law School for the second year to increase much-needed dialogue around the lack of legal protections for farm animals and related policy issues nationwide,” said Kara Shannon, director of farm animal welfare policy at the ASPCA. “The suffering that billions of cows, pigs, and chickens experience on factory farms intersects with a multitude of social justice issues in agriculture, and journalists are doing critical work to bring these intersections to light. These fellowships will encourage greater transparency and public awareness to promote a more humane, sustainable, and just food system.” 

The application deadline for both fellowships is Friday, March 11, 2022.

Prospective fellows may submit applications via email to Molly Russell at mrussell@vermontlaw.edu. Please specify either “environmental law media fellowship” or “animal law media fellowship” in the subject line. In the body of the email, please list your top three summer course choices. Include a CV or LinkedIn profile, a link to your online portfolio or links to at least two recently published articles, and a short cover letter explaining your interests in, and qualifications for, the fellowship. For more information, visit vermontlaw.edu/media-fellowships.

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Now Accepting Applications For 2022 Bob Wallack Intern Stipends

Editors at New England Newspaper & Press Association member publications are invited and encouraged to apply for a $500 stipend for one of their 2022 summer interns.

There are two stipends available this year and they are awarded to aspiring community journalists in honor of former New England Press Association Executive Director Bob Wallack.

If you would like NENPA to consider your intern for this special award, please submit a letter that briefly outlines:

  • Your intern’s background and aspirations
  • The type of experience you’ll be providing for him/her in the coming months
  • The level of contribution that you expect the intern to make at your newspaper this summer
  • Why you believe this intern merits this special compensation. (In other words, will the money be well spent on this student?)

Please submit your nomination by Friday, May 27, 2022, to Linda Conway, l.conway@nenpa.com, using the subject line Summer Intern Stipend.

About the Bob Wallack Community Journalism Fund

Bob Wallack

Longtime New England journalist and former New England Press Association Executive Director Bob Wallack died in January 2014 after a brief illness at the age of 63.

Bob’s career in community journalism spanned over four decades and took him to three different New England states. He worked for a variety of daily and weekly community newspapers in positions ranging from reporter, general manager, and publisher. He also served as Executive Director of the New England Press Association during the 1990s.

Former colleagues of Bob’s have launched a fund in his memory that will support both community journalism and young people in our industry — two of Bob’s lifelong passions. In addition to this stipend for interns, NENPA bestows an annual Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award, recognizing a New England newspaper man or woman for exemplary community journalism. Previous recipients include Steve Damish of The Enterprise in Brockton, Mass.; Thor Jourgensen of The Daily Item in Lynn, Mass.; Stanley Moulton of the Daily Hampshire Gazette in Northampton, Mass.; Ray Duckler of the Concord (NH) Monitor; John Flowers of the Addison Independent in Middlebury, VT, Edward W. Forry of the Dorchester Reporter, Dorchester, MA and James D Haggerty III of the Daily Times Chronicle, Woburn, MA.

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Looking for a summer or fall intern?

Do you have a summer or fall internship position that you are looking to fill?

Send the details to info@nenpa.com and we’ll publish them on our internship page and promote it to journalism students across the region.

NENPA member publications are also invited and encouraged to apply for a $500 Bob Wallack Summer Intern Stipend for one of their 2022 summer interns.

This stipend will be awarded to two aspiring community journalists in honor of former New England Press Association Executive Director Bob Wallack.

If you would like NENPA to consider your intern for this special award, please click here for details.

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New NENPA member benefit for job postings

The New England Newspaper and Press Association job page is a great resource for finding newspaper and journalism jobs throughout New England and for media companies to place job listings to recruit qualified candidates. Job listings are updated regularly and often include open positions for journalists, editors, publishers, photojournalists, newspaper and digital ad sales, and more.

NENPA members can post journalism and newspaper job openings for FREE as a member benefit. We have recently expanded this member benefit through a partnership with The Media Job Board. NENPA members can now also receive a complimentary 30-day job listing on The Media Job Board ($149 value, 1 per year) when posting a job listing on the NENPA job page.

Non-NENPA members may post job openings for $275 per listing on the NENPA job page (not eligible for a free listing on The Media Job Board).

The Media Job Board was launched as a partnership between Editor & Publisher, The Poynter Institute, and America’s Newspapers. The Media Job Board is a complete, comprehensive recruitment vertical offering the latest technology to help you find the best candidate match.

For those interested in expanding their search beyond New England. Visit our partner Mediajobboard.com, where job seekers have access to national media job search functionality, and employers have access to a large database of qualified candidates.

For more information and to submit a job posting email info@nenpa.com.

Check out the latest job postings

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Our-Hometown to host interview with the lawyers behind the Google/Facebook Anti-Trust Lawsuit

Our-Hometown announced that they will be hosting a live interview with Paul Farrell Jr. of Farrell & Fuller, LLC and Bob Fitzsimmons of Fitzsimmons Law Firm PLLC, two of the legal professionals leading the anti-trust lawsuit against Google and Facebook on behalf of newspapers across the country.

News publishers are invited to join this free live interview on February 24th at 12:00 pm EST.

Register at this link

Attendees will receive an update on the ongoing efforts against the powerful duopoly of Google & Facebook. At the conclusion of the interview, publishers in attendance will have the opportunity to ask questions about the case and what it means for the future of digital advertising.

In case you missed it, the lawsuit is centered around allegations that Google and Facebook have monopolized the digital advertising market and conspired to manipulate online ad auctions under an agreement known as “Jedi Blue.”

“The freedom of the press is not at stake,” the suit says. “The press itself is at stake.” A free and diverse press is essential to a vibrant democracy. That is being threatened by Google and Facebook’s unlawful conduct, as alleged in the complaint.

An Editor and Publisher article published last January sheds some more light on the complaint.

The outcome of this lawsuit could be incredibly important to the future of newspapers. We hope you’ll take the opportunity to attend this interview to learn a little more about what is at stake and show your support.

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