The New England First Amendment Coalition is launching a legal fund to provide support for journalism and open government cases.
The fund is being established with a new investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
“For nearly 20 years, our coalition has been the region’s leading advocate for First Amendment freedoms and open government. We educate New Englanders about the vital roles journalism and government transparency play across the nation,” NEFAC President Gregory V. Sullivan said. “With the help of Knight Foundation, we can now expand our litigation efforts and better serve democracy in the region.”
The need for a regional legal fund is growing. Journalists are encountering more obstacles in their pursuit of essential public-interest reporting. Accessing public records or court documents, protecting confidential sources and obtaining information from public officials are all growing more complex, time-consuming and expensive. In many cases, legal action becomes the only viable option. For local newsrooms and individual journalists, however, the costs are often prohibitive.