By Corinne Arel '24
The UMass Journalism Department hosted guest speaker Justin Silverman, executive director of the New England First Amendment Coalition, on March 8, 2022. Silverman spoke to students and faculty members about the first amendment, press freedoms, and media rights and responsibilities of journalists.
During his PowerPoint presentation, the audience engaged in a conversation about how and when journalists should persist in obtaining public records.
Providing examples from different media coverage of legal cases, Silverman emphasized how beneficial it is for a journalist to gain access to the public records of the story they are covering. Public records, Silverman explained, provide a journalist with additional evidence and information, which allows them to report the most accurate coverage.
"Accountability and trust are the two utmost important factors that journalists should consider when covering a story," Silverman said. Obtaining public records allows journalists to trust their sources and for journalists to be held accountable for telling a truthful story with the least amount of bias.
Silverman also spoke to the audience about the five points of press freedom: religion, speech, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government. Working with the six states within New England, Silverman discussed how each state differs from one another concerning the release of public records.
The audience had an opportunity to review crime scene photos, watch videos, and listen to a 911 call to understand the ethics behind releasing sensitive information to the public. "Government officials are sometimes hesitant to release information containing graphic content to preserve the respect and dignity of the people involved in the photos and videos," Silverman said.
Silverman concluded by opening the floor for the audience to ask questions about the presentation and his work. He encouraged students to reach out to him for assistance and advice throughout their journalistic careers.