Inside NENPA’s First Amendment Collaborative: Training journalists and engaging communities on press freedom – Editor and Publisher

Report on the NENPA First Amendment Collaborative and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

In May, the New England Newspaper & Press Association (NENPA) announced the formation of a First Amendment Collaborative. This initiative was established to produce editorials, opinion pieces, and reporting on regional threats to press freedoms. The project’s framework, which includes solutions journalism, training, and advocacy, directly aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Alignment with SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The Collaborative’s core mission is to uphold and advocate for fundamental freedoms, which is central to SDG 16. Its activities are a direct implementation of Target 16.10, which aims to “ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms.”

• Protecting Fundamental Freedoms: The initiative was conceived in a politically charged environment to counter threats to press freedom and ensure journalists can act as proxies for the public.
• Ensuring Public Access to Information: A primary concern addressed by the Collaborative is the trend of local government officials refusing to grant access to public records and conducting “open meetings” where public participation is restricted. By reporting on these issues, the Collaborative works to maintain transparency.
• Promoting Accountable Institutions: By scrutinizing the actions of local governments, the Collaborative contributes to the development of effective, accountable, and transparent institutions, as outlined in SDG Target 16.6.

Supporting SDG 4: Quality Education through Public Awareness

The Collaborative engages in public education campaigns that support the principles of SDG 4, particularly Target 4.7, which calls for education that promotes global citizenship and an appreciation for human rights.

• “Know Your News” Initiative: This campaign is designed to inform and educate citizens about the critical role of journalism in a democracy and to clarify that press freedoms are synonymous with public freedoms.
• Citizen Rights Education: A stated goal of the project is to ensure citizens are aware of their rights regarding access to information and participation in governance, thereby fostering an informed and engaged populace.

Fostering SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The structure of the First Amendment Collaborative exemplifies SDG 17 by creating a robust partnership to achieve its objectives.

• Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: NENPA invited all its members to join the initiative, convening a diverse group of journalists from across New England to work towards a common goal.
• Shared Infrastructure: The Collaborative utilizes the Plucky Wire platform, a news wire service developed by the Granite State News Collaborative. This shared infrastructure facilitates the efficient distribution and localization of content among partners, amplifying their collective impact.

Operational Framework and Initial Outcomes

The initiative was formally launched on Constitution Day in September, led by a committee chaired by Melanie Plenda, Executive Director of the Granite State News Collaborative.

1. Content Generation: An initial collection of 27 stories was produced by the group for republication by all collaborative members.
2. Inaugural Editorial: The launch was marked by an editorial from Gene Policinski, Senior Fellow for the First Amendment at the Freedom Forum, titled “Defending Democracy Starts at Home: Protecting Local News and Press Freedom.”
3. Early Impact Indicators: While comprehensive impact analysis is pending, early results are positive. These include encouraging reader emails, significant social media traction for the #KnowYourNews hashtag, and the receipt of $12,000 in unsolicited anonymous donations intended to support local journalism.

Conclusion

The NENPA First Amendment Collaborative serves as a vital regional model for protecting democratic freedoms and strengthening civic institutions. Through its focus on public access to information, citizen education, and strategic partnerships, the initiative makes a direct and measurable contribution to the advancement of Sustainable Development Goals 16, 4, and 17, reinforcing the principle that a free press is essential for sustainable development.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article’s central theme is the establishment of the First Amendment Collaborative to address threats to press freedoms, ensure access to public records, and promote transparency in government meetings. These actions directly support the goal of building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions. The collaborative’s work to protect the rights of journalists, who act as “proxies for the public,” is fundamental to justice and strong democratic institutions.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• The article highlights the collaborative’s educational component, specifically the “Know Your News” initiative. This campaign aims to “inform and to educate” the public about their First Amendment rights and the critical role of journalism in a democracy. This aligns with the goal of providing education that promotes human rights and global citizenship.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 16 Targets

1. Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
   
   This is the most relevant target. The article explicitly discusses the collaborative’s mission to produce “reporting on threats to press freedoms,” address officials who “refuse to give access to public records,” and champion “the rights the First Amendment provides to all Americans.”
2. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
   
   The article mentions concerns about local government officials being emboldened to deny access and the problem of “open meetings that aren’t really open meetings.” The collaborative’s journalistic work serves as a mechanism to hold these institutions accountable and push for greater transparency.
3. Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
   
   The description of public meetings “where citizens aren’t allowed to talk or ask questions” directly points to a lack of participatory decision-making. The collaborative’s efforts to educate citizens on their rights aim to foster a more inclusive and responsive civic environment.

SDG 4 Target

1. Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for… human rights… [and] global citizenship.
   
   The “Know Your News” initiative is described as an “education campaign” to make it clear to “everyday people that press freedoms are their freedoms.” This effort to educate citizens on their fundamental rights and their role in a democracy directly contributes to this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

• Number of journalistic pieces on press freedom: The article mentions an “initial collection of 27 stories” produced by the collaborative, which serves as a direct output indicator for efforts to protect fundamental freedoms (Target 16.10).
• Public engagement and support: The article notes “encouraging reader emails” and that the collaborative received “two anonymous donations totaling $12,000” to support local journalism. This can be seen as an indicator of public trust and perceived institutional effectiveness (Target 16.6).
• Existence of advocacy and monitoring groups: The creation and operation of the “First Amendment Collaborative” itself is an indicator of civil society’s role in ensuring accountable institutions and protecting fundamental freedoms (Targets 16.6 and 16.10).

Indicators for SDG 4 (Quality Education)

• Reach of educational campaigns: The article implies a way to measure the educational initiative’s reach by mentioning that “metrics showing the #KnowYourNews hashtag has gotten traction on social media.” This serves as an indicator of public engagement with educational content on human rights and citizenship (Target 4.7).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: editorandpublisher.com