PRESS RELEASE: Announcing the 42nd Annual JDRF Greater New England Chapter Gala – One Night on Saturday, April 6, 2024

January 30, 2024

Announcing the 42nd Annual JDRF Greater New England Chapter Gala – One Night on Saturday, April 6, 2024

The JDRF Greater New England Chapter is pleased to announce the 42nd Annual Gala–One Night on Saturday, April 6, 2024, taking place at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport. As one of the area’s premier charity events, the JDRF Gala will welcome more than 800 guests with the goal to raise more than $2.5M for critical type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.

Hosted by emcees Vanessa Welch and Mark Ockerbloom of Boston 25 News, this black-tie event will feature exciting one-of-a-kind silent and live auctions, cocktails and dining, live entertainment, and JDRF’s signature Fund A Cure program—in which contributions are 100% tax-deductible and will drive cutting-edge research.

This year’s Gala Honorees, Lisa and Neil Wallack, are longtime JDRF supporters who are being recognized for their steadfast commitment to JDRF’s mission to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications. Lisa’s initial involvement with JDRF began 50 years ago through her parents, Marilyn and Gerald Fishbone, who were among the founders of JDRF after her brother Scott was diagnosed with T1D. Lisa and Neil increased their engagement with the Greater New England Chapter after their son, Harris, was diagnosed with T1D in 2001. As a result of their ongoing passion and dedication, countless JDRF initiatives at the local, national, and international levels have benefitted from their impactful contributions. In search of cures and better treatments for T1D, they have been instrumental in connecting the scientiﬁc community with those living with T1D.

For more information on event details, sponsorship, donation, and ticket options, as well as volunteer opportunities, please visit https://bit.ly/jdrfgala2024 or contact Christina Roche, Development Director, JDRF Greater New England Chapter at 781-431-0700, croche@jdrf.org.

About Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
T1D is an autoimmune disease in which insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are mistakenly destroyed by the body’s immune system. T1D seems to have a genetic component and can be diagnosed early in life but also in adulthood. People with T1D are dependent on injected or pumped insulin to survive. Its causes are not fully known, and there is currently no cure.

About JDRF
JDRF is the leading global nonprofit funding T1D research, advocating for policies that accelerate access to new therapies, and providing a support network for millions of people impacted by T1D. JDRF has driven nearly every major advance in drug, device, and cell therapy made in T1D in the last 50+ years, and has invested more than $2.5 billion in research funding. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D.

For more information, please visit www.jdrf.org or follow us on social media:
Facebook (www.facebook.com/jdrfgreaternewengland)
Instagram (www.instagram.com/jdrfgreaternewengland)
LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/jdrfnewenglandchapter/)
Twitter (www.twitter.com/JDRFGNE)

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Publish Op-Ed Wednesday, 1/31 Opposing NH Right To Know Fee Bill Vote This Week

January 29, 2024

HB 1002 is heading to the New Hampshire floor this Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, and could pass. The bill would impose a fee for Right To Know Requests of up to $25 per hour of employee time to, “make the record available to the requestor, including time to search, retrieve, duplicate, redact, and otherwise make the record available for the requestor.”

In short, this could make RTK requests cost-prohibitive and, if abused, could be used as a way to delay and/or deter RTK requests.

Along with the New England First Amendment Coalition and the Granite State News Collaborative, we are strongly encouraging all New Hampshire publications to write and/or publish an op-ed opposing this bill on or before Wednesday, Jan. 31. NEFAC has written a letter opposing the bill (link below) that you can use for reference or anyone can write their own op-ed to run. We will be sending copies of what others are running as we receive them.

Below are some links to additional information on the bill and opposition to it:

Here are some quotes you can use for op-eds if you need them:

“House Bill 1002 is a monumental step in the wrong direction. If enacted, it will discourage and prevent the citizenry of New Hampshire from gaining access to public records. The purpose of our Right to Know Law is to provide those in New Hampshire with the greatest possible public access to the work of our government and to help us keep those in government accountable for their actions. This bill would ensure the opposite result.” — Gregory V. Sullivan, President of the New England First Amendment Coalition

“We are concerned that the House Judiciary Committee’s vote today on HB1002 will, if adopted by the House, deter critical ‘Right-to-Know’ requests, undermine government transparency, and give government agencies another tool to obstruct providing information to taxpayers. New Hampshire’s Right-to-Know law has exposed police misconduct, how various agencies regulate schools, and how our laws are enforced. But by implementing significant fees to get this important information, many requests will never be made. The ACLU of New Hampshire—as part of a broad coalition that includes the New England First Amendment Coalition, the N.H. Press Association, the N.H. Union Leader, and the N.H. Bulletin—urges lawmakers to support government transparency and oppose this bill.” — Gilles Bissonnette, Legal Director of the ACLU of New Hampshire

Please let us know if you have any questions.

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PRESS RELEASE: Top East Coast Loan Officer Juan Cerda joins Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc.

January 25, 2024

Contact:
Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc.
647 Oaklawn Avenue, Cranston RI 02920
Lauren Jamieson
(401) 490-7139
ljamieson@primeres.com

Top East Coast Loan Officer Juan Cerda joins Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc.

CRANSTON, RI – Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. (PRMI) is excited to announce the addition of mortgage market leader, Juan Cerda, to their Rhode Island team of expert loan officers.

Cerda’s mortgage experience spans over 25 years, beginning in the banking sector and then spending the last 14 years as a direct lender through Shamrock Home Loans. Throughout his lengthy career, Juan has been recognized for numerous achievements amongst the industry, including a recurrent Top Producing Lender Partner of RIHousing. In 2022, Cerda originated over $17 million in first mortgages with RIHousing, attributing this success to his bilingual team and dedication to serving Spanish-speaking home buyers.

“Juan is truly a consummate professional and a phenomenal addition to the PRMI family. He has been an industry leader throughout his career, and we are excited about growing with him in his next chapter,” says PRMI Division President, Sean Zierak.

Dominating the local housing market, both Cerda and PRMI share a mutual passion and commitment to helping first-time buyers achieve the “American Dream” of home ownership. In addition to ranking as a Top Producing RIHousing Lending Partner, PRMI also offers a variety of competitive financing programs, local operations support, top-notch technology and national presence, with branches in 49 states.

Together, Cerda and PRMI will join forces to provide an optimal, seamless, financing experience, and strive to make homeownership more accessible for our local communities

Juan lives in Bristol, Rhode Island with his wife, two children and two dogs. When he is not aiding his clients and referral partners, you can find Juan with his family, spending time in the great outdoors, working out or enjoying the local dining scene.

Juan is at 647 Oaklawn Avenue, Cranston RI at the local Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. Branch. To contact Juan, please email: jcerda@primeres.com or call (401) 569-1201.

Connect with PRMI on Instagram @primeresmortgageinc or Facebook @PrimaryLocal or visit www.primarylocal.com.

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PRESS RELEASE: New England High School Journalism Collaborative now accepting applications for summer journalism program

January 18, 2024

Contact:
Leah Lamson
Managing Director, New England High School Journalism Collaborative
lamsonleah@gmail.com

New England High School Journalism Collaborative now accepting applications for summer journalism program

The New England High School Journalism Collaborative is excited to announce that we will hold our all-expense-paid summer workshop for students interested in journalism for the 37th year.

The 2024 workshop dates are June 22 – June 29, 2024.

The program is intended for students who are from traditionally underserved populations. Some preference is given to current juniors and seniors in high school.

Students will work out of a newsroom at Simmons University in Boston and learn to report, write, edit for a newspaper, and produce multimedia projects for a website. They will be assigned stories, do interviews, and will be exposed to working on a deadline to create their own newspaper.

The New England Newspaper and Press Association will be assisting with the application process. Application guidelines are as follows:

Only students who attend high school in the New England states (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) are eligible.
Only students currently in high school may apply, including graduating seniors. The program is not accepting students who have already taken part in the program.
Students must be recommended by a teacher.
A letter of recommendation from the sponsoring teacher must accompany the application.
A transcript from the school with the student’s most recent grades must accompany the application.
An essay of no more than 500 words must accompany the application. The applicant can write about why they should be selected to participate in this program OR how writing has helped the applicant explore and understand a problem in their life.
Students will need to upload a headshot.
PLEASE NOTE: You will receive an email confirming the receipt of your application with a link to a Dropbox folder to upload the required documents (letter of recommendation, transcript, personal essay, and headshot).

If you have problems using the form or uploading documents, you should email students@nenpa.com.

The deadline for applications is Friday, April 12, 2024.

Students will be notified of their status by the end of April.

Don’t miss the chance to take part in this unique program, established by the late Carole C. Remick more than 37 years ago. We are looking forward to training the next generation of journalists.

If there are additional questions or if the applicant needs special accommodations to submit information, please email Leah Lamson, NEHSJC managing director, at lamsonleah@gmail.com.

Summer Workshop Application

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Emerging News Leadership Program by the Newmark J-School and Google News Initiative

January 17, 2024

The tuition-free Emerging News Leadership Program will train a cohort of local and rural news leaders in everything they need to know to run a sustainable news organization, through a rigorous, online curriculum developed by the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York, in partnership with the Google News Initiative.

The application for the six-month inaugural cohort opens today and closes on February 9, 2024. The program will focus on advanced digital skills, the business of news, and leadership & management. Publishers, founders, editors, managers, and others in local or rural media in the U.S. and abroad are highly encouraged to apply.

“Our goal is to help emerging news leaders refine their understanding of the new business realities of journalism, upgrade their digital skills, explore emerging technologies, and gain confidence in their leadership and strategy skills,” Niketa Patel, senior director of leadership programs at the Newmark J-School said. “With the Emerging News Leadership Program, we can offer talented local and rural journalists support in their leadership journey.”

Come hear from Niketa Patel, Senior Director of Leadership Programs at J+, at the Emerging News Leadership Program virtual Open House, on Tuesday, January 23 from 11am-Noon ET for an exclusive sneak peek into the inaugural cohort of this online, tuition-free program that empowers diverse rural and local media leaders.

New Strategic Alliance means a new home for Nackey Loeb School

January 17, 2024

The Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications and the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College have formed a strategic alliance to promote their mutual interests in advancing First Amendment freedoms and educational programming.

The effort will include opportunities for shared public events and classes in communications and First Amendment topics. Saint Anselm students can also gain project-based learning experience through this alliance.

The Loeb School will rent space at the Institute on the College’s campus and offer its classes and workshops at the Institute’s location beginning this fall.

Laura Simoes, executive director of the Loeb School, said, “We are excited about new opportunities for our Loeb School students and for Saint Anselm College’s students as we explore ways to offer joint programming, while continuing the Nackey S. Loeb School’s signature education in communications, First Amendment and civics, while building on our work to strengthen journalism’s role in our democracy with partners across New Hampshire and the country.”

Neil Levesque, director of the NH Institute of Politics, called the strategic alliance between the two organizations “a great fit,” saying, “In these days, civic education and freedom of the press are more important to our society than ever. This alliance with the Loeb School connects to our mission to educate, engage, and empower our students and New Hampshire residents to participate in the civic and political life of their local, national and global communities.”

PRESS RELEASE: Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications announces its Winter Class Schedule

January 16, 2024

Contact:
Laura Simoes
603-620-7111
lsimoes@loebschool.org

Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications announces its Winter Class Schedule

MANCHESTER, NH — With the turn of the year comes a fresh chance to acquire new skills at the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications. Students will explore the art of storytelling, gain insights into media literacy, and learn more about the intricacies of effective communication in the digital age. Most classes are free and cover a range of topics, including accessing public records, mastering crisis communications to navigate challenging situations, and addressing the complex issue of hate speech in the modern world. Loeb School classes provide a platform for personal and professional growth at any age or experience level. To secure your spot, please register in advance at loebschool.org/register.

Upcoming Winter 2024 Classes

This I Believe—Writing your Meaning
Four Tuesdays: January 16, 23, 30, and February 6, 2024
5:30-7 pm, online
FREE
Instructor: Sally Hirsh-Dickinson
Modeled after NPR’s “This I Believe” series, this four-week, online writing class will lead students through the process of brainstorming, drafting, revising, and polishing a contextualized statement of personal belief in the form of a short essay.

Call of the Wild (and the domestic): Writing about Animals
Thursday, January 18, 2024
5:30 pm-7 pm, online
FREE
Instructor: Kimberly Marlowe Hartnett
A one-session online class on engaging ways to write stories, poems, or memorial tributes about animals.

Your Right to Know–Accessing Online Court Records
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
12 pm-1 pm, online
FREE
Instructor: Annmarie Timmins
A one-session online step-by-step guide to unlocking the wealth of information available within digital court records.

Confirmation Bias
Thursday, Feb 1, 2024
6 pm-7:30 pm, online
FREE
Instructor: Erika Cohen
A class covering the impact of confirmation bias on civil discourse, politics, and news coverage in the digital age.

Hate Speech—from Skokie to Stormfront
February 13, 2024
4:30 pm-6 pm
FREE
In-person at the Nackey S. Loeb School, NH Institute of Politics, Saint Anselm College, Manchester. This in-person presentation will focus on the First Amendment and its protection of the speech we hate, featuring First Amendment expert Gregory V. Sullivan, Esq.

Mastering the Art of the Interview
Thursday, February 15, 2024
12 pm-1:30 pm, online
FREE
Instructor: Elaine Grant
A one-session online class teaching the top ways to conduct memorable and insightful interviews.

Public Access to New Hampshire Court Records: from Witch Trials to E-files
Thursday, February 22, 2024
5:30 pm-7 pm, online
FREE
Instructor: Kathleen Sullivan, Esq.
This one-session online class explores of the history and rights related to public access to court records in New Hampshire.

A new Pro Series of affordable online classes will be offered this winter, as well.

Creating Digital Strategy for Nonprofits
Schedule: Four Mondays, January 22, 29, February 5, 12, 2024
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (Online)
Pro Series fee: $59.00
Designed for nonprofit staff and volunteer leaders, this four-week course delves into the world of digital strategy. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of digital tools and techniques, enabling them to effectively communicate, engage stakeholders, raise funds, grow participation, and realize their nonprofit’s objectives in the digital landscape. Instructor Lisa Carter builds award-winning communication strategies for nonprofits and businesses at her company, Drinkwater Marketing.

Bad News: Responding to and Communicating through Difficult Issues
Four Tuesdays, January 23, 30, February 6, 13, 2024
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (Online)
Pro Series fee: $59.00
Every business or organization inevitably faces challenges that may adversely affect their audience and public perception. The Pro Series’ “Bad News” crisis communications course equips participants with effective crisis communication strategies, enabling them to craft clear, concise, and accurate messaging strategies. These skills help navigate through challenging situations, minimizing negative impact and occasionally transforming them into positive opportunities or interactions. Instructor Will Hinkle is crisis-tested and excels at sharing positive news, too, as he does at Eversource, and as a former political communications expert.

The Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications is dedicated to promoting and defending the First Amendment, fostering interest, integrity, and excellence in journalism, and providing the tools and knowledge to improve communication skills. Learn more about the School at loebschool.org.

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Apply Now! 2024 New England Journalism Student Scholarships

January 12, 2024

Every year, the Journalism Education Foundation of New England (JEFNE) awards scholarships to high school seniors and college students who are interested in pursuing a career in the newspaper industry. The scholarships, including the MacGregor Fiske Award, are presented by the New England Newspaper and Press Association, and up to 10 students are selected.

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be residents of CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, or VT and should be studying for a career in journalism. High school seniors and undergraduate college students are encouraged to apply for the scholarship.

The application deadline is Friday, March 29, 2024. For more information, contact students@nenpa.com.

Qualifications for JEFNE Scholarships:

Be a resident of New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, or VT).
Must be a senior in high school or an undergraduate college student, studying journalism or a related field, planning to attend college in Fall 2024.
Have a GPA of 3.0 or above.
Demonstrate a serious interest in a career in journalism by sending: a cover letter, transcript, resume or biography, and letter of recommendation.
Submit a body of published work in a school news publication, general circulation newspaper, or a similar publication or a body of work prepared for a journalism class. A minimum of three works must be submitted.
PLEASE NOTE: You will receive an email confirming the receipt of your application with a link to a Dropbox folder to upload the required documents.

Journalism Scholarship Program Information
Journalism Scholarship Application
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Apply to be a Media Law School Fellow by February 1

January 8, 2024

In reporting on many important issues, journalists are frequently required to understand key legal questions and called upon to describe accurately the developments in sometimes complex legal proceedings. Unfortunately, lawyers and judges involved in the case are not always available or willing to provide the necessary information needed by members of the media, allowing them to fully understand or explain the significance of certain legal aspects in a story they are covering. That’s where the Media Law School can help.

Media Law School, hosted by the University of South Carolina College of Information and Communications in cooperation with the Joseph F. Rice School of Law, and sponsored by the American Board of Trial Advocates and the American Board of Trial Advocates Foundation, provides selected journalists with the opportunity to develop a better understanding of the key stages of civil and criminal proceedings and to learn enough basic law to report accurately on many important issues in the news.

Approximately 30 journalists selected as Media Law School Fellows will visit the University of South Carolina campus from March 13-16, 2024, for instruction from law professors, lawyers and judges on various aspects of the law and the legal system, to help them in their reporting on these issues.

Best of all, Fellows can receive this training at little to no cost. There is no registration fee, and Fellows receive a $500 travel allowance and three nights hotel lodging within walking distance of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, where the instruction sessions will be held.

Fellowship applications for Media Law School 2024 are due Feb. 1, 2024. Upon submission, you will receive an email confirming receipt of your application. Applicants selected to receive fellowships will be notified by email. If you have questions in the meantime, please email Dr. Carmen Maye at medialaw@law.sc.edu.

Learn more about the program and apply

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MV Times changing hands and welcomes new leadership

December 28, 2023

New Owners MV Times — From left, Charlie Sennott and Steve Bernier are the new leadership taking over the Martha's Vineyard Times, announced on Tuesday.

From left, Charlie Sennott and Steve Bernier are the new leadership taking over the Martha’s Vineyard Times, announced on Tuesday.

The ownership of the Martha’s Vineyard Times is changing hands.

Longtime publishers and owners Peter and Barbara Oberfest are selling the Island news organization to Steve Bernier, West Tisbury resident and longtime owner of Cronig’s Market, who is well-known for his community service and quiet support for philanthropic causes.

The sale is expected to be finalized on December 31.

Joining Bernier as acting publisher will be Charles Sennott, Chilmark resident, and a journalist with more than 30 years of experience in local and international news.

Sennott is the founder and editor-in-chief of the Boston-based GroundTruth Project, which launched in 2014 as a nonprofit journalism organization that supports the next generation of journalists in under-covered communities across the U.S. and around the world. In 2017, GroundTruth launched Report for America, a service program that has since placed more than 600 reporters in 300 newsrooms across all 50 states to serve the communities where they live.

Read the full story at mvtimes.com

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