COM’s Brian McGrory (right) accepts the Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award from Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe reporter and board member of the New England First Amendment Coalition (NEFAC). Photo: NEFEC.

McGrory honored for defending 1st Amendment

Brian McGrory, chair of the Boston University College of Communication journalism department and former editor of The Boston Globe, received the 2023 Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award from the New England First Amendment Coalition during an annual ceremony Friday in Boston.

In accepting the award, McGrory acknowledged the challenges facing journalism’s traditional business model, made more urgent by the rising need for quality journalism. Yet, he added, he sees “little shards of hope emerging.”

“I have a sense, one that I hope you share, that there’s a general understanding that things have gone too far and by things, we include the lack of quality journalism in too many places,” he said, citing professional support for professional over citizen journalism, a rising number of paid subscribers and digital readers for The BostonGlobe, Seattle Times and other major newspapers, and the success of nonprofit news organizations such as the Vermont Digger and New Bedford Light.

McGrory offered some advice to the gathered journalists. “Be bold. Do not walk in stockinged feet. Do not settle for convention. Make yourselves, ourselves heard at every possible term,” he said. “We perform an irreplaceable public service. Let our readers know.”

​​Also at the event, Nancy West, publisher of InDepthNH, received the Michael Donoghue Freedom of Information Award for her work on behalf of the online non-profit news organization. Susan Hawes received the Antonia Orfield Citizenship Award for her successful public records battle against Cumberland County.