Events
First Amendment – Court Access: Transparency as a structural safeguard, not a courtesy
The Pennsylvania Constitution guarantees that “all courts shall be open” and the U.S. Supreme Court has long recognized that the First Amendment mandates open courts as essential to democratic accountability. This right applies to both the press and the public, and it covers many—though not all—judicial proceedings. We’ll review the modern issues relating to digital access (livestreaming and online dockets and filings), sealing abuse (overuse of protective orders in civil cases, excessive redactions and “secret docketing” controversies) as well as AI and court transparency (automated decision-making, algorithmic tools used in sentencing).
Presenters:
- Melissa Melewsky, Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association
- Paula Knudsen Burke, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
- TBD, Ballard Spahr
- other presenters invited – check back soon for complete list
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2026-27 Center for Journalism Excellence “Meet the Moment” Virtual Training Registration
Register now for all eight virtual “Meet the Moment” sessions offered across 2026–2027. Registration package is $495 per news organization or register at the early-bird rate of just $395 through May 15. Recordings of each session will be sent to registrants as soon as available, typically within a day from the session.
Included Session Dates (Mondays):
- 2026: June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14, December 14
- 2027: January 11, February 8, March 8
💻 All sessions in this package are virtual.
Important: These in-person sessions are not included in this package and require separate individual registration:
- May 11 (Pittsburgh)
- October 8 (Harrisburg)
- November 9 (Philadelphia)
Deadline for early-bird registration is May 15.