“Long Island nonprofits are in crisis. The loss of funding and government support to organizations that perform the very services local governments should provide is impacting all segments of our society,” said FMC Executive Director Jaci Clement. “It’s also diminishing Long Island’s quality of life. Anecdotally and through research, we know one of the major challenges nonprofits, in particular those that advocate for social change and basic health and human services, lack the very skills needed to tell their stories. This program has been designed to meet that challenge.”

The one-day intensive course, set for July 16 at Briarcliffe College, will feature a step-by-step process that will enable organizations to align their communication goals with organizational goals, identify key audiences and how to reach those audiences in today’s media landscape, as well as set goals and quantify results. One-on-one follow up throughout the next year will be provided to course participants by FMC.

Research conducted by Jeffrey Morosoff, a public relations professor at Hofstra University, at FMC events illustrates the scope of the problem: 71 percent of local nonprofits have no full-time public relations representative on staff and only one in four organizations provide any PR training, while 75 percent of PR hires have no prior experience.

“Combined, the research shows a haphazard communication effort, at best, is what’s happening inside many nonprofits right now, at a time when funders are being more critical than ever on how their dollars are being utilized,” said Clement.

Area nonprofits feel the pinch, and the stress, of advocating for their causes in times of reduced support.

“When government funding is reduced and other sources of financial support become more scarce many non-profit organizations reduce their operating budgets, and important initiatives like public relations and marketing fall victim to the cuts, which tends to negatively impact upon the good work that these organizations perform,” said Paule Pachter, Executive Director, Long Island Cares, Inc.

“Being in the business of showing how publicly-funded scientific research can help improve people’s lives, our coastal environment and the economy, is already a challenge. In these uncertain times, we continually have to break through the old paradigms of what makes a good media story and embrace the new technologies to creatively craft our message at little or no cost,” said Barbara Ann Branca, New York Sea Grant Communications  Manager.’

The first event, “Create the Perfect Pitch,” is Tuesday, May 14 from 8:30-10:30 am at the University Settlement at the Houston Street Center, 273 Bowery Street in downtown Manhattan. During this event FMC Executive Director Jaci Clement will teach participants the step by step process on how to pitch your story to the New York media.

“So many times I hear how our members and other businesses have a great story but nobody knows about it. This workshop will teach participants how to get their stories heard,” Clement explained.

On Tuesday, June 18, from 8:30-10:30 am at First Republic Bank, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, the workshop is entitled “Get Your News On: Meet and Pitch the Media,” and will focus specifically on taking your business or non-profit to the next level by learning how to get attention from the media and getting your organization in the news. Every time FMC holds one of these workshops, three or four organizations get into the news.

These two events are part of FMC’s Media Fix Workshop Series. To register for either event online, go to ‘buy tickets’ on www.fairmediacouncil.org, call 516-224-1860, ext. 700 or email info@fairmediacouncil.org.

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Bethpage, N.Y.- Hurricane Sandy brought to Long Island and much of the Atlantic coast a litany of environmental and personal devastation. However it was the media’s exploration of heroism and rebuilding for the future, in the wake of the storm, which made for compelling and award-winning news coverage.

Dubbed by the Fair Media Council’s (FMC) Executive Director Jaci Clement as “The Year that Changed Long Island,” examples of outstanding storm coverage were featured during this year’s Folio Award ceremony, presented by AT&T, attended by hundreds of journalists, business and community leaders on April 19. The presentation of the Folios by the FMC, are an annual rite that showcases who the public chose as the best in local news and social media.

The awards were presented for stories that impacted the local community in a variety of radio, television, print, online and social media categories. Some of the winning entries this year illustrated the impact of local media, which examined the prescription drug problem, boating safety and issues affecting our local environment and non-profit communities. The FMC presented a record 44 total awards this year, chosen from hundreds entries, by a panel of judges representing a veritable who’s who of business and non-profit leaders across the region.

This year’s prestigious Robert W. Greene Award for Investigative Journalism went to WABC-TV Reporter Sarah Wallace and Photographer Robert Cantwell for their work exposing the unscrupulous work of a local “doctor” who never attended medical school. In the radio category Hofstra University’s WRHU won for Best Newscast, beating out the professionals.

Among the social media winners, the Community Service Folio Award was presented to the “Save the Holtsville Ecology Center Campaign,” which used Facebook to stop the Town of Brookhaven from shuttering the facility, and the Shutterbug Award for best website was presented to FiOS1 News.

A complete list of winners is below.

FMC Folio Awards, presented by AT&T, was held at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, NY. Ellis Henican, who keynoted this year’s ceremony, presented a mix of serious and light hearted looks at both the past year’s and more recent news events and their coverage.

The WCBS NewsRadio 880 anchor team of Wayne Cabot and Steve Scott were this year’s award ceremony’s co-hosts.  Award presenters included PIX 11′s Frances Rivera and Sukanya Krishnan, Fox 5 New York’s Steve Lacy and Jill Nicolini, WCBS-TV’s Chris Wragge and Mary Calvi, WNBC-TV’s David Ushery and Janice Huff, WABC-TV’s Joe Torres and Amy Freeze, Long Island Business News Editor and Publisher John Kominicki, WLIW’s Jim Paymar, host of the “Long Island Business Report,” and Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano.

“When events such as Hurricane Sandy happen, the public receives a clearer understanding of the terrific and brave work done by our local media. The Folio Awards continue to signify the highest of honors in news and social media, because it is the public who judges the work for its community relevance,” explained Fair Media Council Executive Director Jaci Clement.

Major sponsors for this year’s event include AT&T, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Briarcliffe College, North Shore-LIJ Health System, and WeiserMazars LLP.

The Fair Media Council (FMC) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that educates businesses, nonprofits and the public to become media savvy. FMC also advocates for quality local news coverage and has about 200 New York Metro area businesses and nonprofits as members. For more information go to www.fairmediacouncil.org, email info@fairmediacouncil.org or call 516.224.1860 or 855.432.4763.

FMC Folio Winners 2013

Category A: Television & Radio Entry Categories (includes podcasts & online-only TV/Radio formats)

Continuing News Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast

FiOS1 News 1/3/12

Pain Killers: A Prescription for Tragedy

Phil Corsentino, Clare Hickey, Holli Haerr

WSHU/NPR 04/12/12

State Struggled at Fire Prevention Ahead of Manorville Blaze

Charles Lane

 Robert W. Greene Award for Investigative Journalism in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast

WABC-TV 5/7/12

Phony Doctor

Reporter: Sarah Wallace

Photographer/Editor: Robert Cantwell

Feature Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast

FiOS1 News 12/7/11

Tie Boy

Phil Corsentino, Jessica Fragoso

Spot News Story

WCBS-TV 01/12/12

Teen Hides in Closet

Jennifer McLogan

WCBS Newsradio 880 07/5/12

July 4th Tragedy on Long Island

Sophia Hall, Peter Haskell, The WCBS 880 News Team

Feature Story – Long Form

WALK 97.5 FM 7/15/12

Island Assignment: Boating Safety

Reporter/Producer: Donna Vaughan

MyLITV 6/25/12

GLBT Prom

Reporter: Stephanie Stern

Editor: Waldo Cabrera

Science, Health or Environment News

WCBS-TV 04/20/12

Dina’s Miracle

Reporter: Carolyn Gusoff

Photographer/Editor: Joe Garufi

WCBS Newsradio 880 5/2012

Bad Medicine: When Painkillers Kill

Irene Cornell

Cultural, Artistic, Historical or Religious News

WNBC-TV 3/2/12

Moving TR

Reporter: Greg Cergol

Photographer/Editor: John Albertson

Dr. Sean A. Fanelli Award in Educational Reporting

FiOS1 News 4/24/12

Autism: Friends Like You

Phil Corsentino, Jessica Fragoso

Economic or Business News

WNBC-TV 1/18/12

A Big Man Turns 93

Reporter: Greg Cergol

Photographer/Editor: Justin Laub

WLNY-TV 10/55 07/29/12

Coocoo.com

Richard Rose

Editorial or Public Affairs Issues

FiOS1 News 8/2/12

Caution: Baby on Board

Executive Producer: Phil Corsentino, Rich French III

Producer: Don Dudley

Director: Ralph Kebrdle

Writer: Don Dudley

Talent: Richard French III

Photographers: Shawn McMillian, Mike Bruno

Web Designer: Kim Mineo

Editor: Laura McGowan

Long Island Exclusive- Hurricane Sandy

FiOS1 News 10/30/12

The Power to Breathe

News Director: Phil Corsentino

Reporter: Kevin Vesey

Continuous L.I. Coverage – Hurricane Sandy

WCBS Newsradio 880 10/29, 11/20/12

Hurricane Sandy

Mike Xirinachs, Sophia Hall, The WCBS 880 News Team

PIX11 News 11/20/2012

PIX11 Cares: Long Island

Anchor: Sukanya Krishnan

Reporters: Dan Mannarino, Lisa Mateo

News Director: John Houseman

Executive Producer: Howard Dorsey

Senior Producer: Marcia Parris

Producers: Ojinika Obiekwe, Kate Sullivan, Brynne Gadinis, Samantha Neely, Khadia Jonjo, Ed Erlenmeyer

Photographer: Kenton Young

Truck Operator: Victor Lopez

WCBS-TV 10/30/12

Sandy Continuous Live

Carolyn Gusoff, Jennifer McLogan

Enterprise Reporting

WCBS-TV 05/11/12, 08/3/12 Our Pill Popping Children and The Efforts of Parents and Professionals Who Refuse to Sweep this Under the Rug

Reporter: Jennifer McLogan

Photographer/Editor: Patrick Cronin

Consumer Issues News

WRNN-TV 11/13/12

Surveillance Nation

News Director: Phil Corsentino

Talent: Richard French III

Reporter: Kim Lengle

Photographer: Mike Bruno

Best Newscast

WRHU-FM 11/16/12

Newsline

Producer/Anchor: Rick Rissetto

Anchor: Shannan Ferry

Engineer: Marisa Spano

Specific Issues

Specific Issues are special categories devoted to the most pertinent issues facing Long Island today.

Affordable Housing News

WCBS-TV 06/26/12

Abandoned Homes Renovated

Carolyn Gusoff

Energy Trends & Innovation News

WCBS-TV 04/2/12

Recycled Rain

Reporter: Carolyn Gusoff

Photographer/Editor: Joe Garufi

Transportation Improvements News

MyLITV 2/14/12

Yellow Bus Goes Green

Reporter: Stephanie Stern

Editor: Waldo Cabrera

School-to-Workforce News

FiOS News 2/14/12

100 Black Men

News Director: Phil Corsentino

Talent: Mike Stevens

Executive Producer: Clare Hickey

Taxes: Accountability News

WCBS-TV 10/5/12

Tax Bill Sticker Shock

Reporter: Carolyn Gusoff

Photographer/Editor: Joe Garufi

Affordable Housing Feature Reporting

MyLITV 2/15/12

Connetquot High School & Habitat for Humanity: Building Hope for Local Family

Reporter: Waldo Cabrera

Editor: Waldo Cabrera

School-to-Workforce Feature Reporting

MyLITV 3/28/12

7 Habits of Successful Kids

Reporter: Waldo Cabrera

Editor: Waldo Cabrera

Impact of Immigration Feature Reporting

WNYC Radio 11/05/12

Immigrants Benefiting from Deferred Action Keep an Eye On Election

Mirela Iverac, Karen Frillmann, Paul Schneider

Smart Growth Talk Show and/or Commentary

WLIW 05/01/12

Long Island Business Report

Anchor/Executive Producer: Jim Paymar

Executive in Charge: John Servidio

Producer: Ally Gimbel

Associate Producer: Liz Muentes

Category B: Newspaper/Magazine Entries (includes online-only newspaper/magazine formats)

Cultural, Artistic, Historical, or Religious News

Long Island Press 10/25/12

Westbury Music Fair: And the Round Sound Goes On and On

Contributor: Dave Gil de Rubio

Economic, Business or Consumer Issues News

Long Island Press 05/31/12

Hell or High Water

Senior Reporter/Editor-Investigations: Christopher Twarowski

Senior Editor: Spencer Rumsey

Enterprise Reporting

Long Island Press 04/05/2012

Clam Wars

Senior Reporter/Editor- Investigations: Christopher Twarowski

Social Media Corporate & Media Categories

Media Savvy Business Award: Best use of social media campaign to achieve defined goals

Long Island Restaurant News

Managing Editor: Tara Berkoski

Assistant Managing Editor: Rachel Bosworth

Writers: Heather Girgenti, Britt Ball

Twitterati Award: Best Use of Twitter

@NYRANews

New York Racing Association, Inc.

Social Media Specialist: Susie Raisher

Video Star Award: Best Use of YouTube.

Long Island Press Video Channel

Long Island Press

Buzz Worthy Award: Best use of social media to up the momentum of getting a message into the hands of a target audience.

Long Island Restaurant Week & Hurricane Sandy

Managing Executive: Tara Berkoski

Marketing Coordinator: Heather Girgenti

Public Relations Coordinator: Rachel Bosworth

Advertising Coordinator: Britt Ball

Community Service Award: For the best Blog site or Web site devoted to issues of interest to a particular community

Saving the Holtsville Ecology Center Through Social Media

Save the Holtsville Ecology Center

Brookhaven Wildlife Center: Danielle Lloyd

e-Philanthropist Award: Best online fundraising campaign that raised in excess of $10,000

Katy’s Courage

Account Executive: Tara Berkoski

Shutterbug Award: Best blog or website devoted to chronicling local news.

FiOS1 News Long Island Website

FiOS1 News

News Director: Phil Corsentino

Webmaster: Kim Mineo

Hurricane Sandy Relief Campaign

Social-Minded Science for Superstorm Sandy

New York Sea Grant

New York Sea Grant Web Content Manger: Paul C. Focazio

SJCNY- Hurricane Sandy Relief Campaign

St. Joseph’s College

Director of Public Relations: Jessica McAleer

Manager of Community Relations: Melissa Kuehnle

Public Relations Associate: Valerie Esposito

Manager of Public Relations: Michael Banach

WBAB Responds on Social Media to Superstorm Sandy

WBAB- Cox Media Group

Social Media Director: David Epstein

Director of Marketing: Jason Steinberg

Webmaster: Suzanne Wolf

Hosts: Roger Luce, John Parise

Producer: Matt Wolfe

News: Ted Lindner

Hurricane Sandy Relief Campaign

Social-Minded Science for Superstorm Sandy

New York Sea Grant

New York Sea Grant Web Content Manger: Paul C. Focazio

SJCNY- Hurricane Sandy Relief Campaign

St. Joseph’s College

Director of Public Relations: Jessica McAleer

Manager of Community Relations: Melissa Kuehnle

Public Relations Associate: Valerie Esposito

Manager of Public Relations: Michael Banach

WBAB Responds on Social Media to Superstorm Sandy

WBAB- Cox Media Group

Social Media Director: David Epstein

Director of Marketing: Jason Steinberg

Webmaster: Suzanne Wolf

Hosts: Roger Luce, John Parise

Producer: Matt Wolfe

News: Ted Lindner

A sponsorship package provides the company or organization with unprecedented access to FMC as well as opportunities to promote your organization. For more information, please contact Gary Wojtas, FMC Director of Development, at gary@fairmediacouncil.org.

The course features a step-by-step process designed especially for nonprofits to align their communication strategy with their organization’s goals. Space is limited for this special program and registration must be made by April 15. Contact Gary Wojtas, FMC Director of Development at gary@fairmediacouncil.org for more information and to register.

• Cyberbullying Awareness Literacy:  To further kids’ understanding of what constitutes cyberbullying and how to prevent it in their school
• Financial Literacy: To create money savvy kids.
• Drug & Alcohol Abuse Prevention Literacy: To create kids with healthy minds & healthy bodies.
• General News Literacy: To further kids’ understanding of local, national and world events.

“This program continues to focus on the importance of alerting our young people about the relevance of news coverage in their lives. These new categories are geared toward reinforcing the special place the media needs to hold within learning environments and the vitally important place that teachers hold in a young person’s development,” explained FMC Executive Director Jaci Clement.

Entries are due by July 17, 2013 and will be judged by community leaders. The criteria include:

• Teachers working with fourth, fifth and sixth graders anywhere in the United States may enter.
• Student projects must be completed before entering the FMC Media Savvy Teacher Award process. (Entries must explain, in less than 200 words, the idea or concept behind the program, how the concept was implemented and how results were measured.)
• Projects must contain these elements: A research component using multiple news sources; a writing, reading, graphic, video or audio component to illustrate the researched information; and a copy of the completed, final presentation (may be submitted on disc, via link or hard copy).

For a complete list of rules and to download entry form, click here.

The Fair Media Council (FMC) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that educates businesses, nonprofits and the public to become media savvy. FMC also advocates for quality local news coverage and has about 200 New York Metro area businesses and nonprofits as members.

“AT&T signing up as the event’s main sponsor reflects the importance of having an event such as the Folio Awards in the New York metro area. Winning a Folio is significant: it’s a stamp of approval from the community that tells the media what it wants and needs to keep informed and vibrant,” explained Fair Media Council’s Executive Director Jaci Clement.

For attendees, the Folio Awards affords unprecedented access to members of the media and a unique opportunity to network and establish meaningful connections.

Tickets to attend the Folio Awards ceremony are still available. To purchase online, click here or call 516.224.1860, ext. 700 to purchase over the phone. For sponsorship opportunities, email Gary Wojtas at gary@fairmediacouncil.org or call 516.224.1860, ext. 702.

The Fair Media Council (FMC) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that educates businesses, nonprofits and the public to become media savvy. FMC also advocates for quality local news coverage and has about 200 New York Metro area businesses and nonprofits as members.

Currently, Wojtas is a communications lecturer at both St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue, as well as at Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY. Recently he was the director of communications, marketing and membership services at the Long Island Association, the region’s leading business association. He has also held communications positions at News12 and Long Island University-Brooklyn.

During his career Wojtas has also launched several magazines about the region and written two non-fiction books related to Long Island—“Long Island: Reflections on a Miracle,” and “Long Island: Yesterday and Today.” He is also a two-time Folio Award winner, which are presented each year by FMC for accomplishment in local journalism.

“I am very pleased to be a part of this fine organization and to work with Executive Director Jaci Clement, who continues to be the region’s strongest advocate for quality local news.  The FMC remains an integral part of the regional communications landscape and I look forward to helping the organization grow,” Wojtas explained.

As part of its overall mission, the Fair Media Council educates businesses and nonprofits throughout Long Island and Northern New Jersey about becoming more media savvy and provides access to the media. FMC is also a strong advocate for quality local news, to keep the public informed and the media engaged in the community.

Gary Wojtas can be reached at 516-224-1860, x-702, or at gary@fairmediacouncil.org.

The 2013 Guide to the Media features social media contact information, a snazzy new look, a newly introduced political sites listing and expanded New Jersey section.

The media guide is $25 for FMC members, $45 for non-members. FMC members receive a complimentary copy of the media guide as part of their annual membership. Additional copies may be purchased online. Click here to purchase online, or call 516.224.1860, ext.700 to order by phone. Media guide to be delivered in a disc via standard mail.

The Fair Media Council (FMC) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that educates businesses, nonprofits and the public to become media savvy.  FMC also advocates for quality local news coverage and has about 200 New York Metro area businesses and nonprofits as members.

FMC Summer Social Media Boot Camp is a half-day event featuring six interactive workshops to help businesses & nonprofits improve social media skills while learning & networking in a relaxed atmosphere; including a casual dress code of shorts and flip flops!

Before joining Edelman in 2006, Rubel served as vice president at CooperKatz & Co., where he was responsible for business development. He currently has more than 70,000 followers on Twitter and speaks dozens of times each year around the world. An active blogger, he also shares his insights on what works in social media and marketing frequently in “The Clip Report,” a virtual scrapbook about the emerging future of media.

Topics include: How Social Media Has Changed business As Usual –And What to Expect Next, Using Social Media to Create an Emotional Connection to Your Brand, How to Blog Like a Pro: The Tools & Techniques of the Best in the Blogosphere, Using Social Media to Get the News media’s Attention, Crowd Sourcing & What It Can Do for Your Brand & Your Community, Using Social Media to Promote Social Change.

Sponsorships for Boot Camp 2013 are available. For inquires about sponsorships, email Gary Wojtas at gary@fairmediacouncil.org. Tickets are $80 for FMC members, $95 for nonmembers and $50 for students with a valid ID. Click here to buy tickets. To register by phone, call 516.224,1860, ext. 700.

The Fair Media Council (FMC) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that educates businesses, nonprofits and the public to become media savvy. FMC also advocates for quality local news coverage and has about 200 New York Metro area businesses and nonprofits as members.

Twitter: #FMCSummerSM