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The News Conference: Real & Powerful

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An exclusive gathering featuring the best in news
engaging in open dialogue with you, the news consumer.
That's Real & Powerful.
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About the News Conference

The News Conference: Real & Powerful brings together the best in journalism to take the public behind the scenes in news today, with exclusive conversations and insider access. Gain a greater understanding of current events and how news decisions are made — it’s all part of FMC’s mission to create a media-savvy society so you can navigate today’s complicated media landscape with ease.This is a must-attend for news junkies, influencers, leaders, advocates, academics, spokespeople, marketing, public relations and branding experts, journalists and students. (This event occurred Jan. 26-29, 2021. Watch and listen to the conversations below.)

Real&Powerful Fair Media Council

Real & Powerful Day 1

On Day 1 of The News Conference, we set the stage by taking you inside the news ecosystem: Every story, no matter how big, is a local story somewhere. Then we jump to the global stage and go behind the headlines of the coronavirus pandemic, the one story that changed everything for all of us. Take a lunch break and log back on to close out Day 1 with a one-on-one chat with the key source to put America into perspective right now: noted scholar and media commentator Douglas Brinkley. As always, your questions help drive the conversations. 

PANEL DISCUSSION: Jan. 26, 10 -11 am

Local News, National Impact

As a local radio reporter for KTOK, Carrie Hulsey-Greene was one of the first on the scene of what would go down in history as an act of domestic terrorism with the Oklahoma City bombing.  Best known for his coverage of Sept. 11, WABC-TV’s N.J. Burkett has continuously reported on local stories that demanded national and international attention. And as the chief political reporter for The Des Moines Register, Brianne Pfannenstiel found herself co-moderating the seventh democratic debate with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and Abby Philip. Take part in a discussion illustrating the important role local news plays in shaping the national conversation.

NJ Burkett, Senior Reporter, WABC-TV Eyewitness News
Brianne Pfannenstiel, Chief Political Reporter, The Des Moines Register
Carrie Hulsey-Greene, former reporter, KTOK; University of Nebraska-Lincoln Office of University Communication
Christopher P. Wright, Managing Director & Global Leader, Protiviti & Member, FMC Board of Directors
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PANEL DISCUSSION: Jan. 26, 11 am – 12 noon

Coronavirus News: What to Believe?

News of the pandemic rages on, yet conspiracy theories, misinformation and fake news about both the virus and the vaccine abound. This panel discussion will take a deep dive behind the scenes of the news coverage on the one topic that changed our lives and our world. Featuring Reg Gale, Senior Editor, Health & Science, Bloomberg News; Amy Mitchell, Director of Journalism Research, Pew Research Center; Dr. Adhi Sharma, Executive Vice President for Clinical & Professional Affairs & Chief Medical Officer, Mount Sinai South Nassau. Moderated by Rita Cosby, Emmy-Winning TV Host, Best-Selling Author and Chair of the Global Service Institute at Long Island University.

Reg Gale, Senior Editor, Health & Science, Bloomberg News
Amy Mitchell, Director of Journalism Research, Pew Research Center
Dr. Adhi Sharma, Chief Medical Officer, Mount Sinai South Nassau
Rita Cosby, Emmy-Winning TV host, Best-Selling Author, and Chair, Global Service Institute, LIU
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ONE-ON-ONE: JAN. 26, 2-2:30 PM

The American Presidency:
A Conversation with America's Foremost
Presidential Historian Douglas Brinkley

One-on-one chat with Fair Media Council CEO & Executive Director Jaci Clement features Audience Q & A.

Douglas Brinkley is the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Chair in Humanities and Professor of History at Rice University, CNN Presidential Historian, and a contributing editor at Vanity FairThe Chicago Tribune dubbed him “America’s New Past Master.”  The New-York Historical Society has chosen Brinkley as their official U.S. Presidential Historian.  His recent book Cronkite won the Sperber Prize while The Great Deluge:  Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast received the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award.   He has received a Grammy Award for Presidential Suite and seven honorary doctorates in American Studies.  His two-volume annotated The Nixon Tapes recently won the Arthur S. Link – Warren F. Kuehl Prize.  He is a member of the Century Association, Council of Foreign Relations and the James Madison Council of the Library of Congress.

Douglas Brinkley, U.S. Presidential Historian & Best-Selling Author
Jaci Clement, CEO & Executive Director, Fair Media Council
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Real & Powerful Day 2

On Day 2 of The News Conference, we ease into the thick of things by offering sage and candid advice from crisis management professionals, because what the news tells us impacts how we work and what we communicate to our audiences. Then, we go inside New York politics, from the city to the island to Albany, to get a look at what to expect next. To complete Day 2, we head over to D.C., to get inside scoop of what’s happening inside the new administration and what to expect from the news coverage.  As always, your questions help drive the conversations. 

PANEL DISCUSSION: Jan. 27, 9-10 am

Surviving the Dumpster Fire

In summing up our work and careers today, only Winston Churchill comes to mind: “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” Businesses of all sizes have been in distress due to the pandemic, the economic outlook is bleak and everyone, it seems, is spoiling for a fight. How to get back to business, restore reputations, and rebuild? Master communicators break it down: Abbey Collins oversees communications for the largest regional public transportation provider in the Western Hemisphere. Jennefer Witter and her firm are nationally recognized for knowing how to create a buzz. Katherine Heaviside is president of Epoch 5 Public Relations and a noted expert in crisis management.  Moderated by Diane Masciale, Vice President & General Manager,WLIW21/WLIW-FM & Co-Executive in Charge, ALL ARTS, WNET.

Abbey Collins, Chief Communications Officer, Metropolitan Transit Authority
Jennefer Witter, CEO & Founder, The Boreland Group, Inc.
Katherine Heaviside, President, Epoch 5 Public Relations
Diane Masciale, Vice President & General Manager, WLIW21/WLIW-FM
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PANEL DISCUSSION: Jan. 27, 10-11 am

Inside New York Politics: City, Island & State

If the walls could talk, well, they probably wouldn’t be able to tell you as much as our panelists know about politics. The talk will take you from New York City to Long Island to Albany. Featuring Harry Siegel, Senior Editor, The Daily Beast; Columnist, New York Daily News & Cohost, FAQ NYC Podcast; Yancey Roy, Albany Bureau Chief, Newsday and Steve Burns, Reporter, WCBS Newsradio 880. Moderated by Carol D’Auria, Reporter and Anchor, 1010WINS.

Harry Siegel, Senior Editor, The Daily Beast & Columnist, New York Daily News
Yancey Roy, Albany Bureau Chief, Newsday
Steve Burns, Reporter, WCBS News Radio
Carol D'Auria, Reporter & Anchor, 1010WINS
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ONE-ON-ONE: JAN. 27, 11-11:30 AM 

"Inside the Beltway" with USA Today Washington Editor Caren Bohan

On the heels of the Inauguration, get an inside look at what’s buzzing inside the nation’s capital, and what to watch for in upcoming news coverage, direct from Washington.  Caren Bohan goes one-on-one with Fair Media Council CEO & Executive Director Jaci Clement. With Audience Q & A.

USA Today Washington Editor & Deputy Bureau Chief Caren Bohan has extensive experience covering politics and is a past president of the White House Correspondents Association. Prior to USA Today, Caren was the White House and Politics Editor at Reuters. She was a senior editor on Reuters’ 2016 election coverage, which focused heavily on enterprise reporting. She also spent nine years as a White House correspondent. Caren has covered Congress and domestic policy issues such as immigration and was the lead reporter for Reuters covering Obama’s campaign in 2008. She has also worked at the National Journal as domestic policy editor.

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Real & Powerful Day 3

Day 3 of The News Conference focuses on the forecasts: People, stories and issues to keep an eye on, on the national, regional and local levels. Then we delve deep into the hot topic of all politics, all the time, and why the American public just can’t seem to get enough of political news coverage. As always, your questions help drive the conversation.

panel discussion: Jan. 28, 9-10 am

2021 National Forecast: People, Stories & Issues to Watch

Here’s your opportunity to find out what to expect in the headlines this year. Take note of who the news media is keeping tabs on, issues and policies bubbling to the surface, and topics that will dominate the public conversation. It’s not only intriguing, but it’s also helpful information for organizations and brands to build up their outreach and media relations efforts. 

Dave Levinthal, Senior Washington Correspondent, Business Insider
Robert George, Editorial Writer, Bloomberg Opinion
Tom Brune, Washington Bureau Chief, Newsday
Liz Benjamin, Managing Director, Marathon Strategies
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panel discussion: Jan. 28, 10-11 am

2021 New York & Long Island Forecast: People, Stories & Issues to Watch

Here’s your opportunity to find out what to expect in the headlines this year, from New York City to Long Island to Albany.  Take note of who the news media is keeping tabs on, issues and policies bubbling to the surface, and topics that will dominate the public conversation. It’s not only intriguing, but it’s also helpful information for organizations and brands to build up their outreach and media relations efforts. Featuring Rex Smith, Editor-at-Large, Times Union; Greg Cergol, Long Island Reporter, NBC4 New York; Jodi Goldberg, Long Island Reporter, WNYW/FOX 5. Moderated by Lynda Lopez, Afternoon News Anchor, WCBS Newsradio 880

Rex Smith, Editor-at-Large, Times Union
Greg Cergol, Long Island Reporter, NBC4 New York
Lynda Lopez, Afternoon News Anchor, WCBS Newsradio 880
Jodi Goldberg, Long Island Reporter, WNYW/FOX 5
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panel discussion: Jan. 28, 11 am -12 noon

At Issue: All Politics, All the Time. Why Can't We Get Enough?

This promises to be a lively session! With Molly Ball, Time magazine’s national political correspondent and a frequent television and radio commentator. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Pelosi, a biography of the first woman Speaker of the House. Today, Eleanor Clift covers politics for the Daily Beast. She began her career at Newsweek, and has covered every presidential campaign since 1976, She has appeared as herself in numerous television shows and movies, including Dave and Independence Day.

 
Molly Ball, National Political Correspondent, Time Magazine
Eleanor Clift, Political Reporter, Television Pundit and Author
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Real & Powerful Day 4: Perspective

Day 4 of The News Conference brings us full circle. We start with a discussion on how newsrooms take national headlines and turn them into local stories that ring authentic inside neighborhoods and along Main Streets. This inside look at how the news ecosystem feeds itself is important for understanding not only what’s in the news but how you become part of the public conversation. Then, we get a look at how our Earth is changing right before our eyes, with a visual storytelling session that focuses on the biggest story in history: Climate change. As always, your questions help drive the conversation.

panel discussion: Jan. 29, 10 -11 am

National News, Local Perspective

Storytelling is empowering. It enlightens and connects us. It builds a sense of community which, in turn, creates a feeling of belonging. In this session, some of the best storytellers in the New York metro area provide insight into how they take major issues and turn them into stories that are relatable and relevant to our lives. This is an important session for organizations and advocates to attend and gain an understanding of how news stories are chosen and created. Featuring WCBS Newsradio Anchor Steve Scott, WSHU Public Radio News Director Terry Sheridan and Long Island Business News Editor and Associate Publisher Joe Dowd. Moderated by Walter Middlebrook, Foster Professor of Practice, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, The Pennsylvania State University

Steve Scott, Anchor, WCBS Newsradio 880
Terry Sheridan, News Director, WSHU Public Radio
Walter Middlebrook, Foster Professor of Practice, Penn State Unviersity
Joe Dowd, Editor & Associate Publisher, Long Island Business News
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ONE-ON-ONE: JAN. 29, 11 AM-12 NOON 

California's Burning. See How It Impacts You

Climate change is happening on a daily basis, but the headlines tend to focus only on major disasters. In this one-on-one with Fair Media Council CEO & Executive Director Jaci Clement, Los Angeles-based Danish documentary photographer Mette Lampcov will show her work and take you behind-the-scenes in her efforts to chronicle the overlooked, but very real, elements of everyday climate change and its far-reaching impact on our lives today . With Audience Q & A.

Freelance documentary photographer Mette Lampcov is in the midst of a long-term project, “Water to Dust,” a photographic account of how climate change is affecting people and the environment around them in California. She has worked extensively on water issues, drought, flooding, wildfires and tree mortality, and public health issues connected to climate change. Her work has been exhibited throughout the United States and around the world, and published in The New York Times, The Guardian, and the Sydney Morning Herald, among others.  

Starr Fuentes, Five Towns College
Brianne Ledda, Stony Brook University
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Student Ambassadors

The Fair Media Council provides an opportunity for the best college students to participate: Our Student Ambassadors will play a role throughout The News Conference by introducing various panel discussions. 

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