Real & Powerful Speakers

Margaret Hoover

Host, Firing Line, PBS
& Political Correspondent, CNN

American conservative political commentator, political strategist, media personality, author and great-granddaughter of Herbert Hoover, the 31st U.S. President. 

Session: Luncheon

John Avlon

Senior political analyst
& anchor, CNN

American journalist and political commentator. Senior Political Analyst and Anchor at CN. Former editor-in-chief and managing director of The Daily Beast.

Session: Luncheon

Richard Tofel

President,
ProPublica

Founding general manager of ProPublica from 2007-2012, president since 2013. Former assistant publisher of The Wall Street Journal and, earlier, an assistant managing editor. 

Session: Breakfast

Sree Sreenivasan

Loeb Visiting Prof.,
Stony Brook University

Loeb Visiting Professor, Digital Innovation, Stony Brook University. Former Chief Digital Officer, City of New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art & Columbia University. Noted consultant.

Session: Breakfast

Ben Smith

Editor in Chief, BuzzFeed.news

EIC of BuzzFeed.News since 2011. Prior to that, he wrote for Politico, New York Daily News & Wall Street Journal Europe, among others. Started 3 notable NYC blogs, including the Politicker.

Session: Breakfast

Harry Siegel

Harry Siegel

Senior Editor,
The Daily Beast

Senior editor at The Daily Beast. Columnist for the New York Daily News. Creator and co-host of the FAQ NYC podcast.

Session 2A: Behind the Coverage: Money, Power & Politics 

Aisha Al-Muslim

reporter,
the wall street journal

Covers business bankruptcies and financial distress for The Wall Street Journal and WSJ Pro Bankruptcy. Was a breaking business news reporter.

Session 2B: Establishing Relationships

Tim Scheld

News & Programming director, wcbs newsradio 880

Former WOR street reporter and network correspondent for ABC Radio. Has been with WCBS since the ’80s. Broadcast journalist, political junkie, Met fan. 

Session 1A: Behind the Coverage: Today’s Biggest Headlines

Michael Calderone

Senior Media Reporter, Politico

Co-Founder & CEO, Muck Rack,  journalism and PR digital platform. Also: CEO, Shorty Awards and SawHorse. 

Session 1A: Behind the Coverage: Today’s Biggest Headlines

Marla Diamond

Reporter, WCBS Newsradio 880

Diamond started at WCBS Newsradio in 1997 as the New Jersey correspondent, did a PR stint & returned to her love: radio.

Session 2D: How to Pitch Stories the News Media Can Actually Use 

Don Hudson

senior assistant
managing editor,
newsday

Prior to joining Newsday, Hudson was Executive Editor of the Decatur (Ala.) Daily. 

Session 1A: Behind the Coverage: Today’s Biggest Headlines

Ben Max

Executive Editor,
Gotham Gazette

Executive Editor, Gotham Gazette, published by Citizens Union Foundation.  Co-host, Max & Murphy podcast.

Session 2A: Behind the Coverage: Money, Power & Politics

Jamie Herzlich

Small business columnist, newsday

Small business writer and columnist with a weekly tips column. Freelance journalist. Formerly with Long Island Business News.

Session 2B: Establishing Relationships

Warren
St. John

president,
patch.com

Warren St. John is president of Patch. He is a former reporter for The New York Times and is a best-selling author.

Session 1D: Navigating the New Local News Landscape

Randal Stanley

News Operations Vice president,
news 12

Stanley has oversight of News 12 in all seven regions it serves. He began his broadcast career in American Forces Radio & Television in the USAF.

Session 1D: Navigating Today’s New Local News Landscape

Carol D'Auria

reporter/anchor,
1010WINS

D’Auria began her broadcasting career as a writer for News 12. She’s worked at eight radio stations in the metro area and has been with 1010WINS for about 15 years.

Session 2A: Behind the Coverage: Money, Power & Politics

Errol Cockfield

Senior Vice President, Communications, MSNBC

Lead spokesperson at MSNBC, and responsible for setting communications and media strategy at the network. Trained as a journalist.

Session 3B: Challenges of Managing a Brand in Today’s Always-On World

Greg Galant

Co-founder & ceo,
muck rack

Co-Founder & CEO, Muck Rack,  journalism and PR digital platform. Also: CEO, Shorty Awards and SawHorse. 

Session 2C: Changing Face of Media Relations

Patricia Kitchen

Social Media Doctor

Former digital reporter at Newsday, specializing in weather and softer side of hard news, turned social media doctor.

Session IC: Fine-Tuning Your Social Media

James Madore

economics writer, newsday

Madore reports on New York-area economy, government & business issues. Previously served as Albany bureau chief.

Session 2D: How to Pitch Stories the News Media Can Actually Use

David Winzelberg

real estate reporter,
long island business news

Reporter covering Long Island real estate. Former editor, professor and contributor, The New York Times, CNBC and more.

Session 2B: Establishing Relationships

Starr Fuentes

student,
Five towns college

Fuentes is a junior studying mass communications at Five Towns College.

Session 1B: News & the Millennial Generation

Terry Sheridan

news director,
WSHU Public Radio

Prior to joining WSHU, Sheridan was a longtime reporter for 1010WINS in New York City.

Session 3A: Behind the Coverage: Race, Religion & Politics

Reg Gale

Deputy Managing Editor, Bloomberg News

At Bloomberg, Gale oversees global energy, commodities and the $$$$ behind it all. Former senior editor, Newsday.

Session 2A: Behind the Coverage: Money, Power & Politics

Sophia Hall

reporter,
wcbs Newsradio 880

Hall has been a reporter with WCBS Newsradio 880 since 2001. She previously worked as a radio reporter in Ohio & Pennsylvania.

Session 2C: Changing Face of Media Relations

Joe Dowd

Editor & Associate publisher,
long island business news

At LIBN, Dowd has oversight of a bustling editorial staff and pens a weekly column. Former Patch.com editor.

Session 2D: How to Pitch Stories the News Media Can Actually Use

Denise Civiletti

Editor & Publisher,
RiverheadLOCAL

Civiletti is a veteran local news reporter, editor, attorney and former Riverhead Town councilwoman.

Session 3D: Emerging Voices: Online-Only Local News Voices

Victor Ramos

special writer,
newsday

Ramos reports on immigration and diverse communities for Newsday. He previously reported for the Orlando Sentinel and El Diario/La Prensa.

Session 3C: Ultimate Check List: Creating a Modern Media Relations Plan

Pam Robinson

owner & publisher, huntingtonnow.com

Former associate regional editor for Patch.com & editor of Huntington Patch, which became the industry standard.

Session 3D: Emerging Voices: Online-Only Local News Voices

Barbi Goldstein

Managing Director, New York
Protiviti

Goldstein is a Managing Director based out of New York who leads the Protiviti’s Financial Services Industry Internal Audit practice for the Northeast and Southeast Region.

Protiviti Breakfast Welcome

Adina Genn

reporter,
Long Island Business News

Law and government reporter for Long Island Business News, Genn has co-authored several books, including An Insider’s Look at McDonald’s, published by McGraw-Hill

Session 1D: Navigating Today’s New Local News Landscape 

Carl Corry

SUNY Suffolk & greatermoriches.com

Corry is a journalism instructor at Suffolk County Community College and Executive Editor of GreaterMoriches.com.

Session 1D: Navigating Today’s New Local News Landscape 

Mark Lukasiewicz

Dean, THE Lawrence Herbert School of Communication,
hofstra university

Veteran producer, journalist and media exec. Former Senior Vice President, NBC News & Executive Producer, ABC News.

Session 1B: News & the Millennial Generation

Subrata De

executive producer, vice investigates

De is executive producer, showrunner, and co-creator of Vice Investigates, a documentary series available on HULU.

Session 1B: News & the Millennial Generation

Jody Fisher

Jody Fisher

Vice President,
Public relations
Austin Williams

As a veteran PR man and a former radio reporter, Fisher has worked on both sides of the newsroom assignment desk. He knows a good story when he hears one.

Session 3C: Ultimate Check List: Creating a Modern Media Relations Plan

Diane Masciale

Vice president & general manager, wliw/wnet

Masciale oversees WLIW and is also Co-Executive in Charge of All-Arts, a multimedia platform devoted to the arts. 

Session 1B: News & the Millennial Generation

Peter Himler

founder,
flatiron communications

Himler led media teams for some of the world’s most esteemed global agencies before founding Flatiron.

Session 2C: Changing Face of Media Relations

Stacey Sweet

Executive Producer & Host, Life is Sweet tv

Television personality and host Stacey Sweet got her start at News12, then went on to Inside Edition before launching her own platform.

Session 3C: Ultimate Check List: Creating a Modern Media Relations Plan

Victoria Schneps

Publisher & ceo,
schneps communications

Founding her business in her home in 1985, Schneps now publishes over 17 newspapers and magazines throughout the metro area.

Session 2B: Establishing Relationships

Drew Scott

Broadcast Journalist

Drew Scott is a veteran broadcast journalist, best known for his tenure at News12 Long Island. Today he continues to work in radio and online platforms.

Session 3D: Emerging Voices: Online-Only News Outlets

Carolyn Levin

Professor & Media Attorney

A noted media attorney, Levin is currently of counsel to New York-based Miller Korzenik Sommers Rayman LLP.

Session 2C:  Changing Face of Media Relations

 
Real&Powerful Fair Media Council

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