This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Neighbor News

Dec. 5 & Only on Long Island: The News Conference: Real & Powerful

Spend a Day Inside the News With the Best in the Industry to Analyze Its Role in Today's Society

Taking place on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the iconic Garden City Hotel on Long Island, N.Y., The News Conference: Real & Powerful brings the best in media and the public together to discuss the biggest stories of the day, build mutual understanding and illustrate the importance of speaking truth to power.

“America’s news media is under attack, leaving the public unsure of where to get their news and who to trust at an incredibly turbulent time in our country,” said Fair Media Council Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Jaci Clement.

“The Fair Media Council’s work is known around the country for its ability to tap into the pulse of the public’s concerns about news today, and hold forums fostering open, honest dialogue directly with the news media to address the issues, and work toward building a media savvy society. With the way the media landscape imploded over this past year, our work is more relevant and instrumental in building an informed electorate than perhaps any other time in our history.”

The News Conference: Real & Powerful features a breakfast program with a panel discussion on news and politics, a luncheon keynote session, 12 breakout sessions dealing with news issues and the public’s right to know, networking breaks, exhibitors and a special intensive afternoon workshop to teach small nonprofits media relations skills. Participants support the work of the Fair Media Council, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. (This event replaces an older event, known as Connection Day, which primarily focused on helping nonprofits gain access to the news.)

Find out what's happening in Plainviewfor free with the latest updates from Patch.


Speakers and topics will be continuously updated on FMC’s website. Sponsorships, tickets and exhibit tables are on sale now. Businesses and nonprofits seeking to raise their profiles in front of the news media and about 500 conference attendees may take sponsorships and exhibit tables. Many news outlets will be exhibiting, as well as attending as speakers and to network with the participants.


Christian Guardino, the 17-year-old from Long Island and AMERICA’S GOT TALENT semifinalist who received Howie Mandel’s Golden Buzzer this season, will kick off the event by singing the National Anthem.

Find out what's happening in Plainviewfor free with the latest updates from Patch.


Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning Editorial Cartoonist Walt Handelsman, The New Orleans Advocates, keynotes the luncheon with an interactive address that illustrates how he creates animated cartoons on current events.


Attendees include journalists and media decisionmakers, business and community leaders, spokespeople, government officials, academics and students.


Tickets for the whole conference, which includes an all-access pass to all events of the day, are on sale, as well as breakfast only, lunch only and the special intensive training ticket package for qualifying small nonprofits.
Sponsorships and tickets are available now, with a portion of the price being tax deductible and benefiting the Fair Media Council, a 501c3 nonprofit organization advocating for quality news and creating a media savvy society.


More information is available by calling 516-224-1860, ext. 1 or emailing info@fairmediacouncil.org.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?