Journalism, Politics & a Shifting Landscape
If you didn’t get a chance—or purposely tuned out—of the news this week, here’s what you missed: It’s still a lousy time to be in the news business, but a totally spectacular time to be an attorney. Everybody is either being sued or is about to be sued.
As far as whether or not now is a great time to be a living American, well, that depends on which news outlet you gravitate toward. The narratives vary widely. The lesson here is simple: You can choose to only pay attention to news that tells you what you want to hear, or you can pledge no loyalty to any one outlet and adopt a wandering approach—surfing the web for different sources daily.
Regardless of which method you choose, watch out for this red flag: who is to blame for whatever chaos is unfolding. This is where it starts to get dangerous—where journalism not only becomes politics but hides behind it. It’s commonplace in today’s media landscape, ever since newsrooms realized the public possesses a seemingly insatiable appetite for politics. Pretty soon, newsrooms morphed from having a political desk into multiple “something-and-politics” desks: health and politics, science and politics, business and politics, you get the idea.
But now, instead of journalism covering politics, we have politics masquerading as journalism. The old guard knows the difference. Unfortunately, they’re no longer at the helm—they were either forced out or simply walked out, never looking back.
Ironically, the same tactics newsrooms once used to lure in readers and viewers have turned into the very reason people are tuning out. And that sets the stage for what news is becoming.
A new study reported by Publisher’s Daily finds that when printed newspapers turn digital, the outlets focus less on investigative or “heavy” reporting and more on features and feel-good stories. They also provide about five percent less local news than they did as traditional print papers—apparently, a necessary sacrifice to keep paying subscribers interested.
This week, more bad news for local journalism arrived: The Times-Virginian, which served Appomattox County, Virginia, since 1892, announced it is shutting down due to adverse market conditions. This news follows on the heels of the The Star-Ledger, which covered Newark since 1796, shuttering its print edition.
So where does that leave us? Vary your news sources—dip into different outlets, even the ones you rarely read, and be on the lookout for that red flag: the quick leap to assign blame. Focus on the raw facts—those simple truths that are still out there if you look. Let them tell the story, rather than a political narrative.
- Jaci Clement, CEO/Executive Director, [email protected]
New Date! March 6 Event Looks at How AI & Algos Changing Landscape
“AI, Algorithms & Paywalls: Navigating the New Media Landscape”
Featuring Expert Speakers:
Steve Rubel, media strategist
Jamie Cohen, Ph.D, Queens College, Internet literacies expert
Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025, 9 a.m. - 12 noon Location: Launchpad Huntington (2nd Floor) Tickets: $79 members, $99 nonmembers
“AI, Algorithms & Paywalls: Navigating the New Media Landscape” is a must-attend for your public relations, media relations and community relations staff. If you’re using social media to communicate with an audience — whether it’s to build a community, to fundraise or to sell a product — you need to attend our March 6 event. Everything is changing. Part of our acclaimed Masterclass series.
Advance registration required. Get Tickets online or reply to this email to be invoiced. Sponsored by: St. Joseph's University, Northwell Health & Launchpad LI
Save this date!
Long?Island?Media?101: Pitching Local to National Outlets & Tracking Impact
Get an in-depth look at the distinctive?Long?Island?media?landscape and how it shapes effective?media?relations strategies. Learn to tailor your pitches for local, regional, and national outlets, prepare for interviews, and—crucially—measure the impact of your efforts across?paid, earned, owned, and shared?media?(the PESO model)
Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025, 9 a.m. - 12 noon Location: TBA Tickets: $79 members, $99 nonmembers
‘Fire on the Air’: How Local Radio Covered California’s Wildfires
Join Fair Media Council CEO and Executive Director Jaci Clement as she sits down with KNX 97.1 FM Los Angeles News and Programming Director Alex Silverman for an inside look at the power of local radio during emergencies. In this episode of?FMC Fast Chat, Alex reveals how the team at the 24/7 all-news radio station covered the California wildfires while drawing striking comparisons with New York’s Hurricane Sandy.
Listen to Our Podcast
Our award-winning podcast takes you inside the news, so you can be in the know in 30-ish minutes. FMC Fast Chat is available everywhere you get your podcasts.
FMC Invites Corporate & Community Leaders to Join as Members
Since 1979, we’ve worked to keep local news local, hold media accountable and serve the public interest by keeping communities informed and engaged.
Our work has transformed into one of today’s greatest social responsibilities: Building a trustworthy, credible media landscape and a media literate society. By addressing both sides of the coin — media accountability and media literacy — we move everyone forward, together. We call it media savvy.
Our programs focus on cutting-edge media relations infused with media literacy and provide a platform to allow organizations to establish relationships with the best in news and media.
FMC is the authority on the modern media landscape. We invite organizations that value corporate social responsibility, education, community engagement and digital wellness to join us
Welcome new members:
Donate to FMC
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FMC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Online Resources
The Fair Media Council's?Modern Media Publicity Kit?is now live on our website. This comprehensive resource is designed to help you craft powerful media pitches, build strong relationships with journalists, and amplify your message across platforms.
Whether you're aiming for local or national coverage, this toolkit will help you effectively manage your media relations efforts to meet the demands of today's fragmented media landscape.?Visit our site to explore the guide.?(And let us know if you'd like more of this type of information.) FMC Members also have access to our online Media Guide & Directory, which is designed to be used in conjunction with the Modern Media Publicity Kit.?
In addition, be sure to check out our Guide to Building Media Savvy.
You’ll find this information under the Resources tab on our website.
About FMC
The authority on the modern media landscape.? FMC advocates for quality news and works to create a media-savvy society.?FMC is a?501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered on Long Island, N.Y. Email:?[email protected]
Phone: 516-224-1860, ext. 1 We look forward to seeing you at upcoming events and receiving your feedback. Reply to this newsletter with your comments.
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