The Watch List

NEW LOOK for News12. The cable network unveiled a new logo and is now available to Verizon subscribers. (If you missed the news on Long Island of the FiOS1 News shut down earlier than anticipated, well, that was pretty easy. It was barely covered, so props to Editor In Chief Tim Bolger for this piece from Long Island Press.) Much more play was given to the demise of the local news outlet in the Hudson Valley, BTW. The shut down resulted in 150 jobs lost, so if you're hiring, let us know. We'll run your ad, free of charge.)

But the question at hand is, what's next for News12? The distinct, hyperlocal aspect of the seven individual News12s appears to be evaporating, in favor of a rather homogenized cablecast that can play anywhere -- and in direct competition to its broadcast peers at WCBS-TV, NBC-TV, FOX5, WABC-TV, WWOR and WPIX. Such a move will completely change the nature and character of News12 and most likely diminish its strong credibility, which may not even be a factor of consideration for an organization that can instead place prominence on its new market share. There's also that frightening old axiom that rears its ugly head too often in newsroom decision-making discussions in instances like this. You know the one? "Good is good enough." The problem there is it assumes the news consumer will settle for as little as possible. 

The other possibility? Put a For Sale sign on it. 

Speaking of For Sale Signs. It's pretty safe to say the Newsday investigation on the unequal treatment given to house hunters on Long Island rocked the roof off the local real estate industry, as multiple probes on all levels of government are being called for, along with Senate hearings. The investigation, which took more than three years, was presented in a multimedia format with video of hidden camera recordings and data visualization maps illustrating the breadth and depth of the problem. It succeeded in bringing the written story to life in a way unimaginable in the print-only days of newspapers -- and that's a giant leap into the next phase for Newsday, and one which may silence the critics who couldn't understand why it was time to let go of all those delivery trucks.

But there's a backstory to the big story, and it illustrates a different, but vital, matter entirely: The sheer importance of keeping local news local.

At the heart of the issue is the lifelong work of Elaine Gross, head of Erase Racism on Long Island. For years, she's written and spoken of the problems raised in the Newsday story, but was never quite heard. Until now: Since the story broke, she hasn't gotten much sleep, and keeping up with the calls is proving a challenge. She wonders how people can say they didn't know this was an issue. Perhaps she hadn't been heard, or the message was simply marginalized? But now, she's "pleased" with how people are responding and is grateful for the power of Newsday at work -- and notes the online capability to allow people to see video of the problem is beyond what a printed paper could have accomplished.

While she had provided the reporters with some information on the subject, she didn't realize the project itself was spawned from a brief conversation she had with Newsday's owner. In fact, it took her a minute to recall it. "It must've been sometime in 2014, at an event. It was a conversation inside a conversation," she explained. "I had no idea he actually heard me."

Now that Gross knows Pat Dolan did, indeed, hear her, she didn't miss a beat. "I've got plenty of other investigations they can do."

It all began with a conversation between local people, which is what creates authentic local news stories that matter.

SPEAKING OF CONVERSATION. You have nonstop opportunities to speak directly with news media on the national, regional and local levels at The News Conference: Real & Powerful on Dec. 3. In fact, 12 panel discussions -- moderated by good corporate citizens like Northwell Health's Terry Lynam, Mazars USA's Jim Kinney, Protiviti's Chris Wright, Mount Sinai South Nassau's Joe Calderone (full disclosure: They also happen to be FMC board members, but it's true they're good people, too!), Epoch 5's Katherine Heaviside, Family & Children's Association's Jeffrey Reynolds, Hofstra University Lawrence Herbert School of Communications Dean Mark Lukasiewicz and many more local leaders are joining in to up the media-savvy around here. By "here" we mean Long Island to New York City to Northern New Jersey. All are welcome. It's one day to jump-start your media relations and put an end to being a "best-kept secret." It also gives you an inside look at the media's role in shaping America and how you can be a part of it. 

Plus, you get to spend breakfast and lunch with some of the biggest names in news right now: CNN's John Avlon, PBS's Margaret Hoover, BuzzFeed News' Ben Smith, ProPublica's Richard Tofel, along with digital expert Sree Sreenivasan. (Inside tip: The panel discussions are filled with industry heavyweights, too. (For more details, scroll down.) Expect more notables on the dais, including the CEO & Editor in Chief of Patch.com Warren St. John and Newsday's Pat Dolan. 

Get Tickets for Dec. 3's The News Conference: Real & Powerful

A day of open dialogue with national, regional & local news and the public they serve, The News Conference is designed to increase your media-savvy and help you navigate today's complicated media landscape. Added bonus: Exclusive access and networking opportunities with the best in news, 'behind-the-scenes' stories of how news becomes headlines, and more. All are welcome to attend.

At Lunch, We Talk News & More with CNN's John Avlon & Margaret Hoover

Lunch features a fireside chat with CNN Senior Political Analyst John Avlon (former editor in chief of The Daily Beast), along with Margaret Hoover. Great-granddaughter of the 31st president of the United States, Margaret Hoover hosts PBS' Firing Line & serves as CNN Political Correspondent. 

Protiviti Breakfast Kicks Off the Day with Industry Heavy Hitters

Our Town-Hall-Style Breakfast, sponsored by Protiviti, Focuses on the State of News Media, featuring a chat and Q&A with industry leaders: Ben Smith, Editor in Chief of BuzzFeed News (one of the 100 most powerful in media, according to The Hollywood Reporter), along with Richard Tofel, President of ProPublica and former assistant publisher of The Wall Street Journal, and acclaimed digital expert Sree Sreenivasan, Loeb Visiting Professor of Digital Innovation, Stony Brook University, formerly chief digital officer of the City of New York.

Throughout the Day

12 Panel Discussions Featuring Best in News

Real & Powerful Panel Discussions range from national issues to navigating hyperlocal news:

• Behind the Coverage: Today's Biggest Headlines
• Navigating Today's New Local News Landscape
• Behind the Coverage: Money, Power & Politics
• Behind the Coverage: Race, Religion & Politics
• News & the Millennial Generation
• Establishing Relationhips with the News Media
• Emerging Voices: Online-Only News Outlets
• Challenges of Managing a Brand in an Always-On World
• Fine-Tuning Your Social Media with Sree Sreenivasan
• The Changing Face of Media Relations
• Ultimate Check List: Creating a Modern Media Relations Plan
• How to Pitch Stories the News Media Can Actually Use

To see the program, get tickets and more, click here.

About FMC

The Fair Media Council advocates for quality news and works to create a media-savvy society. A 501c3 nonprofit organization, FMC is one of the oldest, most successful media watchdogs in the country. Headquartered on Long Island, N.Y.

Contact [email protected] or visit our website at www.fairmediacouncil.org

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