FMC Fast Chat

Fair Media Council CEO Jaci Clement talks with Justin Hendrix, CEO and Editor of Tech Policy Press , about how innovation, power, and responsibility collide in the digital age. From AI’s environmental toll to the fight for privacy and democracy, this episode explores whether technology’s future depends on who—and what—it ultimately serves. This episode was recorded during Climate Week NYC 2025. Gu...

Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension and return to late-night raised serious questions: Where’s the line between offensive comedy and unprotected speech? And how far can the FCC go in policing broadcasters? In this episode of FMC Fast Chat , Fair Media Council CEO Jaci Clement joins forces with renowned First Amendment scholar Clay Calvert , Nonresident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and...

How did we get from 30% profit margins to paywalls, nonprofit newsrooms, and creators funding investigative journalism one Substack post at a time? In this episode of FMC Fast Chat , host Jaci Clement sits down with Richard Tofel — founding general manager and former president of ProPublica , now leading Gallatin Advisory and teaching at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health — for a candid,...

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’...

On this episode of FMC Fast Chat , host Jaci Clement welcomes renowned First Amendment scholar Clay Calvert for a timely conversation on the myths, challenges, and realities of free speech in the digital age. From the Supreme Court’s decision on the TikTok ban to the responsibilities that come with free expression, this episode breaks down what the First Amendment protects—and what it doesn’t. Wha...

In this must-hear episode of FMC Fast Chat , host Jaci Clement interviews Amy Mitchell, founding executive director of the Center for News Technology and Innovation and a leading voice in global media policy. Together, they unpack the complexities of today’s digital news landscape and the urgent need to bring journalists, technologists, policymakers, and the public together to craft meaningful sol...

In this episode of FMC Fast Chat , Fair Media Council CEO and Executive Director Jaci Clement sits down with Michael Powell — an acclaimed journalist whose career spans The Washington Post to The New York Times and now The Atlantic . Together, they examine the shifting tides of journalism, the erosion of big newsrooms, and the rise of digital media. Michael offers insights into how reporters find...

Over the past thirty years, monumental changes have pushed the media further from its core mission of serving the public interest. Political pressures, commercial imperatives, deregulation, and the concentration of immense capital in just a few hands have converged to distort the flow of information and weaken the media’s ability to hold power to account. As a result, trust erodes, civic life suff...

When social media began, it was full of promise — connecting people, amplifying voices, and fighting for liberties. But today, it’s in crisis . In this episode of FMC Fast Chat , renowned digital expert Sree Sreenivasan examines how social media has shifted from a tool for empowerment to a force causing harm in every part of our lives . Sree doesn’t just identify the problems — he offers actionabl...

In this episode of FMC Fast Chat , author Jerry Barmash introduces us to his new book, "Here Now the News: An Inside Scoop into New York's Best-Loved Anchors." With decades of experience covering New York news, Barmash brings a deeply human look at the anchors who became household names. Beyond the cameras and headlines, he explores their power, egos, and inner demons, revealing them as flawed ind...

In this FMC Fast Chat , investigative journalist Dave Levinthal from Centerclip tells what it takes to break the big stories to hold those in power accountable. He explains how to pursue truth — why reporters must refuse to take “no” for an answer, follow their instincts, and know when something just doesn’t add up. He also shares essential advice for the public: how to break free from echo chambe...

In this episode of FMC Fast Chat , noted media trainer and journalist Steve Dunlop shares his insights into the evolving dynamics of the media landscape. We explore the impacts of cancel culture, what great communicators do right, and the art of storytelling. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in media training, journalism, and the forces shaping modern communication.

On this episode of FMC Fast Chat, we host Larry Mullins, the golden-voiced afternoon news anchor of 1010WINS, the longest-running all-news radio station in the country and, according to Larry, the world's top news station. Larry talks about the future of radio, takes us inside the studio, and reflects on the key moments that defined his career. The news may be serious business, but Larry keeps thi...

In this episode of FMC Fast Chat, Rocky Ozaki, founder of *NoW of Work*, shares how AI is reshaping the work landscape and why embracing agility is essential for staying ahead. If you’re ready to future-proof your business and gain insights from an award-winning podcast, this is the episode you don’t want to miss!

In this episode, find out how one successful tech entrepreneur is starting over again, this time with a focus on philanthropy. Steve Kaufer, co-founder and the recently retired CEO of TripAdvisor, is our guest. Kaufer talks about his new venture, Give Freely, what it's like to begin a second act at the age of 60, and what he's learned along the way, Hosted by Jaci Clement, CEO & Executive Director...

In this episode of FMC Fast Chat, delve into the issue of how social media is proving to be toxic to women, girls and nonbinary people, and the steps we need to take to remedy the situation. Host Jaci Clement interviews communication professor Kara Alaimo, Ph. D., author of the newly released book, 'Over the Influence: How Social Media is Toxic for Women and Girls -- And How We Can Take It Back.'...

Tired of living in a bubble? Then take a listen. Jaci Clement chats with global media literacy educator Belinha S. De Abreu, Ph. D. on how media creates polarization within communities and what we can do to break through the silos and build bridges. Bonus: Here's what "media literacy" means.  About Belinha S. De Abreu, Ph. D. Dr. De Abreu is the President of the International Council for Media Lit...

From a stretch of sandy peninsula situated between the outer edges of New York City and Long Island, The Wave keeps the 130,000 residents of Rockaway, Queens informed. It's been the local newspaper there for 130 years. The Wave's Editor in Chief Mark Healey speaks with FMC Fast Chat Host Jaci Clement about the paper's history and how it continues to cover this close-knit community. #localnews #ame...

In an area of the country that inspired Thorton Wilder's "Our Town," one New Hampshire newspaper has been chronicling the life and times of its community since 1799. Keene Sentinel Owner and Publisher Thomas Ewing takes us inside the historic newspaper, offering an honest look at the challenges and rewards of serving a rural community.  Part 5 of the Fair Media Council's Local News in America Proj...

From prostitution and corruption to American flag-stealing groundhogs, welcome to Episode 4 of FMC's Local News in America Series! This episode offers a look inside the Hudson Register-Star, which began covering the Hudson Valley area of New York in 1785 as the Hudson Daily Star. It merged with another over time, and now continues with hyperlocal news for both sides of the river. Our guest is Mary...

In EP 3 of FMC's Local News in America project, Host Jaci Clement takes you inside 'The West's Oldest Newspaper' with Inez Russell Gomez, Editorial Page Editor of the Santa Fe New Mexican. This daily's independence and fighting spirit mirrors that of America's Old West, which it began covering in 1849.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 2 of the Fair Media Council's Local News in America Series takes us to Nome, where Alaska's oldest newspaper was founded around 1900, but no one knows for sure. Join FMC CEO Jaci Clement for a Fast Chat with Nome Nugget Owner and Editor Diana Haecker and find out how the weekly newspaper, as well as Alaska, is doing these days.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...

The first installment of our Local News in America Project takes us to New Hampshire. It's here in Portsmouth that you'll find the 'Nation's Oldest Newspaper,' the New Hampshire Gazette. This oral history offers a look at the Gazette's beginnings and meanders its way through to the present day, with Steven Fowle telling this story as no one else can: He is the third cousin, five times removed, of...

Local news icons Doug Geed and Danielle Campbell recall big, small, and humorous moments in their broadcast careers as they accept Fair Media Council's Lifetime Achievement Awards for Local News. Recorded live at the Fair Media Council's Folio Awards 2023. BONUS Episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Radio broadcasting legend Tim Scheld capped off an illustrious 40-year career at the Fair Media Council's 2023 Folio Awards, where he received FMC's Lifetime Achievement Award for Regional News. Most recently, Tim was the news and programming director of WCBS Newsradio 880, an all-news station often recognized as the standard for radio news everywhere. Take a listen as Tim is introduced by good fr...