FMC Fast Chat

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 Professor Emeritus at the University o...

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, eye-opening conversation about the fra...

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.

In this episode, y...

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.

What you’ll learn:

🔹 The biggest misconc...

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 solutions.

🔹 Key Highlights:

• Why col...

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 and craft powerful stories, emphasizi...

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 suffers, and those without influence ar...

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 actionable tips to help us navigate a world wher...

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 individuals navigating immense pressure...

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 chambers, identify quality news, and stop ...

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 things real, with his trademark happy-...