FACS FAQs

What is FACS?

The Foundation for American Communications is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization with its headquarters in Pasadena, California.

FACS (pronounced "FAKS")  is dedicated to improving the quality of information reaching the public through the news. We believe in better journalism through education. Toward that end, FACS conducts educational programs for journalists in core subjects, including economics, energy, health care, applied sciences and public policy.

Since FACS was founded in 1976, it has delivered educational programs to thousands of journalists.

FACSNET, the online arm of FACS, provides background material based on material covered at FACS seminars and conferences. In addition, FACSNET includes a database of sources and resources for journalists working on deadline.

By maintaining both a timely online presence and a commitment to quality "in person" education, FACS offers the most comprehensive outreach to working journalists.

Does FACS have a political stance or partisan viewpoint?

No.

We take no position on political issues and work strenuously in our programming to avoid even the appearance of advocacy. Our organization believes that everyone benefits when journalists understand the issues and when newsmakers understand the news process.

Our commitment is to improve that understanding.

Who funds FACS?

FACS journalism programs are funded by grants from newspaper and broadcast news organizations.

News organizations provide direct funding for FACS educational programs. Corporate foundations provide general operational grants. No funds from corporations or corporate trade associations are used directly to fund FACS programs.

Corporations and trade associations often sponsor FACS programs for their own memberships or staffs. In past years, FACS has organized a variety of programs for national organizations and corporations such as Detroit Edison, The Business Roundtable, The National Association of Food Processors, the Edison Electric Institute, Independent Sector, Michigan Council of Foundations, Chevron and Quaker Oats.

FACS accepts no government grants.

How does FACS accomplish its goals?

FACS focuses on core academic disciplines such as economics, energy, science, law and ethics.

We focus on timely issues in the headlines and "evergreen" topics that can be applied to news coverage at any time.

Program topics include the economics of energy, risk analysis, the environment and climate change, land use policy, bio-technology, cloning, and the controversy surrounding genetically modified foods. Always the objective is to help journalists learn to analyze the critical issues underlying the news.

A special FACS program, Journalism, Religion & Public Life, was presented under a multi-year grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts. The program aimed to help journalists understand how religion impacts public policy and how faith shapes American society.

How does FACS organize its journalism programs?

FACS retains top scholars from leading academic institutions to collaborate in program development. Together with the FACS Journalism Advisory Committee, we choose program topics, design the curriculum, and select other faculty and policy makers deliver the seminars.

FACS seminars are typically one-day events, held in or near newspapers or broadcast stations. FACS has also conducted weekend conferences and week-long institutes, such as the Jack R. Howard Science Institute.

FACS seminars are not just one-way lectures. Our faculty interact with journalists, accept all questions and make themselves available to journalists following the sessions. FACS programs frequently include forums with policy makers and government officials, who field questions from both journalists and faculty academics. To retain an interactive environment, programs are usually restricted to 40 or fewer journalists.

Attendance is limited to working journalists, but non-journalists may attend as observers, depending on available space. Journalists who attend FACS programs are often specialists in science or business reporting or another major field. Others are general assignment reporters or people new to their beats.

FACS also conducts "in-house" sessions for news organizations, such as Scripps-Howard, Cox and Gannett news organizations.

FACS is keenly aware of journalists' money and time constraints. To encourage journalists to attend, most FACS seminars are free of charge to working journalists, with media companies paying most of the cost.

News source programming

In addition to programs for journalists, FACS also conducts media education workshops for people who interact with the media, including businesses, nonprofits and academic institutions.

These seminars are designed to help non-journalists better communicate with the media -- not for better public relations or "spin," but to help them understand how the media work and how to effectively impart meaningful information.

News source programs are made available to the faculties of colleges and universities or employees of businesses and organizations. Participants learn about the news-gathering process, what makes news and how to work with journalists.

FACS news source programs also include a panel of journalists who explain how they make news decisions.

FACSNET

FACSNET is the online arm of FACS. FACSNET supports FACS programs, and the site features a broad array of tools for journalists. Among them:

• Coverage of FACS seminars
• News backgrounders, primers, reporting tips, glossaries and other helpful material specifically designed for journalists
• A database of news sources who reporters can call on deadline;

FACSNET went online in 1996. A pioneering Web-site, FACSNET was one of the first internet services developed specifically for journalists.

FACSNET completes the circle of educational services provided by FACS.

How does FACS differ from journalism training groups?

News training groups such as the Poynter Institute and the American Press Institute work primarily on the "nuts and bolts" skill sets of journalism and management training. API works only with newspapers in business management and training. The Poynter Institute teaches writing, editing and other skills. FACS considers all of these organizations outstanding in their fields.

FACS programs are not geared to job skills training, but to build knowledge and understanding in complex issues in the news such as economics, science, law, ethics and public affairs.

FACS is the only organization providing such a service. Universities occasionally conduct educational sessions for journalists, but only FACS programs are organized by journalists, for journalists.

Does FACS work with other organizations?

FACS actively seeks partners. The Society of Professional Journalists cosponsors many of our programs, along with a host of other journalism groups.

FACS actively works with the state and regional newspaper and broadcast associations, and the Associated Press.

FACS collaborates with universities and occasionally holds conferences on university campuses.

FACS senior staff members have served on national committees of the Society of Professional Journalists, the American Society of Newspaper Editors, the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, and the Newspaper Association of America.

FACS has organized programs for such national groups as the Radio-Television News Directors Association, American Society of Newspaper Editors and the Associated Press Managing Editors.

Members of the FACS Board of Trustees are national leaders in the media industry and beyond.

FACS is committed to diversity. We have collaborated with numerous minority and ethnic journalism groups; and we seek to include the broadest range of voices in our dialogue.

What else does FACS do?

In addition to our journalism programs, news source programs, and our online services, FACS from time to time presents forums and special sessions on vital issues and public policy questions.

FACS also commissions national opinion polls and surveys on issues important to journalism. Members of our staff and faculty often give speeches and presentations about journalism issues.