Support FACS

 

FACS, The Foundation for American Communications, is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. We rely on the generosity of our donors to fund our operation. Your support, in any amount, will contribute to our success.

 

What Journalists Say about FACS Seminars and Faculty:

 

Knows subject, communicates clearly, engages audience. Covered truly gigantic subject in a short period of time, with as much detail and as little distortion as possible. – Jim Broadway, State School News Service, Springfield, Illinois

   

Quick, but effective. A great course for a reporter faced frequently with boatloads of data and numbers. – Chris Coates, Suburban Journals, Collinsville, Illinois

 

Made a dense topic easy to follow and engaging. Spending time reviewing a sample budget was very helpful. – Emily Melchner, WCBU, Peoria, Illinois

 

Provided great resources that can be used after the seminar. – Jennifer Dooley, WUIS, Springfield, Illinois

 

Really helpful in helping us get behind the real story of rising oil prices – Moni Basu, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

Informative and very timely – Mike Morris, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

Always insightful, and humorous to boot. Fascinating. – Larry Ringler, Tribune Chronicle, Warren, Ohio

 

Very timely topic, and successful overview of the issues. – Kevin Roseborough, Fox 2 Detroit

 

Great forecasts on a global basis. Stuff we haven’t had before! – Mac Gordon, AutomotiveDigest.com, Farmington Hills, Michigan

 

As a new reporter to the automotive beat, I really appreciate it! – Jere Downs, Louisville (KY) Courier-Journal

 

Great statistics – clear presentation and analysis. – Julia Bauer, The Grand Rapids (MI) Press

 

Very high value presentation. – Robert Gardner, Motor Sports Center.com, Walnut Creek, California

 

 

The FACS advantage for journalists

 

The Foundation for American Communications seeks to improve the quality of information reaching the public through the news. We believe better journalism can be achieved, adding substance to the public debate, when journalists have a stronger command of the fields they cover.  We don’t teach journalism, writing or how to organize newscasts; our imperative is to equip journalists to report knowledgeably on complicated issues.

 

Our mission...

 
 

"What Drives Detroit -- V"

 

Fifth annual FACS seminar on the state of the U.S. auto industry

Saturday, January 10, at the Detroit Free Press

 

Space is limited -- first come, first served

Deadline to register is noon Eastern, Tuesday, Jan. 6


With the U.S auto industry in freefall and the nation's economy tanking, the fifth annual "What Drives Detroit" seminar takes a hard look at how the financial crisis affects automakers and auto dealers. Can they survive the current recession?

The Foundation for American Communications will present “What Drives Detroit – V” on Saturday, January 10, at the Detroit Free Press.

Presented on the eve of the Detroit Auto Show press preview week, this daylong seminar has become a first stop for journalists who cover the auto industry.

The seminar begins with Sean McAlinden, Ph.D., chief economist at the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. McAlinden will review the financial position of the carmakers, their requests for federal loans, and the economic repercussions of a potentially bankrupt industry on communities and people who rely on those businesses.

New this year is a presentation by Sheldon Sandler of the Bel-Air Group, a broker and leading authority on the economics of automobile dealerships. He will address the impact of the economy on consumers and dealerships, including their ability to provide loans.

Although the industry is flailing financially, it is also making great strides with new technology. David Cole, Ph.D., chairman of CAR, one of the nation’s most quoted auto analysts, will provide the latest information on power trains and fuels.

The seminar  begins at 8:30 a.m. and includes breakfast and lunch. There is no cost for journalists, but participants must register by noon Eastern time on Tuesday, Jan. 6. To view the agenda, click on the program title above.
 

 

Resources for reporting the auto industry bailout

altSeminar presentation (McAlinden): Detroit boom goes bust?

 

altSeminar presentation (Pipas): 2009 auto industry outlook

 

Auto industry economist Sean McAlinden and Ford industry analyst George Pipas provided up-to-the-minute information on the Big Three's current crisis in PowerPoints they presented during a FACS seminar at the Los Angeles Times.

 

Journalists met with McAlinden of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), Pipas, Irv Miller of Toyota Motor Sales USA and Brett Smith of CAR for the daylong seminar, which covered the U.S. carmakers' economic crisis, as well as a look at power train and technological trends.

 

Those presentations are now available for download.
 
Catch up on "The Measure of America" tele-seminar series

Through the month of October, FACS presented a series of six tele-seminars based on the new book, "The Measure of America." This recently published compendium of data on how Americans live tackles the specifics of quality of life in every part of the United States – and finds many places lacking in what it takes to flourish.

The first two tele-seminars in September focused on health care issues, followed by two in October on education and two on economic issues.

If you missed any tele-seminars, you can download the audio and the faculty presentations.
 
Downloadable FACS tele-seminars

If you missed a FACS tele-seminar for journalists, you can still download the audio and faculty PowerPoint as a pdf. Here are some of our recent offerings now available: