Veteran communications executive and brand builder Laurie Goldberg will join the CNN News Group executive team to lead public relations and publicity efforts, it was announced today by Shirley Powell, senior vice president of corporate communications for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. In her new role, effective June 6, Goldberg will oversee all public relations activity supporting CNN news networks and businesses including CNN/U.S., CNN Headline News, CNN.com, CNN en Espańol, CNN Airport Channel, CNNRadio and CNN Newsource.
Goldberg will serve as a key adviser to the CNN executive leadership team on communications and strategy issues, will represent CNN to the media as its chief spokesperson and will oversee all Atlanta-, New York-, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles-based CNN PR personnel. Christa Robinson remains senior vice president of public relations for CNN. Goldberg will maintain offices in Atlanta and New York and will report to Powell.
“Of all the strengths Laurie brings to this critical role, what most impresses me, and what ultimately will be most valuable to CNN, is her versatility,” said Powell. “Her skill at messaging on behalf of leading brands to targeted audiences in highly competitive markets is exactly what CNN needs now to help extend its momentum. She is ideally suited for this challenging assignment, and I know she’ll run with it.”
“The qualities I consider essential in a public relations chief for CNN are easy to articulate but difficult to find: Evidence of creative thinking and execution; demonstrated ability and willingness to lead; and the respect and regard of peers,” said Jim Walton, president of the CNN News Group. “Laurie’s professional track record, management experience and relationships throughout the media are exceptional. I like her ideas, her candor and her respect for news and news people.”
“As someone who came of age with CNN and has the utmost respect for its journalism, its people and its global presence, I could not be more excited about this opportunity to be a part of its future,” said Goldberg. “The CNN management team values new ideas, approaches and voices. CNN has a great story to tell. I look forward to working with the public relations team to tell it.”
Goldberg joins CNN from Turner Broadcasting’s Cartoon Network, where as senior vice president of public relations she conceived and guided the implementation of a successful public relations and promotion plan advancing signature original programming, new network and online business ventures and the executive leadership team. Most recently she led positioning and promotion for Adult Swim, a block of animated programming for young adult audiences that has grown from a late-night cult following to lead its time period in ratings and delivery.
Prior to joining Turner Broadcasting in 1998, Goldberg was vice president of public relations for Pinnacle Brands, Inc. in Dallas, where during her four-year tenure she helped mainstream the company’s products and extend the manufacturer into wide-ranging consumer media, ultimately boosting market share by some 35 percent. Earlier in her career, she managed clients including Philip Morris, MasterCard, Colgate and the U.S. Mint for Cohn & Wolfe in New York and Chicago.
Goldberg earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications at Washington University in St. Louis. She has completed advanced study at the Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is a fellow of Women in Cable & Telecommunications’ Betsy Magness Leadership Institute. She serves on the board of directors of VOX, an Atlanta-based journalism-training program for at-risk high school students.
CNN, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is one of the world’s most respected and trusted sources for news and information. Its reach extends to 14 cable and satellite television networks; two private place-based networks; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; six Web sites, including CNN.com, the first major news and information Web site; and CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service.
Contact Info:
Shirley Powell
TBS, Inc.
(404) 885-4132
shirley.powell@turner.com
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