| Author | Message | ||
     Troy Veteran Poster Username: Troy Post Number: 642 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: |
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN PUBLIC RELATIONS COLLECTIVE (AAPRC)™ LAUNCHES PR SEMINARS STARTING SATURDAY, MAY 19 Press Release For Immediate Release New York, NY - May 7, 2007 -- The African-American Public Relations Collective (AAPRC), a national and international network of more than 1,000 communications professionals will launch the African-American Public Relations Collective: Quarterly Seminars on Saturday, May 19 in New York City from 1:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m. The first panel will be titled, "The Write Stuff: Public Relations for Book Publishing," and will feature panelists Tara Brown, vice president of sales, marketing and publicity for Hilton Publishing; Gilda Squire, director of publicity of Amistad Imprint/Harper Collins Publishers; Linda Duggins, director of multicultural publicity at Hachette Book Group, USA and co-founder of the Harlem Book Fair; and Candace Sandy, author and communications specialist. The panel will be moderated by Gwendolyn Quinn, founder of the AAPRC and publisher and editorial director of Global Communicator. All panels scheduled for 2007 will be held at the NARAS offices (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) located at 156 West 56th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues) on Saturdays and will continue on June 16, September 22, October 20 and November 17, 2007. The Write Stuff: Public Relations for Book Publishing panel will address what it takes to move a book to the top shelf and to a national bestseller. The power publicists will discuss careers in book publishing PR and give much needed advice along with practical tips on marketing and media exposure in today's competitive market place. The panelists will talk about book proposals, self- publishing and other current issues confronting the publishing industry. "This is a great panel for those interested in pursuing a career in book publishing PR and for PR pros looking to get the inside track," says Quinn. "This panel is also recommended to self-published authors seeking sound advice and great tips on marketing and media exposure." Looking to fill the gap in the networking potential among African-American public relations and media specialists -- Quinn and fellow media specialist Marlynn Snyder discussed the idea of forming a listserv of African-Americans working in the communications field to fulfill that particular need. In 2001, Quinn initiated, developed and founded the African-American Public Relations Collective. The network provides professional support to their peers in the communications industry. The AAPRC associates are represented in a wide range of fields including music, television, film, performing arts (theater and dance), fine/visual arts (painters, sculptors, etc.), sports, brand development, book and magazine publishing, fashion and beauty, corporate, education, community relations/affairs, health care, government, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, special events, politics, independent public relations firms and other specialized areas. The AAPRC listserv shares special event information, employment leads, career development resources, and vital links to media opportunities. As a brand extension of the AAPRC, Quinn also launched The AAPRC Monthly (now titled) Global Communicator in February 2004, an e-publication for African-American public relations, marketing, journalists and communications professionals (www.theaaprc.com and www.myspace.com/globalcommunicator). To date, Global Communicator has featured some of the most accomplished professionals in the field of communications. They include: publishing giant and pioneer, the late John H. Johnson and Ed Bradley, Award-winning journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault, media mogul Cathy Hughes, CNN's Soledad O'Brien, ABC's Robin Roberts, Carole Simpson, Pulitzer Prize winners Les Payne and Clarence Page, PBS' Gwen Ifill, Rene Syler, Ed Gordon, Tavis Smiley, columnist Deborah Mathis, Newsweek's Marcus Mabry and Johnnie Roberts, Forbes' Brett Pulley, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, Kim Bondy, Farai Chideya, Jacque Reid and many others. Some of the public relations professionals include: Ofield Dukes, Judy Smith, L. Marilyn Crawford, Terrie Williams, Marcy DeVeaux, Pat Tobin, Michael Lewellen, Alicia Evans, Sheila Eldridge, La'Verne Perry-Kennedy, Robin Verges, Helen C. Shelton, Toni Thompson, Marvet Britto, Irene Gandy, Ava DuVernay and many others. For a complete list of interviewees, please go to www.myspace.com/globalcommunicator. In fall 2007, Quinn will launch "Global Communicator Lounge," a Podcast that will feature 30 minute interviews with AAPRC associates including journalists, public relations and communications specialists. "Global Communicator Lounge" will be broadcast starting in September 2007 on iTunes, Podcast Lounge, Yahoo, AOL, AOL Black Voices and others. In addition, "Global Communicator Lounge" will feature live broadcast specials on TalkShoe.com. For more information on the African-American Public Relations Collective (AAPRC), Global Communicator and "Global Communicator Lounge," contact Gwendolyn Quinn at gwendolynquinn@aol.com or visit www.myspace.com/globalcommunicator. To download a current issue of Global Communicator, please go to www.theaaprc.com. RSVP for the event is mandatory. Please email confirmations to AAPRCPRPanel@aol.com or call at 212-765-7910. About Gilda Squire Gilda Squire joined HarperCollins Publishers in 2004 as Associate Director of Publicity and was promoted to Director of Publicity in 2005. She is responsible for overseeing publicity and book tours for Amistad, the corporation's imprint dedicated to publishing fiction and non-fiction works by and about people of African descent. The Amistad imprint is the publisher of such prestigious titles as the Pulitzer prize-winning THE KNOWN WORLD by Edward P. Jones; actress/comedienne Mo'Nique's SKINNY COOKS CAN'T BE TRUSTED; the New York Times bestselling CONFESSIONS OF A VIDEO VIXEN by Karrine Steffans and OFF THE RECORD: A Reporter Unveils the Celebrity Worlds of Hollywood, Hip-Hop & Sports by Newsweek reporter Allison Samuels, for which she acquired, edited and executed the publicity campaigns; THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS by Chris Gardner; as well as GOD, CAN YOU HEAR ME? by Justine Simmons. She also developed and executed the campaign for BLING, the New York Times best-selling debut novel by Erica Kennedy from Miramax Books. In addition to Amistad, Gilda also manages publicity campaigns for select non-fiction and fiction titles of the HarperCollins General Books imprint. Squire started her book publishing career at Penguin Putnam and from there, she worked at the private public relations firm, Hilsinger Mendelson. She graduated cum laude with her B.A. in Communications from George Mason University. About Linda Duggins Linda A. Duggins is the Director of Multicultural Publicity at Hachette Book Group, USA. As Co-founder of the Harlem Book Fair, she has helped to create a nationally recognized venue that promotes literacy and literary expressions with writers of the Diaspora. An avid booklover, she is the co-leader of the African Diaspora Literary Group in New York City. Linda is also on the Board of Directors of the National Book Club Conference, based in Atlanta, GA, whose mission is to advance literacy and knowledge through reading and dialogue. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Caribbean International Literary Festival, held in Antigua, as well as the Board of Directors of the Queensbridge Scholarship Fund, serving college bound students in the Queensbridge and Ravenswood housing developments. Terrie Williams, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Nalo Hopkinson are among the many great authors represented by Duggins at Hachette. She earned her MBA in Media Management from Metropolitan College of New York in January 2005. About Tara Brown Tara Brown is the Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Publicity for Hilton Publishing. Hilton Publishing is the only national book publishing company dedicated to minority health and wellness. Brown has worked her way up the ladder in the book publishing industry over the last 18 years. After visiting the Career Placement Office at Baruch College in New York City and answering an ad for a part-time receptionist, a job she only planned on keeping until graduation, she fell in love with the industry and when an opportunity came to work in the publicity department, she jumped at the chance. Through stints working at Penguin Putnam and HarperCollins Publishers, she worked her way up from a Publicity Assistant to an Assistant Director and has worked on publicity campaigns for New York Times bestselling authors Lisa Scottoline (4 books), Kimberla Lawson Roby, the New York Times bestselling book SANDY KOUFAX, and the national bestsellers GHOSTS OF MANILA and TAKE ME TO THE RIVER, by the Rev. Al Green. She has also worked on campaigns for former Senator Gary Hart and Congressman J.C. Watts. A native of New York City, now residing in Charlotte, North Carolina, Brown is thrilled to be a part of the Hilton Publishing team where she feels like she is making a difference daily by helping minority communities get healthier. About Candace Sandy Candace Sandy is the co-author along with Dawn Marie Daniels of the national bestseller SOULS OF MY SISTERS: Black Women Break Their Silence, Tell Their Stories, and Heal Their Spirits. That book was among the launch titles for Kensington's Dafina Books imprint in 2000 and is now in its 15th printing, with over 100,000 copies in print. Sandy and Daniels are the principals of Souls of My Sisters, an entertainment-oriented company committed to presenting inspirational and empowering books for the African-American audience in the spirit of SOULS OF MY SISTERS. Sandy is also the co-author of SOULS OF MY BROTHERS: Black Men Break Their Silence, Tell Their Stories and Heal Our Spirits (Plume 2003) and TUPAC SHAKUR: How Long Will They Mourn Me (Random House 2006). For nine years, Candace Sandy has also served as the Communications Director for Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) of the Sixth Congressional District, a member of the House Foreign Service and Financial Services Committees. In her capacity as Communications Director Sandy has managed both national and international media campaigns in countries that have included Africa, Canada, Caribbean, China, Colombia, Cuba, Great Britain, India, Israel, Malaysia, Peru and Venezuela. About Gwendolyn Quinn In 2002, Quinn founded GQ Media & Public Relations, Inc. a full-service publicity firm whose client roster includes Aretha Franklin, Kirk Franklin and various other projects in the music business as well as clients in the performing arts (theatre), corporate, not-for-profit, faith-based, and the visual/fine arts. She founded A Queen Production, a multi-media production unit in 2001. For additional information, please go to www.myspace.com/globalcommunicator or www.myspace.com/thesongwritingseries. About The African-American Public Relations Collective (AAPRC™) Our Mission The African-American Public Relations Collective (AAPRC™) is an assemblage of professionals who provide communication conduits among clients, journalists, media and our communities. We come together as a collective because we recognize the importance of building those same conduits amongst ourselves. A great deal of what we do is professional development -- updating our skills, keeping pace with technology, refining and streamlining processes, providing a forum to tackle the issues that impact our work environment -- but we believe our professional lives benefit most from the forging of effective alliances. Connected to one another, we possess the power of a nationwide body of committed, knowledgeable practitioners with an eye on the future. As we move into the 21st century at lightning speed, mass media and its potent messages occupy an ever-larger part of our daily lives and our collective psyche. The AAPRC™ is focused on helping our members gain a deeper understanding of media's force and supporting their growth as powerful participants in the global communications network. Gwendolyn Quinn GQ Media and Public Relations, Inc. (212) 765-7910 gwendolynquinn@aol.com Robyn Ryland-Sanders GQ Media and Public Relations, Inc. (212) 765-7910 gqmediapr@yahoo.com |
