Foote Communications LLC

Contact: Toni Laws, (703) 854-7178
Media Advisory

Annual Conference Features NY Times Editor Dean Baquet and DNC Chair Gov. Howard Dean

(Washington, DC –  July 31, 2007) The National Association of Minority Media Executives (http://namme.org) elected a slate of four new officers and board members, and has set an aggressive agenda to raise the group’s profile and better prepare leaders for digital media.

At its 14th Annual Conference, “Architects of the Future: The Vision! The Leaders! The
Strategy!”, the board elected Neil Foote, a 25-year media veteran who is president of Foote Communications LLC, as board chair, J. Wendy Thompson, Vice President of Operations, ZGS Communications, Washington, DC’s Telemundo affiliates as vice-chair; Michele Duke, Diversity Services & Development Director of the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF), as secretary and Digby Solomon, President/Publisher/CEO of  The Daily Press, as treasurer.  Additionally, the four new members joining the board are: Shaunice Hawkins, Vice President, Diversity & Multicultural Initiatives, Magazine Publishers of America; Retha Hill, former vice
president of content for BET Interactive and now, the newly named Director, New Media
Innovation Lab, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication,
Arizona State University; Francisco “Frank” R. Montero, co-managing partner, Fletcher,
Heald & Hildreth, the DC-based communications law firm; and Shabnum Norling, Director of Digital & Emerging Media, CMP Media/Tech Web.

“NAMME is setting out to make sure we are preparing diverse leaders who have all the tools to lead change during a period of rapid transformation from analog to digital,” said Foote, who has worked as a newspaper reporter, diversity executive, internet strategist and public relations professional.  In the fall, he joins the University of North Texas Journalism Department to teach and develop a more robust electronic media curriculum.  “There’s not time to waste. All I say is, ‘Get Ready’ because over the next couple years, you’ll get to know NAMME like you’ve never known it before.”

The Annual Conference, held at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, DC., kicked off with the
reception at the Washington Post with the release of a report urging more media companies to consider creating affinity groups to promote better working relationships, generate new revenue ideas and improve community ties.  The report, “Divide – and Prosper? How Media Companies Can Use Affinity Groups to Promote Diversity”, conducted by NAMME and Larry Olmstead’s Leading Edge Associates, can be downloaded at the NAMME website.

Olmstead’s findings were validated during a panel hosted by Barbara Frankel of Diversity Inc. Magazine who hosted a general session on its annual study of ‘The Nation’s Best Diverse Companies”.  Executives from Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, The Coca-Cola Co., Pepsi Bottling Co. and Sodexho Education Services described their aggressive diversity efforts involving compensation incentives, mentoring and affinity groups.

During a wide-ranging speech, Dean Baquet, the New York Times’ assistant managing editor, eloquently explained the crisis of budget cuts, their impact on daily journalism and the continued need for more public service journalism.

Gov. Howard Dean, chair of the Democratic National Committee, offered a fiery – speech
attacking President Bush’s Iraq policy and extolling the need for the Democrats to get younger voters more engaged in political process. Dean said the younger voter turnout improved significantly in the 2004 elections, particularly with Blacks and Hispanics.

At NAMME’s first Capitol Hill Breakfast, sponsored by National Association of Broadcasters and NABEF, Congresswoman Hilda Solis (D-CA) described how her mainly East LA district is a perfect example of how residents can’t afford internet access – dial-up or broadband and could be left out of the DTV transition.  FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein shared his concerns about the need for more minority employees in the broadcast industry and his on-going concern about media consolidation.  Adelstein asked that groups like NAMME become more involved and vocal in calling for greater oversight, studies and action on this issue.

During NAMME’s ‘Digital Media Boot Camp’ sessions, Rob Curley of Washington Post-
Newsweek Interactive urged all media companies to invest in ‘hyper-local’ content that caters to the full-range of readers’/viewers’ interests from detailed community events calendars to 360-degree views of churches, schools and local venues. The Digital Spin’s Mario Armstrong, heard on XM Radio and NPR,  demonstrated several gadgets to help business executives work more efficiently, including an online tool that allows callers to leave you a voicemail that becomes a text file that’s emailed to you.

NAMME Board member Shabnum Norling moderated a panel that shared  the ins and outs of the mobile market in which all the presenters, including Ken Singer of MobiTV and Michael Young of The New York Times Co.,  pointed to real-life examples of how they’re using cell-phones to build audience and loyalty among younger listeners/viewers. Download Shabnum’s primer on mobile lingo from http://namme.org.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house after the viewing of Carolyn McDonald’s “P.N.O.K” [Primary Next Of Kin], a 20-minute film that featured heart-tugging vignettes about two U.S. Army soldiers making their daily rounds to notify families of loved ones killed in the War on Iraq.  That was followed by Fox Searchlight’s “La Misma Luna”, a poignant profile of an immigrant mother and son separated by the U.S./Mexico border and their quest to reunite. The Silent Auction, organized by the event’s sponsors Fox and News Corp., generated $8,680 for the NAMME Foundation.

NAMME’s sponsors for this year’s conference were The Associated Press, The Washington Post, The New York Times Company, The Boston Globe, Fox & News Corporation, the NAB and NABEF, DaimlerChrysler Corporation, NBC Universal, Lockheed Martin, LatinEVision and the Washington Convention & Tourism Corporation.

To set up interviews or to get additional information, please contact Nancy Osborn,
nosborn@namme.org or 703.854.7179.

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Contact: Toni Laws, (703) 854-7178
Neil Foote, (214) 448-3765

Media Advisory

Summer conference in Wash., DC to tackle content distribution,
advertising, diversity, and digital media issues
 

WHO: 
The National Association of Minority Executives (NAMME) is an influential,
multicultural organization of media managers and executives of color
working in newspapers, broadcasting, magazines and online media. Its
members work both in news and on the business side.
 
WHAT: 
Faced with increased competition and changing media consumption
patterns, several hundred media executives and managers of color
committed to diversity and inclusion will convene to strategize, analyze and
devise plans to infuse new energy into their businesses. 

Featured newsmaker luncheon speakers at the 2007 conference will
include on Wednesday, July 11 Dean Baquet of The New York Times,
moderated by The Washington Post’s Milton Coleman and on Thursday,
July 12 Democratic National Committee Chair Gov. Howard Dean
moderated by veteran CBS Correspondent Randall Pinkston. 

Additional panelists and presenters will be Newsweek essayist/author/journalist Ellis
Cose, Fernando Espuelas of VOY, Johnathan Rodgers of TV One, Rob
Curley of Washington.Post.Newsweek Interactive and Laura Marriott of the
Mobile Marketing Association, Mario Armstrong of The Digital Spin and
Pamela Mitchell of The Reinvention Institute™.  Diversity Inc. Magazine will
host a panel featuring representatives from the nation’s most diverse
companies, including Cox Communications, Coca-Cola, Pepsi Bottling,
Sodexho and Deloitte & Touche. The Washington Post will host a reception
at which NAMME will release a groundbreaking study on the deployment of
affinity groups at media companies. Fox and News Corp. will feature a
special, limited-seating reception and film screening at the Motion Picture
Association.
 
WHEN: 
Tuesday, July 10, 2007 thru Thursday July 12, 2007 
 
WHERE: 
Ritz-Carlton Hotel
1150 22nd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 202-835-0500

DETAILS: 
For conference registration and information visit
http://www.namme.org/programs/conference/registration/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

(Dallas, Texas – August 6, 2007) Olympic Gold Medalist Carly Patterson is appearing on NBC’s ‘Today Show’ Wednesday, August 8^th to discuss the launch of her new career as a singer and recording artist. Patterson is now setting her sights on trading in the ‘gold’ for ‘platinum’. 

“Lots of people have been asking me when I’d be starting my music career,” Patterson said from her home in Texas. “Well, I’m ready and so excited. I can’t wait!”

At the 2004 Summer Olympics, Patterson won a silver medal in team/balance beam and a gold medal in the all-around. She became the first American since Mary Lou Retton – in 1984 – to win the all-around competition.

For the past year, Patterson has been writing songs and working with musicians to develop her style and sound. She’s a big fan of Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani and fellow Texan-American Idol winner – Kelly Clarkson.  Over the past few months, Patterson has been busy in the studio and is scheduled to release her CD with the featured title song – ‘Back to the Beginning’ – on iTunes in early September.  A preview of her music is available on her MySpace.com page: http://myspace.com/carlypattersonmusic.

During her scheduled appearance on the Today Show, Patterson will not only talk about her experience in the Olympics, but share some insight on ‘what’s next’ with her music career.  On that day, the Today Show is expected to discuss the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which will start a year from that date and air on the network.  Hosts Meredith Vieira and Al Roker will be reporting from Beijing.

Patterson, who travels the country extensively participating in gymnastic clinics and public speaking, said her fans won’t be disappointed with her new career. “I’ve got some good things,” said Patterson, 19. “I’m really looking forward to seeing all my gymnastic fans and lots of others out there when I’m traveling.”

To set up interviews with Ms. Patterson, please contact Neil Foote, president, Foote Communications,

neil@neilfoote.com.

Contact:
Neil Foote, Foote Communications LLC
214.448.3765, neil@neilfoote.com

For Immediate Release

(Dallas, TX – July 31st, 2007) Central State University has received a check for $736,000 from the Tom Joyner Foundation, the single largest check donation to a Historically Black College & University (HBCU) during the Southwest Airlines Sky Show in Cleveland.

At the Sky Show, a live remote broadcast of the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show, Central State University accepted the check that will be used to help keep students at the school, based in Wilberforce, Ohio.

Over the past year, in conjunction with the Foundation, Central State has been raising money from alumni, friends and supporters of black colleges who donated whatever they could, ranging from several dollars to thousands of dollars.

“We’re grateful to all the donors and their support of HBCUs,” said Tom Joyner, the Foundation’s chairman and host of the ‘Tom Joyner Morning Show’ that reaches nearly eight million listeners every week in 120 markets. “Central State has proven that you can raise a whole lot of money if you get out to tell the story of how you’re changing the lives of these young black men and women.”

For the remainder of the year, the Foundation’s ‘Schools of the Month’ are Cheney State University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA for August; Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN for September; Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, FL for October and Savannah State University in Savannah, GA for November.  For information about the scholarship program, students should contact their school administrators directly to determine their eligibility.

The Foundation recently launched the “Brothers on the Move” scholarship that provides black male students at the ‘School of the Month’ a $1,500 scholarship. The scholarship is awarded every Thursday on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, which is aired in 120 markets reaching nearly eight million listeners every week. The Foundation offers scholarships to students attending its Schools of the Month throughout the week, including on Mondays focused on single parents and on
Wednesdays, general scholarship. 

Founded in 1998, the Tom Joyner Foundation has raised more than $55 million to help keep students enrolled in black colleges.  It has assisted more than 14,000 students and worked with more than 100 HBCUs. 

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(Dallas, TX – July 31st, 2007) Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is the featured August ‘School of the Month’ for the Tom Joyner Foundation®. 

In conjunction with the Foundation, Cheyney University, celebrating its 170th anniversary, is engaged in an aggressive campaign to raise money from alumni, friends and supporters of black colleges who are being asked donated whatever they can to help keep students attending Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs).

“We’re grateful to all the donors and their support of HBCUs,” said Tom Joyner, the Foundation’s chairman and host of the ‘Tom Joyner Morning Show’ that reaches nearly eight million listeners every week in 120 markets. “For all you Cheyney alumni and friends, here’s your chance to make a difference in these students’ lives and help Cheyney survive another 170 years.”

Throughout the year, Cheyney, the nation’s oldest HBCU founded in 1837, has hosted a series of fundraising events, including a ‘Knit Out’, a ‘Lunch with a Purpose’, an online auction and a golf tournament is scheduled for August.  Later this year, the Cheyney University National Alumni Association will hold its annual Blue and White Gala.

The foundation said Cheyney University, the alma mater for the late CBS broadcaster Ed Bradley -  was chosen as part of its on-going effort to assist these HBCUs in broadening and strengthening their efforts to raise money to help keep students attending these institutions.  As one of the Tom Joyner Foundation ‘Schools of the Month’, Cheyney will
receive funds raised from listeners, alumni and other interested parties during the month May.  Throughout the month, the Tom Joyner Morning Show will promote the university and award scholarships to deserving students.

For the remainder of the year, the Foundation’s ‘Schools of the Month’ are Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN for September; Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, FL for October and Savannah State University in Savannah, GA for November.  For information about the scholarship program, students should contact their school
administrators directly to determine their eligibility.

The Foundation recently launched the “Brothers on the Move” scholarship that provides black male students at the ‘School of the Month’ a $1,500 scholarship. The scholarship is awarded every Thursday on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, which is aired in 120 markets reaching nearly eight million listeners every week. The Foundation offers
scholarships to students attending its Schools of the Month throughout the week, including on Mondays focused on single parents and on Wednesdays, general scholarship. 

Founded in 1998, the Tom Joyner Foundation has raised more than $55 million to help keep students enrolled in black colleges.  It has assisted more than 14,000 students and worked with more than 100 HBCUs.