Ed Bryson

I'm a recovering journalist and experienced public relations strategist and practitioner.

I worked in TV news in Mississippi for 13 years, covering everything under the [hot] sun there. I even played myself in a tiny moment in the Rob Reiner film, "Ghosts of Mississippi," in a scene recreating my interview with the white supremacist who murdered civil rights leader Medgar Evers. An amazing experience as a reporter and otherwise!

In PR, my strengths are strategy and message development, solid writing skills, creative idea development, media relations, project and program management, media and message training. I'm currently helping lead issues management and proactive media relations for a large health care provider, and support other clients that include a major craft beer maker, a large financial services brand, and a telehealth provider. Previously, I lead an integrated grassroots communications program in Texas for Chevrolet. Before that, for about four years, I supported Yahoo!'s B2B business units -- display advertising, search marketing, and small business solutions -- with ongoing media and analyst relations and creative project concepting and execution. I also have experience in telecom, utilities, and other sectors.

Spending many years in a newsroom, followed by years in business/corporate communications work adds up to this:

I work with a sense of urgency when the situation calls for that (which is almost always). I like to think that I understand 'how things work' -- how to connect dots, think long term, consider lots of implications, consequences, and stakeholder impact, externally as well as within an organization.

I have a sense of humorand consider it a strategic asset in this profession! I do try to take work seriously as needed, but without taking myself too seriously.

I don't think organizations can "PR" their way out of real business failings -- like poor products or lousy customer service. PR does help you put your very best foot forward, with credibility, to build a trusted, earned reputation that supports your business goals.