WHO IS HE?

With more than four decades of experience as a public relations professional and former journalist, Jerry Brown brings a practical, effective approach to helping clients tell their story so it's heard, understood and remembered.

As a public relations professional, Jerry has a track record of achieving strong results in high-impact, high-stress situations. Jerry’s known for his problem-solving skills and creativity in finding new ways to tell clients ’ stories. He brings energy, enthusiasm, judgment and skill to what he does. Recognized as one of the top writers virtually everywhere he’s worked, he’s the author of the Monday Morning Media Minute, a respected weekly media tip distributed by e-mail for more than five years to executives and professionals throughout the United States. (Contact him at jerry@pr-impact.com to be added to the distribution list.) Jerry's an accredited member (APR) of the Public Relations Society of America and a former board member of PRSA ’s Colorado chapter.

During 20 years as a journalist, Jerry worked for The Associated Press (he was assignment editor for AP ’s Washington bureau during Watergate); daily newspapers in Little Rock, Fort Worth and Denver; the U.S. Information Agency; and two trade publications.

WHAT DOES HE DO?

– PR Counseling: Good public relations isn’t rocket science. It’s about common sense and judgment. Jerry brings a practical, effective approach to helping clients.

– Spokesperson Training: You owe reporters your best explanation of your story. You owe yourself the opportunity to tell your story so it'll be heard, understood and remembered – without making the common mistakes that can turn an interview into a disaster. As a seasoned public relations professional and former journalist, Jerry’s been on both sides of thousands of media interviews. He’ll teach you how to tell your story effectively and avoid falling for techniques reporters use to get people to say things they shouldn’t. A lot of PR professionals claim to provide spokesperson training, but only a few do it well. Jerry does it well at surprisingly affordable prices. And his media training includes up to two hours of phone consultation per participant for 30 days following the training.

– Media Relations: Having trouble getting your story told by the media? Jerry will help you frame your story to maximize your chances of getting it covered. And he’ll write your news releases and pitch your stories as well, if you like.

– Message & Strategy Development: If you’re struggling to get your story heard, understood and remembered, maybe you’ve got the wrong strategy and the wrong messages. Jerry can help. You can hire him for an extended time or, if you just need a second opinion, he’s available for phone consultations.

– Writing: Jerry’s been writing for a living for more than four decades – and he’s been recognized as one the best writers just about everywhere he’s worked. He’s served as chief speechwriter for two company presidents, one CFO and numerous other executives. He’s also written press releases, annual reports, employee articles and collateral.

WHERE HAS HE BEEN?

Public Relations

Corporate Experience

– U S WEST (now Qwest) and Dex Media (now R. H. Donnelley): Member of U S WEST’s corporate public relations staff for nearly 17 years and Dex Media’s corporate public relations staff for two years. High-profile, high-impact experience that included:

– Media Relations: Spearheaded successful effort to change media relations efforts of U S WEST’s regulated telephone subsidiary from a reactive, answer-the-phone-when-reporters-call activity to an active, coordinated program that used media coverage to promote and sell products and services of this 14-state regional phone company. At Dex, more than doubled media placements in first year.

– Executive Communication: Chief speechwriter for two phone-company presidents, U S WEST’s chief financial officer and several other executives. Developed and led a successful effort to use executive speeches as a strategic tool to tell the company's story to key audiences instead of a reactive activity in which executives spoke to any group that invited them.

– Employee Communication: Editor of well-respected employee newsletter at U S WEST and regular contributor to company’s employee publications.

– Financial Communication: Provided PR support for U S WEST’s Investor Relations Department for five years. Responsible for news releases, annual reports, executive presentations and other financial communication.

– Crisis Communication: Successfully handled many crisis situations at U S WEST and Dex, including strikes, service outages, directory errors and numerous other issues.

Agency Experience

– Independent Experience: As an independent public relations practitioner, Jerry specializes in media relations, media training, crisis communications and writing. Clients include American Animal Hospital Association, Blue Marble Enterprises, Brilliant Blue, Chinese Executive Media Management Program (CEMMP), CIBER, Local Insight Media. Jerry has delivered workshops for Ragan Communications, PR Newswire, the Public Relations Society of America (including two PRSA International Conferences) and others. He wrote a media relations manual published by Ragan Communications and has written the Monday Morning Media Minute, a weekly media tip distributed via e-mail, for more than five years.

– Corporate Advocates: Senior public relations counselor for small Denver-based public/government relations agency with big clients. Focused on high-tech clients, including the Blu-ray Disc Association and EDS.

Journalism

During 20 years as a journalist, Jerry worked for The Associated Press (he was assignment editor for AP ’s Washington bureau during Watergate); three daily newspapers (Rocky Mountain News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Arkansas Gazette), the U.S. Information Agency and two trade publications that covered energy and natural resources.

As a reporter, he has covered two state legislatures (Colorado and Utah); numerous local, state and federal agencies; water, air, energy and other natural resources issues; transportation; courts; education and a variety of other issues.