Mitch's Media Musings - April 2025

Mitch's Media Musings

March 16 - April 15, 2025

This month we note the passings of two people from Atlanta’s public relations and journalism world who made major impacts on our community. PR veteran Marilyn Pearlman and retired 11Alive reporter Jon Shirek both died this month. More below on each. To say that both will be greatly missed doesn’t begin to do justice to their contributions.

The first-ever ICey Awards will be presented on May 7! The awards recognize the work of independent PR professionals in Georgia in multiple categories.

4 Questions Journalist Spotlight – This month we’ve got Spotlights on Brian Clark with The Georgia Sun and Trevor Williams with Global Atlanta. You can also check out our recent interviews  with Faith Jessie and Zach Merchant, hosts of “The Georgia Vote” on WXIA TV/11Alive, and with Anila Yoganathan with the Atlanta Business Chronicle.. Find those in video format or listen to audio on just about any platform (Apple, Amazon, Spotify, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud etc.). To get your media outlet featured, email me at mitch@leffassociates.com to set it up.

Expert Sources for April and May: For journalists, we’ve got an assortment of sources on a range of topics.

Business - Goizueta Business School professor Usha Rackliffe can help with stories around tax season, professor Tom Smith can talk about the impact of tariffs, and professor Saloni Vastani can address the price of things (like eggs). (Contact: Kim Speece at Kim@leffassociates.com)

Education - K-12 education – Experts with redefinED atlanta can talk about threats from the DOE to Georgia’s Title 1 dollars, loss of federal funding for teacher training programs, dismantling of the DOE and Office of Civil Rights, local authorization of charter schools, equity in education, school achievement data (Milestones, NAEP), and Atlanta Public Schools. (Contact: Sonia Fuller, sonia@soniafullercommunications.com)

Legal Issues - Emory Law professors can talk about Anti-Trust topics and constitutional law issues. (Contact: Kim Speece at Kim@leffassociates.com)

Healthcare

• Dr. Cecil Bennett with Newnan Family Medicine can talk about general health issues, seasonal flu, benefits of flouride, Black maternal health, and the importance of vaccinations (Contact: Mitch Leff, mitch@Leffassociates.com)

• May is Foster Care Awareness Month! Wellroot Family Services can speak to all aspects of this topic. (Contact Meredith Fletcher, Meredith@PRbyFletcher.com

Fun, Food, Entertainment

• MomoCon is back May 22-25! MomoCon is a multi-genre convention for fans of all ages, celebrating costuming, comics, gaming, music, visual arts and voice acting. 2025 marks 20 years in Atlanta with 60K expected to attend. (Contact: Kim Speece at Kim@leffassociates.com)

• Atlanta restaurants are heating up for Cinco de Mayo. From Chido + Padre’s high-energy fiesta in Buckhead to Tin Lizzy’s three-day celebration across all locations, these  operators can speak to how the city celebrates and why Mexican flavors are always in season. Mother’s Day: At Nan Thai Buckhead, chef/owner DeeDee Niyomkul channels her mother’s culinary wisdom on the busiest day of the year. With dishes passed down through generations, DeeDee brings the soul of Thai cuisine—and her mom’s legacy—to every plate. She can talk about what this day means to chefs who are also daughters. (Contact: Gretchen Howard, gretchen@thinkMLA.com)

• Father’s Day - Kenneth Braswell, CEO, Fathers Incorporated, and National Director of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC). Braswell leads efforts to promote responsible fatherhood and strengthen families. With extensive experience in community development and father engagement, he drives impactful initiatives and policies. (Contact: Betsy Helgager Hughes, betsy@blhconsulting.net)

Keep that scroll button moving to see all our Musings for the month. A reminder that if you don’t see your news here, just shoot me an email. Changes in beats, awards, new publications are all of interest!

Enjoy!

Mitch Leff

Leff & Associates, Leff’s Atlanta Media, Mitch’s Media Musings

www.leffassociates.com, 404-861-4769

Mitch's Media Musings

March 16 – April 15, 2025

General

Marilyn Pearlman - I'm sad to share the news this month on the passing of Marilyn Pearlman. Marilyn was a PR legend of extreme energy ... as anyone who ever met her knows! I was introduced to her more than 30 years ago when she and I were profiled in a feature in the Atlanta Jewish Times about Jewish PR professionals. Details here.

Jon Shirek - Recently retired 11Alive reporter Jon Shirek died this week. We worked with him often on the night shift, which meant he often called late in the afternoon looking for a source for a story. Many times, that was a call after 5 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. We had a little bit of a ritual. He'd say "sorry to call you so late on a Friday." And I'd say "No worries, Jon. That's the job for both of us." One of the best journalists I’ve worked with over the last 30 plus years. One of the nicest guys I’ve ever met.

Gracie Awards - Congrats to WSB Radio's Veronica Waters, winner in the Outstanding News Reporter (Radio - Local) category, and to WXIA TV's Kaitlyn Ross in the Local - TV category for their story "Druid Hills Track Team Smashes Records" (with support from photojournalist Jon Samuels)

Georgia Association of Broadcasters - GAB inducted five journalists into its Hall of Fame: Pete Konenkamp, UGA and WGST Radio; Holly Steuart, WTVM; Bob Houghton; Mark Winne, WSB TV; Phil Scoggins, WRBL

ArtsATL - Gillian Renault retires as Senior Editor to go back to freelance writing. Her last day is April 18.

Atlanta Business Chronicle

• Henry Queen joins as a staff writer covering Delta Air Lines, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and other private-sector transportation topics. He spent three years at the Tampa Bay Business Journal, where he covered commercial real estate in St. Petersburg and transportation in Tampa. He is an Atlanta native and a 2021 graduate of the University of Georgia.

  
  

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

• Gavin Godfrey launches a new monthly series that seeks to answer the question, "Is Atlanta still America's Black Mecca?" Link

• Mirtha Donestorg launches a new series, "Her+Story." This new series highlights women founders, creators, executives and professionals with in-depth profiles and stories. Email at herstory@ajc.com. www.ajc.com/herstory.

• Shannon McCaffrey is now Deputy Managing Editor for News. The paper will be hiring someone to take over her former political beat.

Champion Newspaper - Bill Crane writes about his recent cancer diagnosis. Read more here.

Decaturish

• Check out the new “Know Your Neighbor” series, which highlights interesting people who live in the Decaturish community. To nominate someone you know for this new feature, email decaturish@appenmedia.com 

• Evelyn Cardwell is penning a new advice column for Decaturish Ink, titled "Life's A Drag

Urbanize Atlanta — Editor Josh Green has been covering gentrification, crazy NIMBYs, and real estate development around Atlanta for more than a decade, and he's poured that experience into a hilarious new novel (Goodbye, Sweetberry Park) that's out now. Green's been writing fiction since childhood, and his first novel (Secrets of Ash, also based in ATL and N. Georgia) won a number of accolades and is currently a finalist for an international book award contest he isn't allowed to name yet. 

WABE

• After 11 years, Stephannie Stokes departs the station. She writes that she'll be working on some personal projects but will be available for freelance work.

• The AJC's Rodney Ho reports the station is conducting some layoffs ahead of possible federal cuts. Seems like no reporters or on-air hosts are impacted but might be affecting producers and admin staffers.

WAGA/Fox5

• Reporter Paul Milliken was recognized in a House resolution for his "outstanding contributions to journalism and the Atlanta community."

• I-Team reporter Dana Fowle was named an "Outstanding Georgia Citizen" by the Georgia Secretary of State

• Good Day Atlanta anchor Buck Lanford is being inducted into the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame.

• For Asst. News Director Eric Ludgood has been named News Director at WRBL in Columbus

• Reporter Joi Dukes departs the station

WANF/Atlanta News First

• Congrats to Sawyer Buccy for receiving the NAMI Georgia Community Partner Award! NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

• Congrats to Georgia Reporter Abby Kousouris who got married this month!

• Tracy Green departs the station

• Alani Letang joins as general assignment reporter

WSB Radio - Longtime host Scott Slade reveals he has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer affecting plasma cells in the bone marrow. From WSB: "Beyond sharing his personal journey, Slade used the opportunity to highlight the importance of preventive healthcare. He credits routine checkups with playing a crucial role in his diagnosis and overall well-being." More details.

News from the PR Dept

• The first-ever ICey Awards will be presented on May 7! The awards recognize the work of independent PR professionals in Georgia in multiple categories. For information on the awards dinner, email me at mitch@leffassociates.com.

• Congrats to Nick Wolaver on his great work as publicist on the feature documentary "The Games in Black & White" executive produced by George Hirthler and Bob Judson with Alahna Lark and team. The world premiere is taking place April 26 at the Rialto Center for the Arts as part of the 49th Atlanta Film Festival. Fellow Atlanta Olympic alum Nancy Tao is managing several facets of the premiere event. 

• Art and life intersected for TV journalist-turned-marketer Crystal Bui, who earned her first silver screen credit as a fictional reporter in "Tyler Perry's Duplicity" which launched 3/20 on Amazon Prime and quickly ascended to the No. 1 spot. 

• Gina McKenzie, owner of GEM Public Relations, celebrates ten years in business!

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