Hood Named as PRWeek Editor-In-Chief

8/12/2002

From: Julia Hood, 415-618-0819 Jonah Bloom, 646-638-6031 Lisa Kirk, 646-638-6010 all of PRWeek

NEW YORK, Aug. 12 -- Julia Hood has been named as the new editor-in-chief of PRWeek, the leading weekly title for the public relations business. She takes up the role with effect from September 23, 2002.

Hood succeeds Jonah Bloom, who joins Advertising Age as executive editor after a year at the helm of PRWeek.

Hood is a Connecticut native who earned her MA in journalism at New York University. She joined PRWeek in 2000 as a reporter covering the healthcare and airline industries. Prior to that, she held a number of PR research and media relations positions with Mobil and BAT Industries. She has also worked with the National Kidney Foundation.

Most recently, Hood was PRWeek's bureau chief for the Bay Area and Northwest, and has led the magazine's coverage of the technology and telecommunications sectors. She has also been instrumental in building the magazine's coverage of corporate and public affairs on the West Coast.

"As America moves towards an era of greater corporate responsibility, the PR industry continues to prove itself essential to fundamental business objectives," Hood said. "At the same time, the industry cannot grow complacent. Our goal at PRWeek is to offer analysis, news and data that will constantly challenge PR professionals to respond to the increasingly complex business environment."

PRWeek, which has editions in the UK, Germany and Hong Kong as well as the US, is the most widely-read magazine for PR professionals worldwide, and covers all disciplines within the industry including investor relations, public affairs and consumer marketing. It is published by Haymarket Media Inc.

"PRWeek has rapidly established itself as the essential read for PR professionals throughout the US, and as we approach the magazine's fourth birthday we are extremely proud to be able to promote someone as talented as Julia to the top job," said Lisa Kirk, PRWeek's Publishing Director. "Naturally we are disappointed to see Jonah go as he has been pivotal to the development of the title over the last 12 months, but we wish him well in his new role."