PR Executive of the Year

Dan Silberman joined AETN in ’06 and immediately got to work helping to hone the PR department into the well-oiled machine of today, even establishing AETN’s first West Coast presence. These days, Silberman specifically oversees A&E, BIO Channel and Crime & Investigation Network, juggling those duties with professionalism and a pleasant disposition even as he manages publicists in both NYC and L.A. Reporters trust him, and that has paid dividends. A&E, in particular, has been on a tear lately with critically acclaimed hits like “Bates Motel” living alongside equally lauded reality fare like “Duck Dynasty” and even the award-winning “Intervention,” which will finally end its run after 13 successful seasons. Not only did Bates make a big splash with critics and viewers, but Silberman’s smart media strategies have also helped propel Duck Dynasty’s to the stratosphere, with its season finale beating “American Idol” and every other show on TV when it aired in April. And through it all, Silberman must manage talent that includes everyone from A-list stars in L.A. to the boys of the other LA… Monroe, LA, to be exact. If Silberman’s duties stopped at publicity, that would be enough—but he also has become a key advisor when it comes to content development. In the end, Silberman is one of those rare execs who brings more to the table than what’s found in his job description. And that’s saying a lot.

 

An excellent communicator, Albert has kept Nat Geo’s PR department humming on all cylinders despite personnel changes and evolving program strategy over the last couple of years.

 

Since joining QVC in ’11, Capelli has created a global communications approach while also creating a corporate events function and redefining internal communications. He has greatly upped QVC’s media coverage, especially when it comes to the exposure of CEO Mike George.

 

Leadership changes. Rebrands. Acqusition uncertainty. None of those factors ever phased Furuta as she maintained key relationships with reporters. Now that CBS has joined the party, we expect more great things from this savvy PR pro.

Handling communications at a cable operator requires patience and fortitude—not to mention a steadfast devotion to maintaining trust with journalists. Huff’s solid in those departments.

 

No cable operator has weathered more storms than Charter over the last decade, from Paul Allen to bankruptcy to its recent revival. Lamont has been there through it all. And her knack for communicating Charter’s value over the years has been a huge asset to the company.