Media Matters: Change of Venue for Tucson Shooting Trial? by Debra Opri, Esq.
January 17, 2011 by Monique Moss · Leave a Comment
Transparency issues and the need to appear fair are impacting federal authorities in their plan to move the trial of alleged gunman Jared Loughner to San Diego. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, 40, was struck in the head by a single bullet during the shooting rampage that killed six people and injured 13, including the congresswoman. Local defense attorney Judy Clarke, has been chosen to represent Loughner.
Citing federal law enforcement sources, several outlets reported in the past 24 hours that federal officials are planning to relocate the trial of the Arizona man to Southern California.
Though a handful of the U.S. prosecutors have a compelling argument – and many oppose any change of venue motion – that Loughner’s trial should not be moved in the interest of the Tucson community’s sense of justice for the purported unspeakable January 8th massacre, “it’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of time,” says an unnamed federal source. The new AZ chief judge, Roslyn Silver, will make the final decision about any venue change in a matter of days.
San Diego-based U.S. District Court Judge Larry A. Burns, whose jurisdiction is the Southern District of California, had been tapped to oversee the case after all the Arizona federal judges recused themselves because one of the rampage’s fatalities was Arizona’s chief federal judge, John Roll. While it is not unusual for a federal judge to relocate to another state in cases like these, it is unlikely that Burns, a former prosecutor nominated to serve the federal court in 2003 by George W. Bush, will be asked to do so.
The choice of Burns by Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was likely influenced by his court’s suitability for hosting the trial, analysts said. Defense attorney Judy Clarke also is based in San Diego, and the 400-mile distance from Tucson would be reasonable for witnesses and government lawyers to travel, experts said.
According to experts, San Diego, seat of the Southern District of California judicial region, is adjacent to the Arizona district and has experience providing tight security to high-profile trials, The next step is for the presiding judge to engage in a fact-based analysis, looking at all the different factors in finding a jurisdiction, the No. 1 being where can the defendant obtain a fair and impartial trial.
Certainly, the pre-trial publicity in Arizona has been enormous. However, what began as regional news soon grew into a national front page story and shortly after, an international preoccupation. With each and every new fact that appears and networks like CNN devoting full hours to any and all details of Loughner’s alleged crimes, isn’t every jury pool – no matter where the venue – going to have a preconceived disposition on the case? This has not just shaken the nucleus of potential Arizona jurors but each of us … to our very core.
Critically-lauded “Shark Tank” Returns to ABC Primetime
August 10, 2010 by Monique Moss · Leave a Comment
The ABC Television Network has ordered eight additional episodes of the critically-acclaimed series “Shark Tank,” the reality series that gives budding entrepreneurs a chance to make their dreams come true and become successful — and possibly wealthy — business people from Emmy Award®-Winning Producer Mark Burnett (“The Apprentice,” “Survivor”). The aspiring entrepreneurs must first try to convince five tough, multi-millionaire tycoons to part with their own hard-earned cash and give them the funding they need to jumpstart their business ideas.
Enter the Sharks of “Shark Tank,” self-made successful business people whose own entrepreneurial dreams came true. The five Sharks are fashion icon DAYMOND JOHN, real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, “infomercial” industry pioneer Kevin Harrington, technology innovator Robert Herjavec and financial expert Kevin O’Leary.
Joining the panel of Sharks for three episodes will be comedian Jeff Foxworthy. A self-made successful businessman in his own right, Foxworthy expanded his popular work in stand-up comedy into an empire of albums, books, hit comedy tours, and forays into television and radio, including his current work as host of “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” Foxworthy is the largest selling comedy-recording artist of all time.
As an entrepreneur, Foxworthy has a line of greeting cards and specialty products through American Greetings that are available at all Wal-Mart store; he has a line of You Might Be A Redneck If….calendars through Andrews McMeel Publishing, which have sold millions of copies; he also has his own line of beef jerky, as well as a line of barbeque sauces. In October 2003, the Nevada Gaming Commission granted approval for Aristocrat Technologies, Inc. to place its Jeff Foxworthy(tm) You Might Be A Redneck If…(r) video slot games in Nevada casinos. Station Casinos, Inc. was granted the right to introduce Aristocrat’s Jeff Foxworthy games into its 11 Las Vegas valley casino properties exclusively for 45 days prior to the game’s release to other Las Vegas off-Strip casino properties.
“Shark Tank” will return to production this Fall and will air in 2011.
Mark Burnett, Clay Newbill and Phil Gurin are the executive producers of “Shark Tank,” based on the Japanese “Dragons’ Den” format created by Nippon Television Network Corporation. The series is from Sony Pictures Television.
Go to: www.daymondjohn.com
Media Contacts: Dina White dina@integrated-pr.com or Monique Moss monique@integrated-pr.com
FRIENDLY HOUSE LA Presents 21st Annual Award Luncheon Honoree MARIANNE WILLIAMSON
August 10, 2010 by Monique Moss · Leave a Comment
Marianne Williamson, NY Times bestselling author and internationally acclaimed spiritual teacher, will be honored with the prestigious “Woman of the Year” award at Friendly House’s 21st Annual Awards Luncheon on Saturday, October 9, 2010 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Co-luncheon chair and longtime Board member, Kathleen Silver, will receive the “Excellent Service Award” announced today by Friendly House Exec. Director Peggy Albrecht.
Marianne, a tireless activist in her native Los Angeles, is renown as a best-selling author of ten books including A Return to Love, Everyday Grace, A Woman’s Worth, Illuminata and her current title, The Age of Miracles. Her acceptance will include a one-time only presentation on “Living Miraculously.”
Former honorees include Christopher Kennedy Lawford, Anne (Mrs. Kirk) Douglas, Candy Spelling, Carol Burnett, Betty Ford, Wallis Annenberg, Jamie McCourt, Barbara Sinatra and Ginny Mancini.
Kathleen Silver, who co-chairs this year’s Luncheon along with Peggy Albrecht, has been very active in the oldest women’s recovery program in the country for the past decade. Her tireless devotion has impacted countless lives and improved the reach and effectiveness of the respected nonprofit.
Friendly House’s star-studded 21st Annual Luncheon will be held on Saturday, October 9th at Beverly Hilton Hotel’s International Ballroom with silent auction beginning at 11 am. Individual tickets are $150 with Silver Circle tables at $3,000 and Gold Circle at $4,000 for a table of ten. For tickets/reservations, please call (213) 389-8810 or visit www.friendlyhousela.org
Event specifics: http://friendlyhousela.org/event.aspx?id=2009121413534915476172254102
ABOUT FRIENDLY HOUSE
Friendly House, the oldest women’s recovery program in the country, was founded in 1951 to assist women recovering from the diseases of alcoholism and drug addiction. They have successfully treated over 6500 women, with a substantial success rate. Friendly House, currently celebrating its 59th year helping women in recovery, has two residences, the newest of which is located in West Los Angeles donated by the William Shatner Family Foundation. No individual has ever been turned away from Friendly House for lack of funds. They are completely dependent upon fundraising activities and private donations. They receive no state, federal, or local funding.
Press Contact: Monique Moss 310-858-8230; 310-994-4582 monique@integrated-pr.com
Tommy Davidson & Celebrity Friends Host A Touch of Entertainment
June 2, 2010 by Monique Moss · Leave a Comment
(Los Angeles, CA- June 2, 2010) Tommy Davidson is hosting an unusual, one-man art exhibit at the SoHo Gallery, 12350 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604 on June 10, 2010, 5-8pm. Guests will watch renowned artist Hollenstein create an original work of vibrant colors and distinct lines which he will execute from the treads of his wheelchair. The Hollenstein-signature artwork will include hand prints of over a dozen celebrities and benefit Shane’s Inspiration, a children’s charity.
Other celebrity supporters scheduled to attend include Sterling Beaumon (LOST), Kate Linder (Young & The Restless), Lorna Scott (Wanted), Michael Papajohn (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), Lily Holleman (urFrenz), Michael Colyar (Last Comic Standing), Christopher Kennedy Lawford, Judy Tenuta and Matthew Borlenghi (General Hospital), among many others.
Hollenstein, a California native, became a quadriplegic after an accident when he was 25. With no desire to be seen as a victim, Hollenstein is dedicated to living to the fullest and using his disability in a way that it has not been before. Hollenstein’s artwork ranges from $1,600 – $4,800.
Sponsors for the event include BEHR, Basquiat Wine and Sushi Kingz and Monster Energy Drinks. Beneficiary charity, Shane’s Inspiration facilitates the growth and progress of playgrounds for children who are physically disabled to enjoy. For more information on his work please visit, http://www.tommyhollenstein.com/.
- Press Contacts: Monique Moss/Tara Romanella monique_asst@integrated-pr.com 323-446-8669 x2; 336.420.2654
ARE TELECOMMUNICATION GIANTS DRIVING DIGITAL CONTENT SALES?
April 30, 2010 by Monique Moss · Leave a Comment
There are numerous factors driving the move toward digitization – the conversion of traditional printed words into electronic formats – beginning with consumer demand. As digital reading devices become more affordable as well as easier to use, digital content becomes simpler to access. Consumer attitudes are evolving nearly as quickly as advances in digital technologies which aim to perfect the process that allows any laptop or mobile device to be “transformed” into a virtual e-reader.
While digitization of books opens up new avenues of strategic partnership, perhaps nothing lends itself more to collaboration than mobile telecommunications companies. While the popularity of e-book readers is steadily increasing, there are many people, including industry heavyweights, who believe that the growth of simple, dedicated devices used to read books electronically, may not be sustainable without advanced mobile technology. For example, more than 12 million e-books have been downloaded by the 18-month old Stanza e-reader iPhone application, which converts a cell phone into a small-screen e-reader.
It is a given that one of the biggest challenges for the entire digital reading market has been the price of these new devices ($189 – $829) plus the cost of digital content ($2.99 – $14.99), which in a perfect world is delivered via wireless modem (e.g., $30 monthly for iPad 3G connectivity). Considering the necessary delivery mode, major telecommunications companies are beginning to develop their own digital readers or, at the very least, exclusive access to specific partners (for high-speed connectivity) as is the practice with “smart phone” applications. It is logical, many believe, that smart phones and 3G data networks will become the most important drivers of digital content sales. Eventually, we may see the e-reader without two-way connectivity go the way of the eight-track tape player.
The availability of choices the e-book consumer has today is staggering. Each of the leaders – the Kindle, iPad, Sony Reader, Barnes and Noble Nook and PC – offers its own set of strengths and weaknesses. While one offers the ultimate portability, another allows for interactivity. Nevertheless, there is a vast and growing supply of increasingly savvy online users who are adept at operating multiple devices and can maneuver easily through free content, no matter the device. The answer may lie in consumers operating multiple devices with an integrated content flow from platform to platform: the right e-reader device for the corresponding end user with appropriate content for the specific electronic platform and/or device.
Differential rates of digital adoption by certain demographics require a need to explore both the various platforms on which readers can access content and the way segmented audiences’ prefer to consume content. The challenge, then, is finding the most efficient ways in which traditional and non-traditional publishers can reach consumers effectively while providing the widest variety of content at competitive prices in a fluctuating marketplace. Integrated technologies are allowing the consumer to access content efficiently (e.g., Kindle released a free application for MAC users to turn their laptop into an e-reader last month). Digital content consumption may vary from one demographic to another, dependent on need, usability, access and preference but the fluidity of digitization is opening creative channels to a multi-pronged approach – which includes strategic combination of publicity and marketing tactics – impacting diverse, segmented audiences toward increased book sales.
For more, email: monique@integrated-pr.com
COPS 4 CAUSES Honors American Heroes w/ SRO Fundraiser at Laugh Factory: Tommy Davidson Headlines
April 14, 2010 by Monique Moss · Leave a Comment
Cops 4 Causes, a leading non-profit organization of law enforcement officers, responded to the news of the tragic deaths of Marine Sgt Major Robert J. Cottle (LAPD Metropolitan Division/SWAT officer) and Lance Cpl Rick J. Centanni (son of Santa Ana Police Sgt Jon Centanni) with a benefit tribute honoring both men at the Laugh Factory in Long Beach on Thursday, April 8, 2010. Tommy Davidson served as headliner, Frasier Smith MC’d and stellar performances were donated by Bret Ernst, Aries Spears and Bryan Callen.
LAPD Police Chief Charlie Beck and LBPD Chief Jim McDonnell, along with Long Beach Fire Department Chief, showed unified support along with 600 guests for a most worthy cause. LAPD SWAT and the Marines had static display vehicles parked for the community to see and enjoy. Partnering organizations selflessly donating services included LAPD Metropolitan Division, Los Angeles Police Protective League, Long Beach Police Dept. , the Santa Ana Police Dept. and the Laugh Factory Long Beach.
$11,000 was raised to establish the “Robert J. Cottle Returning Veterans Hero LAPD SWAT and the Marines had static display vehicles parked for the community to see and enjoy. es Fund” and “Rick J. Centanni Fallen Heroes Scholarship,” according to Cops 4 Causes President, Christopher T. Landavazo.
To donate or learn more about the nonprofit organization: http://cops4causes.org/index.asp
Daymond John’s “THE BRAND WITHIN: From Birth to the Boardroom” due April 15
March 22, 2010 by Monique Moss · Leave a Comment
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, every day nearly 2, 500 people go into business for themselves. Their firms account for 78% of U.S. businesses and $951 billion in receipts. Entrepreneurship is abundant in America, especially in the current economic crisis, but how do these companies stand out from the rest in order to succeed?
THE BRAND WITHIN: HOW WE BRAND OURSELVES, FROM BIRTH TO THE BOARDROOM (DOP Publishing, ISBN 978-0-9825962-1-0) by Daymond John, founder/CEO of the revolutionary FUBU clothing line, brand strategist and star of the ABC hit reality show, SHARK TANK, is the second nonfiction book in the best-selling “Display of Power” series. THE BRAND WITHIN examines the loyalty of relationships companies seek to establish by attaching celebrities to their brands and the instantaneous impulses consumers exhibit when purchasing a product. Drawing on his cutting edge experience in the fashion business, as well as his hard-won insights developed as a sought-after marketing consultant to trendsetters and tastemakers, the author argues that branding relationships have now seeped into every aspect of our lives.
Daymond John is widely recognized as a branding and marketing authority in the ever-changing urban/pop culture marketplace. He describes the evolution of a brand – from its generic inception to its watermark – and offers expert commentary on iconic personal “brands” ranging from Tiger Woods to Muhammad Ali and branding as it pertains to corporations such as Blackberry and UPS, among others.
Back flap endorsements include gems from Jim Cramer, Donny Deutsch, Mark Burnett, Kim Kardashian, Barbara Corcoran and Kevin O’Leary among others. THE BRAND WITHIN, co-authored by Daniel Paisner who is credited with nine New York Times nonfiction bestsellers, is a dynamic roadmap to growing a successful brand.
For more go to: www.daymondjohn.com
Presales: http://www.amazon.com/Brand-Within-Power-Branding-Boardroom/dp/0982596219/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266609892&sr=8-4
The OCTOPUS Theory, the Bridge between Digital & Traditional Books
March 20, 2010 by Monique Moss · Leave a Comment
By the end of 2010, it is estimated nearly 10 million Americans will be reading books digitally. Whether it’s the Kindle, Sony Reader, iPAD, B&N Nook or a laptop that uses an app which coverts it to an e-reader, the digitization of books is here. As experts in public relations representation of a wide range of authors and as a firm known for effectiveness in helping titles reach bestseller status, we are now incorporating new strategies in our marketing campaigns.
The fluidity of the digitization of publishing encompasses layered strata of issues – from content to technology – evolving at an alarming speed. Just as e-books enlist both content and multimedia to reach the reader, the survival of books—both nonfiction and fiction—is best approached with a multi-pronged strategy that identifies the targeted consumer, the most suitable delivery mechanism for particular content and the promotional bridge that connects the two.
The multi-pronged OCTOPUS Theory that will perpetuate consumption of books – in traditional format as well as new media—includes:
Obligation to publish across multiple platforms
Cost-effectiveness of print on demand (POD) publishing
Technological syncing of digital content readable over multiple devices
Orchestration of direct communication between authors and readers
Pricing structure regulation for digital and print content
Uniform availability of content and e-readers at competitive prices
Strategic combination of publicity and marketing tactics
To speak with Monique Moss or learn more, email monique@integrated-pr.com
Got Shakespeare & Twain? Not Like This You Don’t!
March 19, 2010 by Monique Moss · Leave a Comment
Critically acclaimed educational publisher Gleeditions LLC has just launched its highly anticipated digital literary product line at Gleeditions.com (GLEE-dishuns). The culmination of years of hard work by dedicated scholars and innovative IT professionals, Guided Literary Etext Editions are a groundbreaking way to engage with classic texts.
Starting with three popular favorites—William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and The Tempest, and Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn—the site’s content, rich literary editions, are designed to promote close reading and critical thinking skills. Each interactive Gleedition features an acclaimed edition of the primary text, plus:
• Comprehensive, original annotations for Plot, Setting, Character, Vocabulary, Themes/Issues, Style, and Voice/Point of View
• Background in Brief contextual information—both historical and literary–
including maps, timelines, family trees, performance history (when applicable)
• Hyperlinked Index and Glossary, as well as Key-Word Search function
• Vivid imagery from celebrated sources (e.g., Royal Shakespeare Company)
This eco-friendly alternative to traditional texts is also extremely cost-effective and practical. At only $9.95 per month and accessible from any computer or WiFi-enabled device, Gleeditions are like getting seven texts in one—for a fraction of the price. “This is terrific work . . . very easy to use, clear, and deeply informed,” says Professor James Kincaid of USC.
Take a test drive at Gleeditions.com and discover an amazing new way to interact with and understand the world’s greatest literature. http://www.gleeditions.com/
B&N’s newly named CEO says “Digital Books are the Key to our Future”
March 18, 2010 by Monique Moss · Leave a Comment
The world’s largest bookseller said Thursday that it was replacing Chief Executive Steve Riggio with William Lynch, the head of its online division, in a move many saw as a sign that the company was embracing the changing nature of the book business. Lynch, 39, joined the bookseller a little over a year ago as president of its website, Barnes & Noble.com.
As many of us believe, the digitization of books — fiction and nonfiction — is key to its survival and clearly, a vital part of the changing landscape of publishing. Combine this with consumer preference as the driving force fueling the evolving book business and it’s logical that B&N would promote a technological savant from within to helm the entire company.
to read more on this topic, go to: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-barnes-noble19-2010mar19,0,3703405.story