Event Description
As long as Americans have buying power, the need for consumer writing won’t go away. Our distinguished panel of writers from various media has applied their writing talents to helping consumers with their purchases. While consumer reporting has been underfunded compared to other journalism beats in recent years, these writers have worked diligently to bring the best information to the public. They will discuss the state of consumer reporting today, the litigious environment some reporting has come up against, and what bright spots appear on the horizon for this area of reportage.
Our panelists:
DOUG KRIEGEL is a general assignment (GA) reporter and a familiar face on NBC4’s “Channel 4 News.” As Money Editor, Kriegel did a nightly segment at 6 p.m. beginning in 1985 that covered breaking economic news, money tips, consumer fraud, the California real estate market, restaurant reports and entertainment industry stories.
As a GA reporter, Kriegel has garnered several awards. In 1983, his series “Whatever Happened to Real Men” was honored with a Los Angeles area Emmy Award. The series also landed an Associated Press Award for television reporting, best feature in California and the Los Angeles Press Club Award for excellence in television reporting.
Kriegel joined KNBC in 1978 as state capital correspondent and Sacramento Bureau Chief. His special series on “Lobbyists in Sacramento” was the first behind-the-scenes look that any television station had done on lobbying in the state capitol. Before he became a television news reporter, Kriegel was an economist and stock market analyst at Lord Abbett and Company on Wall Street.
SUSAN KARLIN is an award-winning, internationally published journalist who primarily covers science, technology, entertainment and business. She has written for such publications as Newsweek, Forbes, Esquire and The New York Times; garnered more than two dozen writing awards; and appeared on numerous TV and radio shows, including “Good Morning America,” CNN, NPR and BBC. She has also traveled to every continent, reporting from such diverse areas as Vietnam, the Arctic and the West Bank.
GERRI MILLER is an entertainment and lifestyle writer, editor and reporter who regularly contributes to an eclectic variety of outlets: Hollywood.com, Men’s Fitness, Glamour, Estylo and Estylo.com, scholasticnews.com, Howstuffworks.com, Nickelodeon, TV Week, Redbook, Maxim, American Jewish Life, JVibe, Lupus Now, M, Show Magazine, ELDR and ELDR.com, Southern California Life50+, and CosmoGirl, and recently completed a part-time temp writing gig with People.com.
She has been freelance since 1998, following 17 years as a Sterling’s Magazines’ editor on titles including Movie Mirror and Metal Edge. Her other credits include More, iVillage.com, Parents.com. Everydayhealth.com, The Detroit Jewish News, Satellite Direct, Muscle & Fitness, Life & Style Weekly, and TV Guide. She has also written band biographies, liner notes and trivia questions for games and the TV game show “Hollywood Showdown.”
MODERATOR
LILLI CLOUD has more than 20 years of experience in developing and delivering persuasive communications to generate results with target audiences. She works with companies to develop strategic communications, organizational positioning and messaging, and teaches people how to refine and deliver their messages electronically, in print, and through verbal communication. Last year, Lilli started Blue Feet (YourBlueFeet.com), which takes the tools used to brand and market companies and applies them to executives changing careers or entrepreneurs launching their own businesses.
Lilli has worked as vice president for PainePR, and she was formerly a vice president with the international public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard, where she handled corporate and public affairs accounts.