Journalists and PR professionals met to improve relations and the story pitches PR people make to the media by participating in the event that’s been doing it for more than a decade. Twenty-two media representatives and 64 public relations people met Sept. 19 at the 11th annual Valley Publicity Summit, hosted by your Valley of the Sun SPJ chapter, at SkySong, the ASU Innovation Center in Scottsdale.

In 2014, the event attracted 54 public relations professionals, while 45 attended in 2013.

These Valley journalists volunteered their time, and did so with the chapter’s sincere thanks!: Melissa Larsen, managing editor of Arizona Foothills magazine; Mary Ann Bashaw, managing editor, Raising Arizona Kids magazine; Richard Ruelas, Arizona people reporter, The Arizona Republic  and azcentral.com; Lauren Saria, food editor of Phoenix New Times; Shawndrea Corbin, assistant editor, Phoenix Home & Garden magazine; Kathy Tulumello, business editor, The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com; Sue Doerfler, retail/innovations/entrepreneurs reporter, The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com; Ilana Lowery, editor-in-chief of the Phoenix Business Journal and Eric Jay Toll, the Journal‘s economic development, banking and finance, infrastructure, transportation and utilities reporter; Terrance “T.F.” Thornton, North Valley news editor, Independent Media Inc; Carrie Jung, reporter, KJZZ (91.5 FM-NPR); Jennifer Jones, senior content coordinator, KTVK-TV (Channel 3) and KPHO-TV (Channel 5-CBS); Scott Davis, senior assignment editor, KTVK-TV (Channel 3) and KPHO-TV (Channel 5-CBS); Paul Ihander, news director/assistant program director, Bonneville Media-Phoenix (KTAR-FM/KTAR-AM); Eric Watson, assignment editor, KPNX-TV (Channel 12-NBC); Elvia Diaz, editor, La Voz and TV y Mas; Maritza L. Felix, senior reporter, Prensa Hispana; Nicole Crites, evening anchor, KTVK-TV (Channel 3); Debra Utacia Krol, freelancer specializing in environmental reporting, issues involving Indian country and travel writing; Tom Gibbons, editor, Talk of Arizona online quarterly; and Christina Barrueta, WriteOnRubee freelance food and beverage writer.

For its support of the 2015 Valley Publicity Summit, Valley of the Sun SPJ expresses its sincere gratitude to Fingerpaint:

The chapter also extends sincere appreciation to R&R Partners and to News Exposure, aka Media Monkey Biz, for their additional support of the 2015 Summit:

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Already preparations are under way for the 2016 Valley Publicity Summit. Return to phoenixspj.org for more information coming soon!