Pittsburgh Black Media Federation Elects 2018-19 Officers

The Pittsburgh Black Media Federation is proud to announce its newly elected board officers, who will help steer the award-winning chapter forward.

The leaders and the offices they will take next year are Brian Cook Sr., president; Olga George, vice president; and Briana L. White, treasurer (incumbent).

All are current board members whose efforts contributed to PBMF being named the professional chapter of the year by the National Association of Black Journalists in August.

"The Pittsburgh Black Media Federation has a rich history and it is our duty, through programming and community partnerships, to continue to build an inclusive media environment in the Western Pennsylvania area," Cook said. "It is a tremendous pleasure to serve this organization in a leadership capacity and I'm looking forward to the years ahead."

The new officers' terms will begin Jan. 1, 2018, and end Dec. 31, 2019.

Cook, who is serving his second two-year term as PBMF's vice president, is the owner of Golden Sky Media Co. LLC, a multimedia company specializing in video production, photography and documentary filmmaking.

He is also a freelance multimedia journalist with NBCNews.com, The New Pittsburgh Courier, PublicSource and other media outlets.

He is a former web content manager and national journalist for Sheridan Broadcasting Networks and the American Urban Radio Networks, where he also shot, edited and produced video.

Cook has a Bachelor of Science in communications from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

George is an assignment desk editor at KDKA-TV 2 whose responsibilities include filtering all the stories coming into the newsroom, and then assigning those stories to reporters and photographers.

She also works with CBS News to feed local stories of national interest to "The Early Show," "CBS Evening News" and affiliates across the country.

George currently serves on PBMF's board as chair of its Frank Bolden Urban Multimedia Workshop Committee. She also served as PBMF's treasurer for 13 years until 2014.

She has a bachelor's degree in journalism and communication from Point Park University.

"I'm looking forward to working with Brian Cook and the other elected board members in serving the community. I thank outgoing President Tory N. Parrish for all her hard work and dedication and hope to continue the same positive energy she brought," George said.

White was re-elected treasurer, a title she has held since January 2016.

She has been a budget analyst for Pittsburgh Public Schools' Teen Parenting Program since 2014.

In 2015, she founded Breelicious Bites, a Pittsburgh-based food blog, and began writing restaurant reviews for The Soul Pitt Quarterly Magazine. She recently began writing restaurant reviews for The New Pittsburgh Courier.

She also judges culinary competitions and partners with restaurants on promotional campaigns.

White has a Bachelor of Science in international business from Carlow University.

"I'm excited to serve as PBMF's treasurer for a second term. I'm looking forward to continuing the momentum we have built after winning chapter of the year in 2017," she said.

Voting took place online and by paper ballot last week.

No candidates ran for the office of parliamentarian or secretary, so the incoming president will make appointments to those offices and they will be confirmed by the new administration.

The same process will take place for filling the chairs' seats for the Membership, Special Events, Communications and Outreach, Professional Development and Frank Bolden Urban Multimedia Workshop Committees. The committee chairs will become members of the board.

Founded in 1973, PBMF is a nonprofit organization whose members are journalists, public relations professionals, and college professors and students in schools of journalism and related disciplines.

PBMF advocates for fair coverage of communities of color and conducts media education and training programs.

The chapter's signature programs are the annual Robert L. Vann Media Awards, which recognizes excellent coverage of African-American communities and issues; the Frank Bolden Urban Multimedia Workshop, a summer training program for teens; the Soul Café, a music and arts showcase that raises scholarship funds; and the Edna McKenzie Fellowship, which supports members with international reporting projects.

The chapter's programs also include professional development panels, media education sessions, social events and community service projects.

In addition to being named the professional chapter of the year in 2017, PBMF tied for the title in 2015.

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