Fred Cohen and Rita Fredricks Salzman Appointed Chair and
Vice Chair of PCI-Media Impact
Appointees Bring Wealth of
Global Experience to PCI-Media Impact’s
Expanding Programs
December 12, 2006 – PCI-Media Impact, a global not-for-profit
producer of innovative TV and radio shows featured in over
25 countries, today announced that its Board of Directors
has appointed Fred Cohen as Chair and Rita Fredricks Salzman
as Vice Chair of its Board.
Mr. Cohen is the chairman of the International Academy of
Television Arts and Sciences. Previously, he was President
of King World International Productions and Executive Vice
President of CBS Broadcast International. Ms. Fredricks,
once a star of the stage and screen, serves on numerous boards,
including the American University in Paris, France. She was
married to Ambassador Herbert Salzman, who until his death
had served as Ambassador to the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Administrator of the
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Until his retirement in 2002, Mr. Cohen sold and produced
TV shows outside the United States, including Wheel of Fortune,
Jeopardy!, Hollywood Squares and Oprah Winfrey. Mr.
Cohen succeeds Victoria Staebler, who continues as a senior
financial adviser to the Global Private Clients Group at
Merrill Lynch in Wellesley , Massachusetts .
“ The potential impact of our programs on health
and poverty is infinite,” said Mr. Cohen. “We’re
not just talking about behavior change today, but something
much more exciting and long-term: people taking actions in
their own communities to improve their lives and the lives
of others for a long time. So I look forward to helping PCI-Media Impact’s
talented staff devise ever-more innovative programs to support
the people in the hardest-hit places around the world."
Rita Fredricks Salzman is a long-time PCI-Media Impact supporter, having
served two complete terms on PCI-Media Impact ’s Board. She produced
the video “T elling Stories, Saving Lives,” a
documentary of PCI-Media Impact programs “in action” around
the world. The video is a rich source of information for
current PCI-Media Impact supporters and for potential individual and institutional
donors wishing to learn about how PCI-Media Impact develops its entertainment-education
dramas.
“I’m always intrigued by the power of storytelling
and how it moves people to make positive decisions in their
lives,” said Ms. Fredricks, who had featured roles
in a number of television series, including ‘Studio
One,’ ‘Playhouse 90,’ ‘As the World
Turns,’ and ‘Bonanza.’ “But as an
organization, PCI-Media Impact creates a bridge between broadcast media
and the NGO community – a nexus that until now did
not exist – and this strikes me as the critical reason
for being. For this and many other reasons I’m proud
to continue my role as a decision-maker within the organization.”
In announcing the appointments, PCI-Media Impact Executive Director
Michael Castlen said: "Fred and Rita bring a diversity
to PCI-Media Impact and its programs unseen in recent years and mark an
important new phase in PCI-Media Impact’s growth. Drawing on their
years of experience in the media and creative worlds, PCI-Media Impact
will be able to expand, forge new strategic partnerships
and increase our funding to meet the challenges that lie
ahead. I’m delighted that Fred and Rita are joining
us…they bring great knowledge, skill and energy to
our programs.”
<< Back to
News
|
