Thornley Fallis Communications is pleased to announce that Sherrilynne Starkie has joined our team as an Account Director in our Ottawa office.

From 2006 to 2011, Sherrilynne was the owner and manager of Strive Public Relations, a boutique communications services company in the UK offering specialist services in corporate reputation management, digital public relations and social media engagement. During this time Sherrilynne was also the technology columnist for the Isle of Man Examiner, was named in the top three of the UK PR Weeks’ Power Players of Social Media Index and was No.1 on ZDnet UK Tech PR list.

From 2000 to 2003 she was Chief Operation Officer for Ignition Strategic Communications, a Washington DC-based PR agency (now part of The Chandler Chicco Agency) serving technology and start-up firms across the nation.

From 1994 to 1999, Sherrilynne held a variety of roles with UK-based public relations agencies including The Reputation Managers (then a PR Week Top 10 Agency) and with AIMM Limited (now part of The Sequel Group). 

For almost 20 years, Sherrilynne has been advising blue-chip organisations on both sides of the pond…covering Britain, Canada and the United States. She brings to Thornley Fallis a wide breadth of international experience in strategic communications, media relations, social media strategy, and in employee and stakeholder engagement. Her track record for success covers such industries as Internet, IT, financial services, postal services and  travel and tourism.

An Ottawa native, Sherrilynne graduated from Algonquin College Public Relations Program. You can connect with Sherrilyne online: Blog, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

NEWS RELEASE
“Capturing the Arab Awakening” Al Jazeera’s Tony Burman

Canadian journalist Tony Burman will describe the challenges facing media outlets, including his own Al-Jazeera English (AJE) network, in capturing the revolutionary events of the “Arab Awakening” at the 13th annual Canadian World Press Freedom Awards luncheon in Ottawa, May 3, World Press Freedom Day.

Mr. Burman is now based in Washington as the head of strategy for the Americas for the Qatar-based Al Jazeera’s television network. Burman says that many TV sets in the White House, State Department, and the Pentagon were fixated on AJE’s coverage of the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and elsewhere – receiving widespread praise in U.S. media circles. The former editor-in-chief of CBC News guided AJE’s growth in North America, including its launch on every major cable and satellite platform in Canada, with the worldwide audience reaching 220 million households.

At its luncheon May 3, hosted by broadcaster Don Newman, the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom (CCWPF) will present the 13th annual Press Freedom Award to a Canadian journalist who has suffered or advanced the cause of freedom of expression. The 11th annual International Editorial Cartoon Competition will also reward international cartoonists for submissions on the theme, “Wikileaks and its creators: villains or heroes?” Winning cartoons will be displayed.

The Press Freedom Award includes a cash prize of $2,000 and a certificate of honour from the CCWPF and the Canadian Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The International Editorial Cartoon Competition comprises awards of $1,500, $750 and $500.

Mr. Burman will present examples of stellar television reporting of the “Arab Awakening” and discuss the challenges to free expression in the region and to diversity of viewpoints in North America.

This year’s Awards come as violations of freedom of expression continue with 87 journalists killed in 2010. There are also new and ominous trends in the threat to free speech: last year more than 50 journalists were kidnapped for ransom or political propaganda, more than 500 were arrested, and more than 1,300 were attacked or threatened.

Tickets are available at: www.ccwpf-cclpm.ca, 613-233-1699 X 6229

Further information: Gord McIntosh, gord@110percent.ca; or Bob Carty, rcarty@sympatico.ca

In a move reflecting the agency’s growth and commitment to client service and the seamless integration of off-line and on-line communications, Thornley Fallis Communications has added senior consumer marketing communications talent to its leadership team.

Jo Langham, ABC has more than 20 years of marketing communications experience spanning the agency, consulting and corporate environments and joins Thornley Fallis as Senior Vice-President & General Manager, Toronto.   With an award-winning reputation for planning and leading innovative, high-impact strategic communications campaigns, Jo will share responsibility for the overall performance and strategic direction of the agency, provide senior client counsel and manage professional development for Toronto staff.

“Thornley Fallis & 76design has established an excellent reputation built on our commitment to provide smart thinking, deliver creative solutions, achieve spectacular results, and exceed our
clients’ expectations. The company has the ability to do this because we have assembled an exceptional team of senior counsellors, strategists, project leaders, designers and developers with a wealth of communications expertise and experience,” said Joseph Thornley, Chairman & CEO of Thornley Fallis Communications Inc.   “In hiring Jo we reiterate our commitment to providing truly integrated communications solutions to our clients.”

Prior to joining Thornley Fallis Jo spent the last four years with a leading independent communications company where she managed the consumer marketing practice and was a member of the senior leadership team. She has experience in a broad range of industries including food & beverage, health & wellness, financial, leisure, beauty and energy and has worked with a variety of internationally recognized brands including Coca-Cola, CIBC VISA, Kellogg Canada, International Schizophrenia Foundation, Toronto Hydro and Unilever.

Jo is an accredited member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), serves on the Accreditation Council of the IABC and is Secretary to the Board of Central Eglinton Children’s Centre.

Thornley Fallis is an innovative, full-service public relations, communications and marketing agency that helps organizations reach, connect with, and build and sustain positive relationships with their communities through the integrated use of on-line and off-line communications tactics.

76design is a creative services and web development agency that conceptualizes, designs and develops brands, identities, print materials, website applications, videos, widgets and tools that enable organizations to reach, connect with and create value for their communities.