Marilyn Katz – Founder & President
The founder and president of MK Communications, Inc. is Marilyn Katz,
whose work in media and in public policy formed the basis for the firm's
creation. Trained as a sociologist, in fact, Ms. Katz has followed a dual
track career. In the 1970s Ms. Katz relocated in California where she
pursued her dual interests in media and public policy. During those years
Ms. Katz worked as a writer, producer and director of educational and
theatrical films. At the same time she wrote about and advocated for public
policy reform of a variety of government institutions.
Shortly after Ms. Katz returned to Chicago in 1982 she, in partnership
with a California firm, formed the media/press team for the Harold Washington
Mayoral Campaign. It was this experience, the combining of public policy
interests with media skills, that caused her to found MK Communications
as a vehicle to marry public policy goals with organizational strategies
that brought public support and program realization.
Ms. Katz received her formal training in sociology and political science
at both Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University and Northwestern University.
She is the recipient of numerous awards for films and campaigns, grants
from both the Carol and Ping Ferry and Russell Sage Foundations for policy-related
research projects and the author of numerous articles and a published
book, The Glass House Tapes (Avon, 1973). She is a fellow of Leadership
Greater Chicago, sits on a variety of boards and voluntary organizations.
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PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
1983 – POLITICAL/MEDIA CONSULTANT – Public strategy, media
(earned and advertising) creation and execution and community outreach
for political candidates and public interest organizations, (client list
attached).
1983 – Spring ASSOCIATE PRODUCER – Producer, in charge of all
line production for "The Red Shoes" and "Wind in the Willows",
for Universal Studios through the Television Theatre Company, New York,
with the Minneapolis Children's Theatre.
1983 – MEDIA/PRESS CONSULTANT – Harold Washington's Mayoral
Campaign. Responsible for media/ press strategy and implementation.
1982 – 1983 Writer/Producer – With Television Theatre Company
New York. Produced in Chicago a series of music programs for RKO –
"The Blues: Living and Legend", and a series of commercials
in NYC.
1980 – 1983 Writer/Producer/Director – Goldsholl Associates,
Northfield, Illinois. Responsible for writing of all film proposals, and
scripting; responsible for producing all live action and animated films,
responsible for all publicity and advertising; responsible for occasional
direction of commercials and films.
1978 – 1980 Editor - Reproductive Rights Newsletter, Chicago, Illinois.
Responsible for the creation and production of this women's journal. Circulation
10,000. Responsible for editorial content and editing of all articles.
1973 – 1978 Writer/Producer/Director – Professional Research
Inc., Los Angeles, CA. Responsible for all research, writing, production,
and usual direction of popular medical education films.
1976 Writer/Producer/Director - Wrote, produced and directed "America
In Review" a theater piece produced in Los Angeles during the bicentennial
year.
1971 – 1974 Writer – Citizens' Research and Investigating
Committee, Los Angeles, Ca. Research and wrote about the practices of
the Los Angeles Police Department and other government political intelligence
operations. Produced radio and television shows on the subject for U.S.
and Australian broadcasting. Published The Glass House Tapes, Avon, 1973,
an expose of L.A.P.D.
illegal intelligence gathering practices.
1968 – 1971 Freelance Journalist. Wrote for a variety of U.S. journals,
reporting on events in the U.S. and in Latin America, where I resided
during 1970 – 1971.
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BOOKS/SCREENPLAYS/MAGAZINE ARTICLES
"Urban Policy Pieces" for Chicago Tribune, Crain's, Jewish
News
"Abortion, Mercy or Murder?" Hustler, November 1978
America In Review, Spring – Summer 1976
Point of View , optioned in 1977
The Glass House Tapes, Avon, 1973
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PARTIAL LIST OF AWARDS
1997 Silver Trumpet Award for Community Policing Media Campaign
1994 APTA Golden Wheel Award for City of Chicago Circulator Campaign
1983 American Film Festival
1982 International Film and Television Festival of New York
1982 American Film Festival
1979 Health Science Communication Association
1978 American Film Festival
1978 American Medical Writers' Association
1977 American Film Festival
1977 Health Science Communication Association
1977 American Medical Writers' Association
1976 Health Science Communication Association
1976 American Medical Writers' Association
1975 American Medical Writers' Association
1974 American Medical Writers' Association
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GRANTS
The Film Fund. For Multi-media Show on Native Americans.
Haymarket Foundation. Reproductive Rights Newsletter.
Playboy Foundation. Reproductive Rights Newsletter.
Ms. Foundation. Reproductive Rights Newsletter.
Russell Sage Foundation. Study of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Resist. Reproductive Rights Newsletter.
Bernstein Foundation. Publication of Booklet on L.A.P.D.
Stern Fund. Publication of pamphlet on U.S. Intelligence Gathering
Practices.
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EDUCATION
Sophie Newcomb College
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois: Sociology/Political Science
American Film Institute: Post-graduate Film Studies.
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