Given shrinking newsroom staff, the constant influx of emails and tight deadlines, PR practitioners must know how to craft the right pitch and understand how to best reach our local media representatives. Join PRSA SE WI for a Media Speed Networking event on Thursday, August 22 at OPE! Brewing Company.
Special thanks to our co-hosts of this event the National Association of Black Journalists—Milwaukee and Athena Communications.
Media participants:
Megan Alexander, CBS 58
Tony Aria, TMJ4
Earl Arms, Black Nouveau
Jim Collins, CBS 58
Tannette Elie, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Courtny Gerrish, Spectrum 1
Tajma Hall, CBS 58
Stephanie Rodriguez, CBS 58 & Telemundo Wisconsin
Shannon Sims, TMJ4
Ron Smith, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Toya Washington, Former Anchor at Milwaukee’s ABC affiliate
Event Schedule:
4:30-5:00 – Networking
5:15-5:45 – Media Panel
6:00-7:00 – Media Speed Networking
7:00-7:30 – Continued Networking
Registration includes admission into the event and two beverages. A food truck will be outside for those who which to purchase food.
Media Bios
Megan Alexander, CBS 58
Megan Alexander is the Digital Content Manager at CBS 58, the Weigel Broadcasting Company’s CBS affiliate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She manages the digital department and oversees all elements of the stations’ websites, social media pages, and digital products. A veteran of television and digital news throughout the state, Megan has worked in Milwaukee since 2014, first as a member of the digital staff at FOX6 before moving into her management roll at CBS 58.
Tony Aria, TMJ4
Tony Aria, Assignment Editor at WTMJ-TV, has a demonstrated history of working in the broadcast media industry. Strong media and communication professional skilled in Broadcasting, Storytelling, News Writing, Television, and Journalism. He has worked at WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee for the past 26 years.
Earl Arms, Black Nouveau
Earl Arms serves in many roles around Milwaukee – Media & PR Strategist for Northwestern Mutual, host of Black Nouveau on Milwaukee PBS, and as board member of the Wisconsin Black Media Association, the Milwaukee chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. Previously, he spent time at Milwaukee Public Schools as its Communications Director, in Madison as the Communications Director and spokesperson for Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, and a decade as a news and sports anchor, reporter, and photographer at news affiliates across the nation.
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Earl is a graduate of Milwaukee Marshall High School. Also a proud Warhawk, Earl received his degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he was recognized as the school’s 2021 Outstanding Recent Alumnus. Since graduating, he has been blessed with a career in media, a career he dreamed of from the time he was in grade school.
Throughout his sports journalism career, he has covered several major events—Including the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans and the 2014 and 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Fours in North Texas and Indianapolis, respectively. He has interviewed and worked alongside many notable athletes such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kobe Bryant, LeRoy Butler, Aaron Rodgers, and Robin Yount to report sports news.
Emerging as a news anchor for the top-rated weekend morning newscast in Jackson, Mississippi, Earl showed his desire to go beyond the game by covering the successes, triumphs, and challenges of central Mississippi. While Earl bleeds sports, his desire always remains with making the community in which he resides a better place for everyone. Within his current roles as a media professional, Earl uses storytelling, relationship building, and advocacy to bring attention and media coverage to those making a positive impact. He believes anyone at any age can be impactful and successful if they align their passion with their gifts to inspire others and help make a difference.
Jim Collins, CBS 58
Jim Collins is the Director of Strategic Marketing at CBS 58, Weigel Broadcasting Company’s CBS affiliate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He manages the Creative Services/Marketing team, works with sales to generate non-traditional revenue opportunities, and oversees the station’s involvement in the community. Prior to CBS 58, Jim worked at TMJ4, the NBC affiliate in Milwaukee, where he worked in the marketing department for over 15 years before moving to news management. “As a Milwaukee native, Jim possesses a deep understanding of how to connect with the people of Milwaukee,” says Anne Brown, General Manager at CBS 58. “His passion and experience are a key element in our station efforts.”
Headshots for 2019.
©UW-Parkside/Alyssa Nepper 2019
Tannette Johnson-Elie, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Johnson-Elie, an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years of print/digital media experience, serves as managing editor for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. She currently is President of the National Association of Black Journalists-Milwaukee, formerly known as the Wisconsin Black Media Association. A seasoned higher education professional, Tannette served as communications director and a journalism lecturer for the University of Wisconsin Parkside for 15 years. In addition, she has taught journalism courses at Lake Forest College and helped lead Marquette University’s Urban Journalism Workshop from 2015 to 2020.
Most notably, Tannette spent 20 years as a reporter and business columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, where she covered a variety of beats, including courts, city and county government, education and business. She penned a business column for the Journal Sentinel for 12 years that won local and national recognition for highlighting the struggles and triumphs of small and minority-owned businesses in metro Milwaukee. Tannette has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and a master’s in communication from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. She is married to a bank executive and together, they have two young adult sons.
Courtny Gerrish, Spectrum 1
Courtny Gerrish, is an Anchor, Spectrum News who has called Wisconsin home for 15 years. She is an Emmy-nominated, award-winning journalist who has spent time reporting throughout the Midwest. Courtny was previously an anchor/investigative reporter with Today’s TMJ4 and has worked in the Milwaukee Market since 2006. For Courtny, the great storytelling she does at Spectrum News 1 is important because it connects communities by exposing people to new ideas they may not have experienced before.
Tajma Hall, CBS 58 Anchor/Reporter
Tajma Hall joined the CBS 58 news team in February of 2022. Tajma anchors the CBS 58 Weekend Morning News on Saturdays. Throughout her career, she has covered a variety of stories across Wisconsin, including consumer issues, severe weather, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Tajma also co-anchored Emmy-nominated coverage of violent unrest in Madison during the summer of 2020. Tajma comes to Milwaukee from Madison, where she was an anchor, reporter, and part of the investigative team for NBC15 News. Before Madison, Tajma anchored and reported in Eau Claire for WEAU.
Tajma is from Chicago and graduated from Columbia College with a degree in journalism. During her senior year, she held two internships with NBC News. Tajma is a mental health advocate and enjoys covering stories that highlight the topic and support raising awareness of available resources for those who need help. When she’s not reporting the news, Tajma enjoys relaxing at home, watching “I Love Lucy,” or binge watching another one of her favorite shows. She also enjoys exploring Milwaukee and making trips to Chicago to visit family. Tajma is a proud member of the National Association of Black Journalists.
Stephanie Rodriguez, CBS 58 & Telemundo Wisconsin Reporter
Stephanie Rodriguez is a reporter for CBS 58 and Telemundo Wisconsin. She joined WDJT in October of 2022. Born in Puerto Rico, she is fluent in Spanish. She grew up in the Chicago suburbs before moving to Normal, Illinois, for college. During her time at Illinois State University, Rodriguez was a reporter, anchor and producer for the student-run television station and a news editor for the university’s student-run newspaper. As a student reporter, Rodriguez won a national scholarship from the Radio Television Digital News Association, being named the 2017 Carole Simpson Scholar. Her first reporting job was at the NBC/ABC affiliate in Peoria, Illinois. During her time in Central Illinois, Rodriguez was part of the team that covered a student bus crash that led to an Edward R. Murrow Award in social media for Heart of Illinois ABC.
She comes to Milwaukee from Western Wisconsin, having spent two years as a morning anchor for WQOW News 18 in Eau Claire. While in the Chippewa Valley, she fell in love with the Badger State and all of the nature it has to offer. Rodriguez loves to ride her bike on state trails and spends most days watching movies, enjoying the company of her cat and enjoying time with friends and family.
Shannon Sims, TMJ4
Shannon Sims is an Emmy award winning TV journalist with Today’s TMJ4 . For the last 12 years she has called Milwaukee home. During her time at TMJ4 she has reported for the 10-clock news, anchored weekends, 4 and 6 o’clock newscasts, hosted 414WARD – a community affairs show, and currently you can watch her nightly hosting Milwaukee Tonight and the NEWS at 10. She gained statewide recognition for moderating five gubernatorial and congressional televised debates. Shannon has also won an Emmy nomination for her wall-to- wall coverage the night of the 2016 Sherman Park unrest and an Emmy for her work on Project Drive Sober.
Her love of basketball took her on the road to cover the Bucks in the finals as they clinched an NBA title for the first time in 50 years. She most recently anchored live from the Republican National Convention. Before landing in the cream city, she honed her journalistic skills in Spokane, WA, Norfolk, VA Dayton OH and Cincinnati, OH. Shannon is a California native and a graduate of the Manhattan school of music. She believes in giving back to the community with her time and her talents. She is passionate about issues concerning women, children and access to quality primary & higher education.
Ron Smith, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith serves as the executive director of the award-winning Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. The nonprofit newsroom provides professional journalism coverage of Milwaukee’s communities of color and is staffed by professionals, student-journalists and community residents. Before his current role, Ron served as the managing editor for news at USA TODAY. In addition, he was the deputy managing editor for daily news and production at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, where he oversaw the breaking news hub, production desks and was the key point person for print story selections and workflow. Ron has been blessed to work in newsrooms across the country, including The Oregonian, the Los Angeles Times and Newsday.
Ron began his professional career as a reporter and editor for two weekly newspapers in the Los Angeles area before becoming a political reporter for a daily legal publication in downtown Los Angeles. He’s also worked as an advertising sales director and as the interim student adviser for New Expression, a citywide teen publication written by and for Chicago youths that had a monthly circulation of 70,000. He has edited several Pulitzer Prize-winning reports and is known for championing great journalism and the great journalists who produce great works. In addition, Ron serves as secretary of the Institute for Nonprofit News and is a proud member of the National Association of Black Journalists. In October, he will be inducted into the Milwaukee Press Club’s Media Hall of Fame. He “proceeds until apprehended’ and is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and help others — all while having fun along the way.
Toya Washington, Former Anchor at Milwaukee’s ABC affiliate
Toya Washington is a former anchor/reporter. During her 20 years at WISN 12 she co-anchored everything from 12 News this Morning to the 10 p.m. newscast. She has won two Emmy awards and is a four-time nominee. Toya is also a member of the Board of Visitors for UW-Madison’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications, served as board VP for Hope Street in Milwaukee and has been named among Wisconsin’s Most Influential Black Leaders. Currently, Toya serves as coach/mentor for Morgan Murphy Media, consults for Mueller Communications, and freelances as a host, emcee, and voice over talent.
