Abrams Research: Dan Abrams Launches Media Strategy Firm

The Wall Street Journal reports Wednesday that Dan Abrams, former MSNBC general manager and host of the 9PM hour, has launched a media strategy firm, Abrams Research. The firm will "offer corporate clients access to advice" from what the article describes as "media insiders." From the WSJ:

Want good press? Hire a journalist. That's Dan Abrams's pitch.

The former general manager of MSNBC is launching a media-strategy firm, Abrams Research, to help business executives navigate public-relations challenges -- from major acquisitions to bothersome bloggers to outright scandals.

The firm's chief selling point will be a network of media insiders whose advice is available in exchange for an hourly fee. Mr. Abrams has assembled a roster of "thousands" of such professionals, he says, with the aid of former Huffington Post media writer Rachel Sklar. The firm has already signed its first client: billionaire investor Ronald Perelman.

The Journal says that Abrams "plans to continue working as an outside legal analyst for NBC News."

The New York Times describes Abrams Research as "a consulting firm that...will connect a global Rolodex of media experts with businesses that need strategic advice." The Times also reports that Abrams will closely police potential conflicts of interest as journalists bridge the press/consultant divide:

Working on media strategies with businesses could raise ethical red flags for journalists who were required to be detached and objective about the subjects they covered. Mr. Abrams said the company would "bend over backwards to make sure that there are no conflicts or ethical issues that arise."

He said he planned to broaden the network of experts beyond traditional journalists, employing media analysts, bloggers and others who might not operate under such stringent rules. He said he was especially interested in connecting bloggers with businesses that had trouble dealing with online media.

The firm's website, AbramsResearch.com, describes the company accordingly:

Abrams Research is a media strategy firm that connects business leaders with a global community of media professionals. Our proprietary data networks and global contacts allow us to target strategically selected media insiders to offer insights, data and personnel never before available to businesses for image enhancement, branding, investigative reporting and the execution of the best media plan.

The firm's board of advisers includes media heavyweights from various areas of the media: Former NBC Universal Chairman Bob Wright, Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly, HBO's Bryant Gumbel, Court TV founder Steven Brill, Former American Media Editorial Director Bonnie Fuller, Men's and Women's Health editor David Zinczenko, Curbed Network Founder Lockhart Steele, Former New York Times Sunday Business editor Judith Dobrzynski, and NBC Travel editor Peter Greenberg.

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Full press release below:

Abrams Research Launches

Board of Advisors includes top names in media.

Dan Abrams announces the launch of Abrams Research, a unique global strategy firm that connects business leaders with top media professionals around the world. Businesses can now communicate directly with experienced media insiders, bloggers, and authors in almost any region or area of expertise. This unprecedented access to a wide range of experts can help companies make smarter decisions about marketing and communication. In addition, Abrams Research offers valuable perspective on local media, specific journalists, government officials or even crucial details about local customs.

"With this global network we will offer businesses more targeted, relevant and cost-effective media advice than has ever before been available," said Dan Abrams, the firm's CEO and founder.

The Abrams Research Board of Advisors includes top leaders from almost every area of media: Former NBC Universal Chairman Bob Wright, Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly, HBO's Bryant Gumbel, Court TV founder Steven Brill, Former American Media Editorial Director Bonnie Fuller, Men's and Women's Health editor David Zinczenko, Curbed Network Founder Lockhart Steele, Former New York Times Sunday Business editor Judith Dobrzynski, and NBC Travel editor Peter Greenberg.

Abrams is the former General Manager of MSNBC and a Columbia University-trained attorney, who has appeared on NBC News and MSNBC as a reporter and anchor since 1995. He now continues with NBC News and MSNBC as a contributor in the role of Chief Legal Analyst. While Abrams himself offers businesses a trusted media advisor and attorney uniquely positioned to unite legal and corporate communications strategies, that same level of specialized expertise is now available on a far broader scale through the Abrams Research Network. "By offering businesses insight into how the relevant media will best respond to any strategy, campaign, product, initiative or crisis, I believe the often contentious relationship between business and media will improve," said Abrams.

Abrams Research has also established strategic partnerships with major PR and media strategy firms including Dan Klores Communications and The Abernathy Macgregor Group.

Comments

[cjtolmie]

god Dan Abrams is hot

[indy87]

Maybe, but in that picture he just looks like a junky. Like "Ok, I smiled. Now can I have my pills?"

[scorpioleidy]

uh ... well it's not like he's busy or anything - maybe HRC can help him, out since he was such a staunch advocate every night during the primaries ...

[Scandalouscandice5]

He never should have had his show canceled. He wasn't the greatest. but a-$$ hats like CM don't need to have their shows broadcast two times. And the Sasquatch David Gregory needs to be pulled from his show. Dan is good at moderating and brings a needed legal aspect to the news he reports on.

But he looks worse for wears lately. Shave that gray mess off, slick your hair back better and clean your self up man. He looks like he has been drunk the entire time since his show was canceled.

[scorpioleidy]

Maybe he's been depressed - looks like he's aged 10+ years, too ...

[mitch4822]

I agree with you. He looked bad. I didn't believe it was him when I saw the above picture. I liked his show on MSNBC. It was lighthearted. The station could have added another hour with the Dan Abrams show along with the other 3, but they did otherwise. So Dan may be going through a hard time, decided that his job was iffy, and started something on his own. He will do fine. He has the contacts, plus he is an attorney.
Good luck, Dan.

[tokitori]

Um...you must be a man. Because I can tell you, as a woman -- he does NOT look "worse for wear" -- he looks GORGEOUS! Love that face stubble! did you miss the first post? "Dan I want to have your baby" i think is what that person -- obviously another woman -- wrote....

...sigh...

[Aelora]

ITA!

The stubble is perfection on him!! And I love that he stopped dying his hair - the gray makes him look so distinguished. It's different from the boyish-look he's always had, but no less sexy! ROWR!

[9liberal]

say what you want about dan...he is sexy as ever! love the scruff!!

[MontereyJack]

but you are a man, right, eh?

[mom2sons]

Best one of the day. Too funny!

[heal57]

get real, he has bulging eyes on TV.

[redlinemetro]

Another talking head telling you how to write press releases continues to blur the line between journalism and entertainment.

[Chlowina]

This guy was the only one who defended the students at Duke over the supposed "rape" case. Everyone else, including Jackson and Sharpton bashed these kids and destroyed their lives.

And yet, no apologies.

Abrams runs a very tight legal show. He's Savvy. Love Rachel dearly and have to agree that it would have been cool if they gave him a show after hers.

[Palemoon]

Dan, Dan, Dan. Looking quite sexy in that scruffy face of yours. All rugged, husky and chiseled handsome. Why didn't you sport that look on tv? You should be in movies, not media.

[MontereyJack]

another man

[pir anha]

*guffaw* -- yeah, like all women find the same men sexy. and hey -- what if this poster were a man? anything wrong with that?

[Palemoon]

Another man? Where? Is he handsome too?

Oh, you mean moi? Maybe instead I'm just someone who has a split personality and is bisexual. Ever thought of that? We're humans too!!

[tel8034]

As long as this egotistical know-it-all stays off the tv screen, I really don't care what he is up to these days.

MSNBC made the best decision when they replaced Abrams with Rachel Maddow ............... With that decision MSNBC immediately went from the ridiculous to the sublime.

[deeppeace]

Ditto that.

[roblabrousse]

None of this inspires confidence in the media. This is just retail compromise.

[CALAVA]

I miss him. Why couldn't they have given him a show after Rachel's or have her show follow his?

[saxmaniac]

He's tapped into a fundamental problem: many journos are terrified of losing their jobs, mostly because of the Internet. The few journos who will actually make a few bucks in this scam are mostly the ones with national and internayional credibility. This is sleaze as only the major corporations have the money for.

[OneLessReason]

His strategy worked out so well for his own show. hahaha

[SabrinaFair]

Yawn.

[ProfessorDuh]

Double yawn.

[dugan45]

NBC and MSNBC shoulld fire Dan Abrams for conflict of interest. But, then, Matthews proved himself a misogynist and Steve Capas kept him on. Oh, well, guess Keith Olbermann will have to set up an investigative arm the way it has concerning Faux News and O'Really. Shoot, but he does work for Steve Capas. Well, then, how about Colbert or Daily?

[Lazslo]

"media strategy firm" = propagandist.

[deeppeace]

"Media strategy firm" = "Can't keep a job anywhere else."

[Lion24]

Propagandist or not, we have a thing in this country called, "free speech."

Check it out.