Ed Jackson

Edward Jackson’s interest in civil and human rights began as a child in Houston when his Cub Scout troop visited the campaign headquarters of both President Jimmy Carter and the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Edward began his nearly 15-year PR career in Washington, D.C. as the Communications Director for U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson. At the LawMedia Group, a corporate PR firm, he worked on closing the digital divide in low-income and minority communities. As a National Media Director for Amnesty International USA (AIUSA), he spearheaded national campaigns for the Domestic Human Rights Program and the Program to Abolish the Death Penalty, and he coordinated media outreach between the national office and the five regional offices. Edward considers himself a “policy wonk who fell into public relations.” That characteristic distinguishes him from other PR professionals because he’s able to quickly digest complicated policy issues and then create an accessible, strategic media campaign. He successfully used those skills to drive AIUSA’s “unprecedented” public campaign calling for more independent medical testing on TASERs, which resulted in police departments and cities refusing to buy the weapons and changes in “use-of-force” policies. He has always found ways to provide grassroots groups with media support and is a student of the strategies responsible for the numerous successes during the Civil Rights Movement. Edward was a contributor to “The New Gay” website, and he tweets about his life with his “registered domestic partner,” Adrian, @PolitksnPengwns. He looks forward to the day he can legally marry and call Adrian his “husband” in all 50 states.

See Edward's photography at ejacksonphotography.com.