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Matthew Hiltzik

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Matthew Hiltzik
Hiltzik in November 2020
Born (1972-05-12) May 12, 1972 (age 52)
EducationCornell University (BSILR)
Fordham Law School (JD)
Occupation(s)Lawyer, publicist
SpouseDana
Children3

Matthew Hiltzik (born May 12, 1972) is an American lawyer and publicist. He is the founder of Hiltzik Strategies, which represents high-profile organizations and individuals such as various politicians and Hollywood figures. He has also occasionally been an executive producer on documentaries and written for magazines.

Early life

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Hiltzik was born on May 12, 1972.[1] He grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey. He attended the Yavneh Academy.[2] He graduated from the Ramaz School.[3] He attended the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations and then the Fordham University School of Law.[4]

Career

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Hiltzik is a member of the New York State Bar Association.[5] After law school, he worked as press secretary and deputy executive director of the New York State Democratic Committee under Judith Hope, the first woman to head a major political party in New York. While in that role, he worked on the 1998 campaigns of Chuck Schumer and Eliot Spitzer, and Hillary Clinton's Listening Tour in July 1999. In December 1999, Hiltzik joined Miramax as head of corporate communications. He became senior vice president of corporate communications and government relations, and was involved in public relations for Miramax Films, Miramax Books, Miramax TV, Talk magazine, philanthropic and political fundraising and crisis management.[6]

In 2000, Hiltzik took a brief leave from Miramax to re-join Hillary Clinton's senatorial campaign as the director of Jewish relations.[7] Hiltzik worked on outreach in the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox communities for Clinton's campaign, including making inroads with women in the Hasidic community.[8] He met with leaders in New York's Jewish communities, including the Bobovers Hasidic section.[9]

Hiltzik teamed up with the British publicity company Freud Communications to start up their American branch in 2005.[10] He became Katie Couric's publicist and spokesman shortly before her move from NBC to CBS in 2006.[11] She acknowledged his role in her career in her 2021 memoir Going There.[12]

Hiltzik went out on his own in early 2008 to start up Hiltzik Strategies.[13] He maintained his political roots advising Jose Antonio Vargas's DefineAmerican campaign to address immigration policy in the United States and pass the DREAM Act,[14][15] and Thomas DiNapoli in his successful bid for New York State Comptroller. Hiltzik served on New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio's 2014 Inaugural Committee.[16] He also advised Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, in her primary against Rep. Carolyn Maloney.[17] Hiltzik advised political strategist Lis Smith on crisis management, and encouraged her to write a book about her experiences, which was published as Any Give Tuesday in 2022.[18]

In 2017, Hiltzik was listed on Sports Business Journal's "Power Players" list.[19] In August 2021, Business Insider ranked Hiltzik as one of the top public relations people in crisis management, citing his experience working with high-profile clients like Brad Pitt, Eric Schmidt, Katie Couric and Kelly Ripa.[20]

Hiltzik is known for his work helping to build the public image of high profile women including Hillary Clinton, Ivanka Trump, Nicole Shanahan, Couric, and Ripa.[21][22]

He handled public relations pro bono for Darnella Frazier, the young woman whose recording of the murder of George Floyd helped to inspire protests against police brutality and played a key role in the conviction of Derek Chauvin.[23]

Hiltzik and his team were engaged by attorneys to support litigation in the Johnny Depp trial, and Hiltzik played a primary role in rehabilitating the actor's image during his successful defamation case against Amber Heard.[24] Hiltzik kept a low profile in the media in the aftermath of the trial, while working to encourage support for Depp and revitalize his career.[25]

Hiltzik is also known for coordinating publicity for the 80th Golden Globe Awards, which saw the ceremony return to live television after a brief hiatus. In 2023, he was included on Crain’s New York Business list of the most notable leaders in public relations and The Observer's "PR Power List".[26][27] He was part of a panel on echo chambers and polarization in media at the Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences on April 19, 2023.[28]

The Observer listed Hiltzik Strategies as one of the top crisis and reputation management firms in 2024, noting that it had "significant growth" in its client base.[29]

Film and print media

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He was executive producer of the documentary films Documented,[30] The Barn,[31] the award-winning Paper Clips[32] and Holy Land Hardball;[33][34] and co-produced the documentary Connected.[35][36] He is also a contributor to the Jewish magazine Tablet.[37]

Recognition and board memberships

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In 2012 Hiltzik was honored by the New York Board of Rabbis for his work in the Jewish community.[38]

In July 2015, he was the first public relations professional to be named to the board of directors of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, a not-for-profit corporation that promotes economic growth throughout New York City.[39][40]

Hiltzik sits on the Board of the Ghetto Film School.[41] In the summer of 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, Hiltzik suggested that the school's film competition focus on the subject of connection during isolation and lockdown.[42]

Personal life

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Hiltzik lives in New York City with his wife, Dana, and their three children.[37][43]

References

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  1. ^ "178 days to election – JPMorgan loss gives D.C. leverage for more bank enforcement, regulation – Romney courts Va., evangelicals – N.C., site of Dem. convention, now headache for party". Politico. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  2. ^ Yellin, Deena. "From North Jersey to peak of Israeli power: New prime minister celebrated for local roots". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  3. ^ Rosenblatt, Gary. "Joining ‘Gangs’ to Work With the Best: Executive producer Rick Schwartz savors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with Martin Scorsese and others.", The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, January 2, 2003. Accessed June 5, 2012.
  4. ^ Horowitz, Jason (October 28, 2009). "Profile of public relations guru Matt Hiltzik, a former Democratic operative". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  5. ^ "Matthew Hiltzik: President & CEO of Hiltzik Strategies". The Native Society. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  6. ^ Bing, Jonathan (June 20, 2001). "Miramax ups Hiltzik to VP – Entertainment News, Business News, Media". Variety. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  7. ^ Paybarah, Azi. "Hiltzik's Middle East Advice for Obama | The New York Observer". Observer.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2009. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  8. ^ Tomasky, Michael (2001). Hillary's Turn: Inside Her Improbable, Victorious Senate Campaign. Simon and Schuster. pp. 230, 265. ISBN 978-0-684-87302-2.
  9. ^ Harpaz, Beth (November 20, 2002). The Girls in the Van: A Reporter's Diary of the Campaign Trail. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-30271-9.
  10. ^ Mohr, Ian (June 22, 2005). "Hiltzik to interpret Freud's U.S. dreams – Entertainment News, Los Angeles, Media". Variety. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  11. ^ Kurtz, Howard (October 9, 2007). Reality Show: Inside the Last Great Television News War. Simon and Schuster. p. 156. ISBN 978-1-4165-8061-4.
  12. ^ Couric, Katie (October 26, 2021). Going There. Little, Brown. ISBN 978-0-316-53587-8.
  13. ^ "Matthew Hiltzik". Cityfile. July 13, 2008. Archived from the original on December 10, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  14. ^ "The Legal Risks of Vargas's Immigration Revelation – National". The Atlantic Wire. June 22, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  15. ^ "Jose Vargas story turned down by Washington Post – Keach Hagey". Politico.Com. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  16. ^ "Bill de Blasio Rolls Out Inauguration Team". Observer. November 30, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  17. ^ "The PR Guru Behind Trump's Mouthpieces Speaks". THR. April 17, 2018.
  18. ^ Smith, Lis (July 19, 2022). Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-308441-4.
  19. ^ "SBJ: Power Players". Sports Business Journal. September 25, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  20. ^ Czarnecki, Lucia Moses, Sean. "19 top public relations experts CEOs scramble to hire in a crisis". Business Insider. Retrieved November 30, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ "A Running Mate's History". The New York Times.
  22. ^ Daily Beast "Andy Cohen Enlists Crisis Comms Guru". {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  23. ^ "Notable Leaders in Advertising, Marketing and PR - Matthew Hiltzik". Crain's New York Business. June 27, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  24. ^ "Jury is out on post-trial career: Johnny Depp's off the screen life may not shake his fan-base". The Economic Times. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  25. ^ "'It isn't about politics – it's about money': will Hollywood take Johnny Depp back? | Johnny Depp | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  26. ^ "Notable Leaders in Advertising, Marketing and PR - Matthew Hiltzik". Crain's New York Business. June 27, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  27. ^ Kaminer, Michael (December 20, 2022). "The PR Power List 2023". Observer. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  28. ^ "Experts Discuss Role of Media in Exacerbating Political Polarization". The Cornell Daily Sun. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  29. ^ "The Top PR Firms for Crisis & Reputation Management". Observer.
  30. ^ Willmore, Alison (November 19, 2013). "CNN Films Picks Up Jose Antonio Vargas' Immigration Documentary 'Documented'". IndieWire. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  31. ^ "The Barn: A Product of Hope". The Current. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  32. ^ "paperclipsmovie.com - paperclipsmovie Resources and Information". www.paperclipsmovie.com. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  33. ^ "Home". holylandhardball.com.
  34. ^ Cockrell, Eddie (June 17, 2008). "Variety Reviews – Holy Land Hardball – Film Reviews – SilverDocs – Review by Eddie Cockrell". Variety. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  35. ^ "Credits". Connected the Film. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  36. ^ Anderson, John (January 22, 2011). "Variety Reviews – Connected – Film Reviews – Sundance – Review by John Anderson". Variety. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  37. ^ a b "Author bio". Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  38. ^ "Matthew Goldstein and Matthew Hiltzik Honored by NY Board of Rabbis". The Jewish Voice.
  39. ^ "Matthew Hiltzik of Hiltzik Strategies Named To NYCEDC Board". Everything-PR: Public Relations, Marketing and Social Media News. May 30, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  40. ^ "The Most Powerful PR Firms of 2018". Observer. December 14, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  41. ^ "LEADERSHIP". ghettofilmschool. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  42. ^ Pond, Steve (October 8, 2020). "Watch 3 Teen Filmmakers Tackle COVID in Ghetto Film School Competition Winners (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  43. ^ Carrington, Daisy (February 27, 2006). "Molly Kate Hiltzik". New York Observer. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
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