Current TV has brought in former VH1 and Oxygen communications chief Laura Nelson to fill its top PR slot vacated in September, when Jeanne Meyer left for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.
Nelson takes the reins as senior VP, communications, for Current, heading all PR activity as the Al Gore-founded network heads into a presidential election cycle.
The network got off to a rocky PR year in a clash with its high-profile host Keith Olbermann, who didn’t take part in coverage of the Iowa caucuses and has reportedly been frustrated with technical problems on his show, “Countdown.”
Nelson said 2012 will be a “defining year” for Current, which will aim to “cut through the stale left vs. right debate that rages on traditional cable news networks.”
Along with Olbermann, Current also has Jennifer Granholm, the former Michigan governor, and progressive host Cenk Uygur in its prime time lineup.
Nelson had been managing director at The Gilbride Group and previously held senior VP or VP/communications slots at VH1, Oxygen and Comedy Central. She built the media relations unit at Oxygen, and at Comedy Central worked PR for the launches of shows that included "South Park," and "The Daily Show.”
She also managed PR for People Magazine and started out at Hill & Knowlton and DKC.