JIN

JIN, a digital communications and PR agency based in Paris with offices in New York, London, Berlin and Lisbon has received €3 million (approximately $3.4 million) in funding from CITA Investment as it works to expand its influence in Europe. The funds will be used for senior talent recruitment, technological innovation and strategic acquisitions. It will also boost the group’s development in London and Berlin to increase its network of partners in Europe and better support local and international clients. Founded in 2012 by Edouard Fillias, Alexandre Villeneuve and Romain Boudre, JIN offers a combination of social media, media relations and public affairs, supported by in-house technology solutions for digital media monitoring and performance.

Jolie Balido
Jolie Balido

New Star Media, a minority, women-owned marketing communications firm, has launched in Miami. New Star has been founded by Jolie Balido, who founded Roar Media in 2008, and Tina van der Ven, who previously directed regional business development, marketing and communications for law firm Greenberg Traurig. Before Balido sold her stake in Roar last year, the firm had grown to become South Florida’s third-largest agency by revenues and number of employees. New Star will provide business development strategy, public relations, branding, crisis management, corporate social responsibility, graphic design, analyst and investor relations, media training, digital marketing and social media to corporate, institutional and nonprofit businesses and organizations.

Merril Hoge
Merril Hoge

Baker Public Relations hosted a virtual sports roundtable on June 9, bringing together such Pittsburgh sports experts as ESPN analyst and former Pittsburgh Steeler Merril Hoge, MLB Network analyst Sean Casey, University of Pittsburgh Athletic Director Heather Lyke, and Frank Velasquez of Allegheny Health Network Sports Performance. The roundtable was moderated by KDKA Radio Morning News host Larry Richert. The panelists discussed how sports entities have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, how they can rebound, and the changes that likely lie ahead in the sports world. When asked if he shares the NFL’s confidence that there will be football this year, Hoge said: “I do, especially for the preseason. The preseason is the easiest portion of the season to do it because, quite honestly, when you’re at training camp you’re quarantined anyway.” The event was free and open to the public. A live feed of the event was also featured on Baker Public Relation’s Facebook page. A recording is posted to the Baker Public Relations’ Facebook page.