NAB FIELDS DTV PUBLIC EDUCATION TEAM

NAB said today that it has hired the former spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee to spearhead the association’s campaign to inform the public about the broadcasters’ transition from analog to digital broadcasting.

Jonathan Collegio will lead a four-person team as vice president, digital television transition. The other member of the team—also newly hired—include Myra Dandridge, Shermaze Ingram and Lale Mamaux.

“A successful transition to digital television is in the best interest of every TV station in America and is the No. 1 priority of the NAB Television Board,” said NAB President and CEO David Rehr. “NAB’s DTV transition team will be charged with educating the American public on the many benefits of DTV so that no TV set goes dark on Feb. 18, 2009.”

Collegio will report to Michelle Lehman, executive vice president, marketing communications.

Prior to the NRCC, Collegio worked a deputy chief of staff for Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) and communications director for the Goli Ameri for Congress campaign in 2004. In addition to his work inside the Beltway, Collegio spent a year as associate producer for News 12 New Jersey, a cable news network. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree from Rutgers University.

Myra Dandridge will be the digital television transition team’s director of public affairs, coordinating a coalition of grassroots and membership organizations. Most recently, Dandridge served as communications director for the 43-member Congressional Black Caucus. She also was the Florida state press secretary for the Kerry-Edwards presidential campaign. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University.

Shermaze Ingram will be the team’s director of media relations, managing earned media. She most recently was director of communications and events for Discovery Education, a division of Discovery Communications. Ingram also worked for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, where she was a business and national affairs reporter and later publicity manager. Prior to that, Ingram worked for Consumer Reports where she was promoted to editor. Ingram holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Columbia University.

Lale Mamaux will serve as the team’s director of external relations, coordinating a coalition of trade associations, business organizations and local broadcasters. She previously worked as communications director for Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.). In 2004, Mamaux was a press secretary in Florida for the Kerry-Edwards presidential campaign. More recently she coordinated press for Rep. Tim Mahoney’s (D-Fla.) 2006 congressional campaign. Mamaux holds a bachelor’s degree from Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va., and a master’s degree from American University.