Congrats are in order for NABJLA’s treasurer Ron Carter!
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 8, 2019) The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) announced today that Ron Carter, managing director of The Carter Agency, (TCA), a media relations firm, has been selected to receive the 2019 NABJ Patricia L. Tobin Award.
NABJ will honor Carter at its Hall of Fame Luncheon, powered by AARP, during the 2019 NABJ Convention & Career Fair on Friday, Aug. 9, at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa in South Florida. Convention registration and Hall of Fame tickets can be purchased here.
Named after Tobin, a pioneering publicist, media entrepreneur and co-founder of the National Black Public Relations Society (NBPRS), the award honors a public relations, advertising, marketing professional or media owner who serves as an industry trailblazer in affecting the positive representation of African Americans in the media and directing change in the media industry at large.
“Ron has created distinction in the entertainment industry by reminding organizations of the value of media representation in communities of color,” said NABJ President Sarah Glover. “Ron’s commitment to elevating people of color in the media industry echoes what Pat Tobin did for the public relations community. She would be proud."
Carter began his more than 25-year entertainment industry career at Gene Shelton & Associates and went on to become senior director of Media Relations for Quincy Jones’ Qwest Records. While at Qwest Records, he represented Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Tamia, Tevin Campbell, The Winans, The Clayton Brothers, Milt Jackson, Saafir, Youth Asylum and more.
“Ron’s commitment to elevating people of color in the media industry echoes what Pat Tobin did for the public relations community. She would be proud.”
Carter's success includes an influential role at Motown Records, where he worked as an assistant to the executive director of Press & Publicity. He subsequently moved to Michael Jackson's MJJ Productions, where he served as executive assistant to the vice president of Communications and Media Relations. He was later appointed publicist for PolyGram Records and after that director of publicity for Mercury Records, a PolyGram Holding Company subsidiary. While working for PolyGram and Mercury Records, he was the publicist for Tony! Toni! Tone!, Angela Winbush, Oleta Adams, Third World, Black Sheep and Cameo, among others. He later joined Warner Bros. Records and finished his tenure there as artist development manager.
After reaching many milestones working for other companies, in 2002 Carter went on to become one of the leading public relations entrepreneurs by opening The Carter Agency, which has served such clients as Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the Los Angeles Urban League, the City of Pasadena, the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and Walmart, among many others.
Carter couldn’t be more honored about being selected as this year's recipient.
“It is an honor to receive the National Association of Black Journalists Patricia L. Tobin Award. I thank President Sarah Glover and the selection committee for presenting me with this prestigious award. Pat Tobin was a very dear friend and colleague of mine,” said Carter. “And, it is very humbling and gratifying for me to receive an award named after her. Pat is probably looking down from heaven and remarking, 'you did good, Ron.' "
Gregory Charles Dunmore of PULSEBEAT MEDIA calls Carter a “trailblazer.”
“Ron Carter has had a remarkable career journey in the multi-billion-dollar entertainment business,” Dunmore said. “He has been an integral part of public relations campaigns for such legendary names as Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan. The late Bob Jones, the godfather of black entertainment publicists, said, ‘As one of my best protégés, Ron always made me proud'...Pat Tobin called Ron ‘one of the best in PR.’”