20 Under 40 - 2002 Profile: Emily Cohen

PRESSTIME

By Presstime Magazine

First Published: November 2002

Promotes content, community service

Making a difference in the community makes Emily Cohen's job as public-affairs manager at The Houston Chronicle satisfying.

"We work with more than 200 non-profits in Houston annually, and try to help each with at least one public-service advertisement or project a year. In working with the editorial department, I get to understand and promote their projects. It helps me to learn and grow," says Cohen, who joined the paper in 1997 after working in entertainment marketing.

Cohen's job includes editorial promotion, community relations, ethnic marketing, in-house promotions and special projects. She was one of the developers of a "Spot it Tomorrow" system, permitting marketers to get information about content from editors two days in advance. This gives the marketing team time to write promotional ads.

In June 1998, she helped to develop the paper's Preview section, a weekend entertainment guide geared to the younger demographic. The marketing campaign, which included giveaway items and field work at festivals, coffee- houses and movie premieres, won several awards.

Getting people from diverse sectors to work together is a talent that helped Cohen in overseeing a recent project, "Books on the Bayou: Houston Reads Together." Sponsored by The Houston Chronicle, Houston Public Library and city of Houston, the project encouraged the entire city to read Ernest J. Gaines' novel A Lesson Before Dying and gather together for various community discussions and events.

"Everything is a collaborative effort in our department," says Cohen. "I would never be able to accomplish anything without the people I work with, side-by-side, every day."

Education: 1991, B.S., advertising, University of Texas at Austin.
Career: 1991-92, receptionist, assistant media buyer, Sachnowitz & Co., Houston; 1992-96, marketing assistant, marketing manager, The Summit, Houston; 1996-97, marketing director, Pace Theatrical Group, Houston; 1997-present, media-relations and special events coordinator, public-affairs supervisor, public-affairs manager, The Houston Chronicle.
Personal:Age, 32. Born, Houston. Single.
Diversions: Travel, music, working on her new house, spending time with friends.
Connections:The Houston Chronicle, 801 Texas Ave., Houston, Texas 77002, (713) 220-6906, Emily.Cohen@chron.com.