In conversation with Jennifer Davidson

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Noon 1 p.m. PT

USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism (ASC), 207


Join us for a lunch with a leader event with Jennifer Davidson, chief marketing and communications officer for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. As the chief press officer for the Academy, she is responsible for the strategic planning and execution of all global public and media relations and marketing initiatives that work to enhance the mission of the Academy, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, and the Oscars. In this position, she oversees marketing, brand creative, digital marketing, social media, corporate communications, member communications, crisis management, and global press outreach for all entities within the Academy while collaborating on the public advocacy of the Academy’s work in expanding representation, inclusion, and equity within the Academy, its membership and the film industry.

Before joining the Academy, Davidson was executive vice president at Babygrande PR, a boutique publicity firm specializing in the representation of leading production companies and content creators such as ITV America, Wheelhouse Entertainment, and Pilgrim Media Group. She oversaw public relations strategies for series such as the Emmy-winning Queer Eye, Pawn Stars and Fixer Upper, while also serving as a key advisor to senior leadership providing counsel on programming, marketing and outreach initiatives.  

Prior to that time, Davidson worked for nine years at Sony Pictures Television, successfully spearheading publicity campaigns behind dozens of series including Breaking Bad, Rescue Me, The King of Queens and Damages. She served as a liaison between the television and film teams at the studios, creating synergistic opportunities to build brand awareness.

Davidson began her career at NBC Entertainment, first working in talent relations and then joining the publicity team where she led campaigns for such hit series as Friends, Seinfeld, ER, Mad About You and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, among many others.

Davidson is a graduate of Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, with a BA in organizational communications and an emphasis in business marketing. She is based in Los Angeles. 

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