Karen Watson Named Senior Vice President of Communications for Nielsen Media Research and VNU's MMI Group

Karen Watson Named Senior Vice President of Communications for Nielsen Media Research and VNU's MMI Group

NEW YORK, July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Nielsen Media Research today announced that Karen Watson has been named Senior Vice President, Communications for Nielsen and VNU's Media Measurement and Information (MMI) Group.

Ms. Watson is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day functions of the Communications Department with particular emphasis on overall press relations, external communications, marketing support and communication to clients. She reports to Jack Loftus, Chief Communications Officer, and is based in New York.

"Nielsen and MMI are responding to the dramatic changes in the way people watch television by providing a wider array of media measurement services than ever before," said Susan D. Whiting, President and CEO of Nielsen Media Research. "At this important transitional period, it is important that we communicate extensively with clients, the media and the public. Karen Watson is a savvy strategist and a talented communicator. She understands our business from her service on the Independent Task Force on Television Measurement and is a tremendous addition to our team."

Ms. Watson brings to Nielsen and the MMI Group more than 25 years of experience in media relations, marketing, public affairs and government relations. In 2005, she served on the Independent Task Force on Television Measurement, which recommended to Nielsen Media Research a number of improvements in its measurement services, including recruitment, communications and diversity initiatives.

Ms. Watson served as Vice President, Government Relations, for Echostar Satellite, from 1996-2005. In that role, she opened Echostar's Washington, D.C. office and was responsible for the development and implementation of legislative and regulatory strategy. She also represented Echostar in the Congress, the Executive Branch and regulatory agencies. She directed the company's grassroots campaigns, and media and public relations activities.

Before Echostar, Ms. Watson was Director of the Office of Public Affairs for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 1994-1996. In that capacity, she directed all media relations, public outreach and responses to public inquiries.

Before that, she was Deputy Project Director at WGBH, from 1992-1994, for the production of the primetime PBS series Africans in America. In this position, she developed and implemented strategies for fundraising, promotion and educational outreach related to the series. Before that, she served as Press Secretary for the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control of the U.S. House of Representatives, and also held various roles in news and public affairs for Public Broadcasting Service, National Public Radio, and The MacNeil/Lehrer Report.

Ms. Watson holds a B.A. in American Studies from Bard College in New York. She also serves as a Board Member for the Southern Center for International Studies in Atlanta.

About Nielsen Media Research

Nielsen Media Research is the world's leading provider of television audience measurement and advertising information services. In the United States, Nielsen's National People Meter service provides audience estimates for all national program sources, including broadcast networks, cable networks, Spanish language networks, and national syndicators. Local ratings estimates are produced for television stations, regional cable networks, MSOs, cable interconnects, and Spanish language stations in each of the 210 television markets in the U.S., including electronic metered service in 56 markets. For more information, please visit www.nielsenmedia.com

Nielsen Media Research is part of VNU Media Measurement & Information Group, a global leader in information services for the media and entertainment industries. VNU is active in more than 100 countries. For more information, please visit the VNU website at www.vnu.com.

Source: Nielsen Media Research

CONTACT: Jack Loftus of Nielsen Media Research, +1-646-654-8360

Web site: http://www.nielsenmedia.com/
http://www.vnu.com/

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