William Thompson

If it was a dark and stormy night, I was likely up grading college students’ writing amid the lightning.

I’ve been in public relations for 40 years, but my supreme claim is teaching 50 semesters of writing classes. The teaching awards? After subjecting students to 14 rigorous weeks to create serviceable professional writers, they were a surprise.

However, if you’re looking for validation from academic Valhalla, I headed the world’s largest organization of PR academics. I've written two books, contributed chapters to others, and authored numerous journal articles. Who wrote the definition of "psychographics" and "audience segmentation" in The Encyclopedia of Public Relations? That would be me.

Professionally? I’ve bylined hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. I claim director and writer credits for six video documentaries, as well as commercials and special events. My media relations efforts? I’ve placed client stories in The New York Times, NPR’s “All Things Considered,” Time magazine, and NBC’s “Sunday Today.”