[To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com]
On May 6, Rowan University welcomed Richard maloney, director / public affairs and marketing– Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), into its hall of fame. Below is my intro:
Introducing Rowan University’s newest inductee into our Professional… Public Relations…Hall of Fame is a special honor. We have known each other for more than 30 years.
Richard Maloney … probably doesn’t even realize… he has impacted my life more than once. I am forever indebted to him and have often taken two of those life-changing experiences into the classroom.
Richard’s detailed bio is in “Dinner Bell” so allow me to share how Richard was an award-winning reporter at KYW Newsradio and has carried that skill into his public affairs career.
During the ’80s at KYW, while we was working on one of our 20-part Regional Affairs Council series, Richard – a true grammarian and outstanding writer – suggested techniques for turning those recorded interviews into scripts in a more efficient, effective, accurate and quicker manner. Quite simply, it is the art of transcribing the script and then selecting the quotes…or voice cuts…and writing bridges to bring those voice cuts together. It seemed cumbersome and time-consuming. I soon discovered, though, it makes for outstanding reporting and even better writing and I’ve used that approach ever since.
The other life-altering event is when Richard had been offered a position with the U.S. Labor Department and had decided not to accept it. He returned to KYW that day and suggested I meet with regional public affairs director Jack Hord. I did so that very same day, was offered the position on the spot and the rest…as they say…is history. By the way, one of the contingencies was that I be allowed to continue teaching as an adjunct at Glassboro State College – now Rowan.
Richard, I thank you for that and for all of the wisdom you bestowed upon your KYW Newsradio colleagues…a true team that settled for nothing short of working hard together to accomplish our goal of doing our best as we served more than one million listeners in the Greater Philadelphia Region.
That talent and work ethic served Richard well as he decided it was time to stop chasing accidents, shootings and fires…and made the bold move into public affairs where he continued to excel.
After leaving KYW, Richard has served as Group Vice President/Communications – Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Senior Director Public Relations/Operations – Independence Blue Cross and since 1999, Director / Public Affairs & Marketing– Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
Where he is responsible for public affairs and marketing at the fourth largest public transit agency in the United States. Soon after arriving – and to this day – Richard established media credibility for SEPTA and carries that reputation into every communications crises – whether it be labor, budget or an operation crisis.
Richard is responsible for marketing SEPTA’s New Payment Technology program, a $250 million state-of-the-art fare collection system.
He also serves on the Marketing and Communications Committee of the American Public Transit Association.
Richard Maloney lives by the credo of credibility – Open, Honest, Thorough and Valid. While remaining strategic, he never wavers from the truth.
So, Richard…it is a special honor to induct you into a Hall of Fame that includes Fraser Seidel, Robert Dillenschneider, James Grunig, Anne Barkelow, PRSSA founding advisor Professor Anthony Fulginiti, Dr. Donald Bagin, your friends and colleaguesJ. William Jones…and our founding professional advisor Anne Sceia Klein and…the mother of PRSSA, the late Betsy Plank.
Please join me as we induct Richard Maloney into the Rowan University Professional Public Relations Hall of Fame.
[To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com]