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She Was One of the Best Known Studio PR Executives in TV and Movies. Former Entertainment Publicity and Corporate Communications Veteran Barbara Brogliatti Dies at 69

Jun 22, 2015  •  Post A Comment

“Entertainment public relations and corporate communications veteran Barbara S. Brogliatti died at her home in Napa Valley, CA, on Sunday morning (June 21, 2015), following a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer,” Warner Bros. has announced.  She was 69 years old.

According to the Warner Bros. obituary, “Brogliatti spent nearly 40 years working in the entertainment industry, having started her career as an assistant in the publicity department of the CBS Television Network a few weeks after graduating from UCLA.  She quickly rose through the CBS publicity ranks, before being tapped by Norman Lear to create and head public relations for his fast-growing companies.

“Eleven years later, when Lear sold his companies, Brogliatti joined Lorimar as thean head of Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Investor Relations.

“In 1989, when Warner Communications bought Lorimar, Brogliatti left to form her own public relations and marketing firm.  Among the clients handled by The Brogliatti Company were Norman Lear, Haim Saban, Jean Stapleton, Barbara Walters and DIC Animation.

“In late 1990, she returned to Lorimar (at the time owned by Warner Bros.) to take over television publicity, promotion and advertising.  In 1993, when Lorimar and Warner Bros. Television were consolidated into a single TV production powerhouse, Brogliatti became the Studio’s senior TV PR and communications executive.

In 1997, she created the Warner Bros. Worldwide Corporate Communications department and took oversight of corporate communications studio-wide.  She remained at Warner Bros. until her retirement in 2005, having last served as Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Warner Bros.”

The studio obituary adds, “Throughout her career, Brogliatti was involved with publicity and public relations for some of the world’s most iconic television properties, including ‘All in the Family,’ ‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,’ ‘Dallas,’ ‘Full House,’ ‘Friends’ and ‘ER.’  She also spearheaded marketing, promotion and publicity for television’s unprecedented fundraiser ‘America: A Tribute to Heroes,’ which in one night raised some $150 million for victims of the September 11 tragedy.

“In addition to her studio responsibilities, Brogliatti was a leader on industry-wide issues and regulatory matters, including serving as chairman of the MPAA’s Anti-Piracy PR/educational task force, as the chief press strategist and spokesperson for the Coalition for the Repeal of the Financial Interest & Syndication Rule and, for 25 years, as the PR strategist and spokesperson for the AMPTP.”

The Warner Bros. announcement also says that “She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Ray; brother Larry Spencer; sister-in-law, Laurie; niece Kate; nephew Riley; goddaughter Amanda her husband David Oslinger and their daughter Lottie; as well as and numerous cousins, family members and dear friends.  She also leaves behind her beloved canine companion Bailey.

“A celebration of life will be held in the fall in lieu of a memorial.”

BarbaraBrogliatti1Photo Courtesy Warner Bros.

 

 

One Comment

  1. I was very saddened by news of my old friend Barbara Brogliatti’s death. Barbara was a wonderful person and a second-to-none communications executive. I first met her when I was a fledgling TV critic and she was doing PR for Norman Lear and we remained connected, professionally and as friends for more than 25 years, until I hung it up in 1999. Barbara and I still stayed in touch, lightly, right up until she decided to hang it up too. She told me at the time that she planned to make wine in Napa. I’m glad she got to do that. Too many people who ought to know better don’t stop to smell the roses–or the grapes–before it is too late. Barbara was smarter than that.
    For any communications executive reading about Barbara’s impressive life I suggest that you follow her example. Barbara understood the media, shot straight with us and never asked for favors she had no business seeking. She worked relentlessly to explain her clients and companies to the media but she also explained the media to her clients. She had a lot of power but she used it judiciously. And if you were good at reporting or editing or what have you, she respected you, even if it meant she couldn’t control you. I always placed her at the top of my list of communications executives. I will miss her. More importantly, the television industry will too.
    R.I.P., old friend.

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