NEW YORK – Longtime communications strategist Emily Tynes returned to the ACLU today, resuming her role as the organization's Director of Communications. Tynes, who first served as American Civil Liberties Union Communications Director from 2002 to 2006, was most recently executive vice president of the Communications Consortium Media Center, a public interest media group that she co-founded in Washington, D.C.
"I am absolutely thrilled that Emily will be rejoining the ACLU family," said Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU. "Emily's talents, insights and enormous skill in executing successful communications strategies on civil liberties issues will be an enormous asset to the ACLU, and I can't wait to see the results."
Tynes, who has over 30 years of experience in communications regarding strategies for achieving policy and social change, will be based in the ACLU's Washington, D.C. office. She will supervise a three-unit department: publications, media relations and website development.
"I share the deep commitment of my friends and colleagues at the ACLU to protecting the fundamental rights that make our nation strong. I look forward to joining them in the daily business of safeguarding liberty," said Tynes.
During her previous years at the ACLU, Tynes was responsible for several successful communications efforts and was the lead architect of the Safe & Free campaign, the organization's communications strategy on civil liberties post 9/11. She also spearheaded the production and distribution of the first-ever ACLU television series, the "Freedom Files."
After leaving corporate public relations in the early 1980's, Tynes became the first communications director for the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) – now known as NARAL Pro-Choice America – where she guided the organization's communications program during a highly volatile era of historic abortion rights battles.
After her tenure with NARAL, Tynes co-founded the Communications Consortium Media Center, a non-profit organization that develops communications strategies for policy and social change. As a principal of the organization, Tynes designed and implemented strategic communications campaigns on domestic issues related to women's rights, racial equality and immigrant rights. She has also conducted strategic communications workshops for hundreds of social justice advocates in the United States and abroad.
Tynes is co-author of the "Jossey Bass Guide to Strategic Communications," a reference book for non-profit communications professionals, the second edition of which was published in October 2008. She also edited two reference books for journalists, "The Newsroom Guide to Civil Rights" and "The Newsroom Guide to Abortion and Family Planning."
Tynes replaces Karen Curry, who left the organization in December.
Tynes' bio is available online at: www.aclu.org/about/staff/13303res20020210.html