Jerry Klein is a 1970 graduate of the School of Media and communications and a 1980 graduate of Temple’s School of Law. During his accomplished 45-year career, he’s been a broadcast and print journalist, practicing attorney, public relations firm owner, head of a worldwide PR network and leader of Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia.
As an undergraduate studying radio, TV and film, he worked countless hours at WRTI-FM. He became station manager in his junior year (WRTI’s first year in Annenberg Hall) and was the last student station manager before WRTI-FM converted to professional staff and an all-jazz format in 1969.
During his sophomore year, Klein began his professional broadcast career in Wilmington on weekends. He later moved to a Philadelphia station, working overnight while continuing his studies during the day. Upon graduation, Klein was recruited as morning drive news editor at WCAU radio. He later became a reporter, anchor and morning drive editor at KYW Newsradio.
After a decade in broadcasting and journalism, Klein entered law school, becoming managing editor of the Temple Law Quarterly. After graduating cum laude, he worked as a litigation attorney at Philadelphia’s Montgomery McCraken law firm.
Klein joined his wife, Anne, as a principal of Anne Klein Communications Group in 1985. In addition to counseling clients on crisis and issues communications, he manages the firm’s business and technical aspects. He spent more than 15 years in leadership roles with Pinnacle Worldwide, an international network of independent PR firms.
An avid listener to old time radio programs, Klein also collects vintage broadcast microphones. He recently became chairman of Broadcast Pioneers after an unprecedented four terms as president.
Klein’s passion, though, is ice hockey. He plays year-round, is goaltender for a local men’s league team and this summer won the gold medal at a senior hockey tournament in California after winning silvers the prior two years.