Shirley Powell oversees the public relations groups supporting the CNN News Group, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, Turner South, and Boomerang, as well as Turner Sports and the Atlanta Braves. In addition, Powell heads advertising sales and cable sales media relations; government affairs and community relations; and all internal communications. Powell is based in Atlanta and reports to Kelly Regal, executive vice president of human resources and corporate communications for TBS, Inc.
Formerly senior vice president of network communications for Turner Entertainment Networks, Powell returned to the company in July 2001 from NBC Entertainment, where as senior vice president of media relations she oversaw publicity, corporate communications and talent relations for NBC Entertainment, NBC Studios and NBC Enterprises in Burbank, California.
Earlier, she served as vice president of media relations for the Disney Channel and Toon Disney, responsible for developing and leading all public relations and publicity strategies for the Disney/ABC networks. In 1992, Powell joined Turner Broadcasting’s Cartoon Network in Atlanta, where she led publicity for the launch of the network and spent four years helping position and establish its global brand. Before signing on at Cartoon Network, Powell was with Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando, overseeing the studio’s grand opening and subsequent press and special events.
Powell started her career at a public relations agency in Orlando, Florida, an affiliate of Manning, Selvage and Lee Public Relations.
Powell earned a bachelor of arts degree in journalism, with an academic minor in public relations, at Temple University. Powell serves on the board of Women in Cable and Telecommunications, Inc. (WICT) and is a member of the Board of Visitors of Temple University’s School of Communications and Theater.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming to the basic cable industry.