Malena Cunningham is President and CEO of Strategic Media Relations, Inc., a Media Relations/Public Relations consulting firm she founded in September 2004. The firm specializes in working with companies and organizations to handle media and public relations issues. The firm also conducts media training seminars and produces video projects.
Malena brings 23-years of experience and award winning excellence in broadcast news to Strategic Media Relations, Inc. She is a native of Laurens, South Carolina and a 1980 graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Public Relations/Journalism. She began her broadcast career in television news at CNN (Turner Broadcasting) in Atlanta working first behind the scenes. Malena moved on to work as a news reporter in Lexington, KY, Harrisburg, PA and a news anchor in Savannah, GA.
In 1992, Malena moved to WVTM/NBC13 in Birmingham as weekend co-anchor. Within five months, promoted to the 6pm weekday newscast, Malena became the only African American at that time in Birmingham in a main anchor position. Among the high profile stories she covered were the Richard Scrushy indictment and fraud trial, the Ten Commandments monument controversy as well as the Eric Robert Rudolph bombings in Centennial Park in Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics and the clinic bombing in Birmingham.
Malena has also covered every gubernatorial race in Alabama since 1992 as well as local municipal and congressional races. During her 12 and a half-year career at NBC13, Malena won two Emmy awards (1995, 1996) for SPECIAL REPORTING. She was also part of the 6pm news team that won an Emmy for BEST NEWSCAST in 1996. In 2004, Malena won the prestigious regional Edward R. Murrow award for anchoring the half hour documentary BENEATH THE RUBBLE, the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church.
Malena also won the National Association of Black Journalists Award of Excellence for that documentary as well as the Birmingham Association of Black Journalists Excellence Award. While at NBC13, Malena was a much sought after speaker and emcee of civic, business and community events. She was also the co-host of the United Negro College Fund telethon and The Children's Miracle Network telethon for Children’s Hospital of Alabama.
Malena has received numerous honors for her civic work, and in 2004, the Birmingham City Council recognized Malena for her commitment to the community. She was the 2006 co-chair of the YWCA’s Purse and Passion luncheon that raised funds for the YWCA’s programs that benefit women and children. Since 1993, she has been a member of the Birmingham YWCA’s board. Also in 2006, Malena co-founded The Art of Passion art show and auction to raise money for the YWCA.
Malena is also a board member of The Women’s Fund, and Girls, Inc. and a member of The Rotary Club and continues to be a member of The Women’s Network, The Birmingham Association of Black Journalists and The National Association of Black Journalists. In addition, Malena is a graduate of Leadership Alabama Class XVI and Leadership Birmingham Class of 2008.
Malena is also the owner of a CURVES fitness center for women.
Malena conducting a media training workshop at Children's Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama.
Offered Services:
- Speaker
- Presenter
- Consultant
- Mistress of Ceremony
General Areas:
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Communications,
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Presentations
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Speaking Skills
Speakers established their fee in accordance with the demands of the engagement.
Please contact them directly to discuss their availability and fee structure.
Remember to tell the speaker that you found them via the Birmingham Speakers Bureau.
- Non-profit discount available
Travel:
In Focus
Valerie & Malena
Beginning Monday, May 18 veteran news anchor Malena Cunningham teams up with local attorney Valerie Hicks Powe to become the “First Ladies” of talk radio in
Contact Information:
Business:
205-991-0930
Mobile:
205-746-9942
Send Malena an E-mail
Website:
www.strategicmediarelationsinc.com
Malena emceeing the Miss SWAC pageant with BET television host Bobby Jones.
