Seasoned journalist brings 30 years’ experience covering nexus of business, politics and public affairs
DALLAS — Hill+Knowlton Strategies announced today that Mark Edgar, an award-winning Texas journalist who most recently served as a deputy managing editor of The Dallas Morning News, will join the firm’s Dallas office as a senior vice president on Sept. 1.
Mark EdgarDuring his 30 years with The News, Edgar helped lead one of the nation’s largest newsrooms, in print and online at dallasnews.com. He supervised its core departments: the Metro, Texas and Southwest, National, International and Political desks.

He guided The News’ legislative and presidential coverage, including the Bush, Clinton, Bush and Obama elections, and directed its bureaus in Washington, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Oklahoma City, Los Angeles, London, Havana and Mexico City. He also led the front-line desk operations for Hurricane Katrina and the Iraq war, coverage that earned The News two Pulitzer Prizes.

“I’ve always found it an honor when veteran journalists choose H+K as their home after impressive careers in the news business, and I feel that today about Mark,” said Mike Coates, president and CEO of the H+K Americas region. “While we will always stay at the forefront of new technologies and the advances in the communications landscape, there will also always be a need for the unmatched perspective of people like Mark Edgar, and the experience he’s gained at the intersection of business and politics. He will be a true asset to our clients, our firm and our people.”

As a newsroom manager, Edgar ran the coverage of the Ebola outbreak in Dallas; the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico; the explosion of the space shuttle Columbia over East Texas; the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; and the Oklahoma City bombing. As a reporter at The News, he won numerous awards, including those from The Associated Press, the State Bar of Texas and the Inter American Press Association for foreign reporting.

“H+K is a leader in a competitive field and rapidly changing media environment,” Edgar said. “I’m eager to join a firm with deep and diverse roots in Texas, a stellar team of strategic communicators with unique access to help others navigate public policy issues.”
In Dallas, Edgar produced joint projects with public radio and TV stations, network affiliates and Spanish-language and university media partners. He also helped oversee special-event reporting for a Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, Final Four and the first College Football Playoff. And he taught at the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education at the University of California, Berkeley.

“The addition of Mark to our team is a big win for H+K,” said Marvin Singleton, executive vice president and general manager of the Hill+Knowlton Strategies Dallas office. “He has handled an extraordinary mix of high-profile news events. That combined with his background in politics, crisis management and public affairs will ensure strong strategic counsel for our clients based in North Texas and internationally.”

Edgar is one of several senior talent additions to Hill+Knowlton Strategies in recent weeks. Today the firm also announced that former litigator, veteran public affairs and public relations strategist, and agency leader Larry Krutchik will join the firm next week as a senior vice president based in Los Angeles. Jennifer Weldon and Ted Donath were recently named MarComms additions in New York and Los Angeles, respectively. The firm also announced that Beth Balsam will be joining the firm in the fall as U.S. president and CEO.

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