That didn't last long. Fred Muir, since last year a senior vice president for public affairs in the Los Angeles office of Fleishman-Hillard International Communications, has left and opened his own independent public relations firm, Fred Muir and Associates.

Muir had joined Fleishman-Hillard from the L.A. Times, where most recently he was the Business section editor overseeing entertainment coverage. He had also been a deputy city editor and, while a reporter, the bureau chief at City Hall. Muir formerly reported for the Wall Street Journal.

Press release is below.

NEWS FROM FRED MUIR & ASSOCIATES

Fred Muir, award-winning Los Angeles journalist and prominent PR executive, to open specialty public relations firm.

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13, 2003 – Fred Muir, veteran Los Angeles newsman and public affairs specialist, has left Fleishman-Hillard International Communications to establish Fred Muir & Associates, an independent public relations firm that will capitalize on his 30 years of media experience.

Muir, most recently a senior vice president for public affairs with Fleishman-Hillard and formerly a senior editor at the Los Angeles Times, saw the need for a firm that would have a hard media focus, the ability to move and react quickly and give clients personal, consistent, hands-on attention. Fred Muir & Associates will provide communications services ranging from image building to crisis communications, media training and strategic planning.

Before launching a career in public relations, Muir spent nearly 30 years as a senior editor and writer with the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal and other noted business and consumer publications in California and New York.

At The Times Muir was deeply involved in coverage of California government, politics and business. He served as Bureau Chief at Los Angeles City Hall and at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. As Deputy City Editor, he produced the daily Metro section. Later he directed coverage of the entertainment industry. Over some 20 years at The Times he was a member of three Pulitzer Prize winning teams.

At Fleishman-Hillard Muir provided communications counsel to leading companies in real estate, technology, finance, architecture and law. He also worked with government agencies, non-profit organizations and prominent elected officials.

In opening the doors of Fred Muir &Associates, Muir will immediately be consulting with several nationally recognized organizations that have encouraged him to build the kind of independent, value added firm that he envisioned.

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