Jeff Ballabon
Encyclopedia
Jeff Ballabon is an American media
executive and formerly a lobbyist
, a lawyer
, and political and Orthodox Jewish community activist.
He is a lawyer and graduate of Yale Law School
, with degrees in Jewish law from Ner Israel Rabbinical College and in literature from Yeshiva University
. He served as counsel to Senator
John Danforth
of Missouri
and to the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
. He interned briefly at the State of Israel
's Ministry of Justice, where he worked on several matters, including the formulation of Israel's Basic Law
on Human Dignity and Liberty.
He subsequently ran the public policy and communications departments for Court TV
, Channel One News
and Primedia
. In the 1990s, during the era of extremely high profile trials, like the O.J. Simpson murder trial, Ballabon was a leader in the campaign to allow US court proceedings to be televised.
The Forward
labeled Ballabon one of the "50 Most Influential Jews in America," called him "the architect of Bush's 2004 re-election effort in the Orthodox community."
Ballabon is a key point of contact for the Jewish community with Christian leaders, as well. "If you're looking for a New Yorker with deep ties to the Christian right-you know, the folks running America-Mr. Ballabon is your man. Which is odd, first of all, because he's not Christian, but an ultra-Orthodox Jew from Long Island. And, second, because he's spent most of his career as the lobbyist for New York media companies, including Court TV and Primedia." The New York Observer.
As a fundraiser for the 2004 Bush campaign, he co-chaired a dinner which "raked in $4 million."
From May 2007 to February 2009, he was a member of The Livingston Group
, a Washington, D.C.
-based lobbying firm. From 2004 to 2009 he also ran Ballabon Group, a New York City
-based issue campaign consultancy advising clients on government relations, crisis management and media strategy.
In October 2007, in reaction to the announcement of the Annapolis Conference he was retained to mount a response to the threatened division of Jerusalem and he founded the Coordinating Council on Jerusalem
.
In February 2009 CBS
announced that Ballabon was joining as a Senior Vice President, Communications for CBS News
. In this role he oversees "all media relations and public affairs for CBS News, including strategy and planning, day-to-day publicity, internal and external communications, and coordination with CBS Interactive regarding CBSNews.com."
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
executive and formerly a lobbyist
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
, a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and political and Orthodox Jewish community activist.
He is a lawyer and graduate of Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
, with degrees in Jewish law from Ner Israel Rabbinical College and in literature from Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
. He served as counsel to Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
John Danforth
John Danforth
John Claggett "Jack" Danforth is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former Republican United States Senator from Missouri. He is an ordained Episcopal priest. Danforth is married to Sally D. Danforth and has five adult children.-Education and early career:Danforth was born...
of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and to the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
The United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is a standing committee of the United States Senate in charge of all senate matters related to the following subjects:* Coast Guard* Coastal zone management* Communications...
. He interned briefly at the State of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's Ministry of Justice, where he worked on several matters, including the formulation of Israel's Basic Law
Basic Laws of Israel
The Basic Laws of Israel are a key component of Israel's constitutional law. These laws deal with the formation and role of the principal state's institutions, and the relations between the state's authorities. Some of them also protect civil rights...
on Human Dignity and Liberty.
He subsequently ran the public policy and communications departments for Court TV
Court TV
truTV is an American cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Time Warner. The network launched as Court TV in 1991, changing to truTV in 2008...
, Channel One News
Channel One News
Channel One News is a 12 minute news program for teens broadcast via satellite to middle schools and high schools across the United States. Channel One is owned by Alloy Media + Marketing and based in New York City.-Program History:...
and Primedia
Primedia
PRIMEDIA Inc. is privately held American media company fully owned by TPG Capital.Consumer Source Inc. is the sole operating division of PRIMEDIA and helps millions of consumers find apartments, houses for rent, and new homes for sale through its Internet, mobile, and print products...
. In the 1990s, during the era of extremely high profile trials, like the O.J. Simpson murder trial, Ballabon was a leader in the campaign to allow US court proceedings to be televised.
The Forward
The Forward
The Forward , commonly known as The Jewish Daily Forward, is a Jewish-American newspaper published in New York City. The publication began in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily issued by dissidents from the Socialist Labor Party of Daniel DeLeon...
labeled Ballabon one of the "50 Most Influential Jews in America," called him "the architect of Bush's 2004 re-election effort in the Orthodox community."
Ballabon is a key point of contact for the Jewish community with Christian leaders, as well. "If you're looking for a New Yorker with deep ties to the Christian right-you know, the folks running America-Mr. Ballabon is your man. Which is odd, first of all, because he's not Christian, but an ultra-Orthodox Jew from Long Island. And, second, because he's spent most of his career as the lobbyist for New York media companies, including Court TV and Primedia." The New York Observer.
As a fundraiser for the 2004 Bush campaign, he co-chaired a dinner which "raked in $4 million."
From May 2007 to February 2009, he was a member of The Livingston Group
The Livingston Group
The Livingston Group is the lobbying firm founded by Bob Livingston in 1999 after he stepped down as Speaker-elect and resigned his seat. The firm describes its services on its official website, saying it provides comprehensive public affairs, government relations and lobbying services on a global...
, a Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
-based lobbying firm. From 2004 to 2009 he also ran Ballabon Group, a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based issue campaign consultancy advising clients on government relations, crisis management and media strategy.
In October 2007, in reaction to the announcement of the Annapolis Conference he was retained to mount a response to the threatened division of Jerusalem and he founded the Coordinating Council on Jerusalem
Coordinating Council on Jerusalem
The Coordinating Council on Jerusalem is a lobbying group. It was officially launched on October 23, 2007, for the purpose of uniting American Jewish organizations on behalf of a secure and unified Jerusalem. The creation of political strategist Jeff Ballabon, it was founded to provide a united...
.
In February 2009 CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
announced that Ballabon was joining as a Senior Vice President, Communications for CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
. In this role he oversees "all media relations and public affairs for CBS News, including strategy and planning, day-to-day publicity, internal and external communications, and coordination with CBS Interactive regarding CBSNews.com."
External links
- Coordinating Council on Jerusalem Website
- Livingston Group Announcement
- Haaretz biography
- Salon Coordinating Council story
- Observer profile
- Village Voice fundraising story
- WSJ Opinion Journal
- Jewish Media Resources story
- Yale 300
- Ballabon Group Website
- Ballabon Jewish Political Outreach Website
- http://www.nydailynews.com
- http://www.jewishworldreview.com