Skills
About
Stu Zakim is a Strategic Communications professional with senior level experience in the entertainment, media and cannabis sectors. He has a strong background and proven track record in brand repositioning, integrated marketing programs, product launches, strategic media relations, development and implementation of corporate communications programs and crisis communications He has worked for some of the best known brands in film, magazines and television. Zakim has provided counsel to a variety of iconic media leaders including Jann Wenner, Bonnie Fuller, Christie Hefner, David Pecker and their publications - Rolling Stone, Playboy, Us Weekly, Shape and Star magazine among others. He has also worked as an executive at Columbia Pictures, Universal Pictures and Showtime Networks. He is also a frequent contributor to CNN and MSNBC on media issues. Zakim has been in the Cannabis space since 2013 as both a PR professional and advocate representing clients like The Happy Munkey, CryoCure and The Marijuana Business Association (MJBA) and writes regularly on Cannabis issues for Rolling Stone and other outlets. He launched Bridge Strategic Communications in 2009. Zakim, a graduate of Boston University's College of Communication, is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He was recognized by his peers as one of Top 100 people in the cable industry and also serves on the Board of Directors of the Publicity Club of New York. His work on behalf of client Happy Munkey won 2 Clio's for 2021.
Stu Zakim
Published content
article
Nov 20, 2023
Take a look at the New York cannabis market, where stakeholders have a choice to educate consumers and help support licensed dispensaries.
article
The challenge for all marketers, but specifically in cannabis, with celebrity engagement at an overload, is how to find properties that, while entertainment based, are more experientially than personality driven.
expert panel
Their future opinion of your business rides on how you respond to their concerns. It's no secret that unhappy customers can have a negative effect on your business. All it takes is a slew of negative Yelp reviews or low star ratings to ruin a business’s reputation. But the reviews themselves aren’t always what have the biggest impact — it's all about the way the business responds to unsatisfied buyers. That's why it's so important to address customer concerns when they occur and attempt to turn the situation around. To shed some light on how to do so properly, 12 Rolling Stone Culture Council members explain the smartest things you should do first when you have an unhappy customer and why.
expert panel
Even if you're short on cash, these 12 things will significantly boost your marketing efforts. When it comes to marketing your business, money isn’t everything. While having a large budget can certainly have a big impact on your efforts, there are many marketing activities that cost very little to implement, and even more that don’t cost anything at all. So for new or small businesses that have to operate on a shoestring budget, prioritizing the right marketing efforts can make all the difference. Below, a panel of Rolling Stone Culture Council experts share the areas of marketing they think are the most important to prioritize if you’re working with a tight budget and why those areas can give you the biggest bang for your buck.
expert panel
To get noticed, you’ll need to provide something worth noticing. With so much advice and content out in the world already, audiences are having their attention pulled in all sorts of directions, not only making it difficult for them to find true value in what they consume, but also making it challenging for thought leaders to get noticed. But if you run a business or want to make a name for yourself in the world of thought leadership, rising above the noise is key for success. To do so, consider the following advice from the business leaders of Rolling Stone Culture Council. Their insights may give you that boost you need to stand out from the competition.
Company details
Bridge Strategic Communications LLC
Company bio
Bridge Strategic Communications works with clients to raise, expand or reposition their profile to its various constituencies through integrated public relations programs. Clients include start-up and established properties in the media, entertainment and Cannabis industries. Recent accounts have included Fast Company's Innovation Festival, The Marijuana Business Association (MJBA), Dr. Mary Clifton, Digital Trends and TerrAscend Corp, The Happy Munkey, LIM College and CryoCure.