- Free online sessions take place February 20th & 27th -

(BLACK PR WIRE) – In recognition of Black History Month and in celebration of their continued partnership, Business Wire and Black PR Wire will launch their 2013 Minority Leadership Series. The series will showcase the best of multicultural services and practices used by business professionals in the country. It will also highlight networking tools essential for effective media and public relations practitioners and provide insight for the new and seasoned communications professional.

The much-anticipated event includes two online webinars. Part I is entitled “Preparing for a Future in Communications.” This 90-minute session will include a panel of HBCU graduates working in newsrooms and leading PR/marketing departments from across the country. Speakers will share their best tips to help students and young professional communicators excel in the industry and maximize their collegiate and early career experiences for success, job opportunities, and leadership positions. This webinar takes place on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 from 1 – 2:30 p.m. EST.

“The Minority Leadership Series offers a great opportunity for both college students and PR agencies to gain effective insight on ways to grow, survive and thrive in this ever-evolving industry,” says Raschanda Hall, Global Media Relations Manager for Business Wire, and the session’s moderator. Presenters joining this session include: Greg H. Lee, Executive Sports Editor, Sun-Sentinel; Aprill O. Turner, PR Professor and Communications Consultant; and Vince McGraw, Online Web Producer, Detroit News.

Part II of the series is entitled “Leveraging Opportunities for Strategic Partnerships.” This 90-minute session includes a panel of marketing and communications professionals who will share their experience of leveraging business services through strategic partnerships. This webinar takes place on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 from 1 – 2:30 p.m. EST.

“Participating in this webinar will help the busy business professional to grasp key and critical information needed to position their business for success by effective partnering techniques and services,” adds Bernadette Morris, president and CEO of Black PR Wire, and the session’s moderator. “Our goal is to create a win-win for both the boutique and large business, and ultimately, their clients.”

Presenters for Part II, “Leveraging Opportunities for Strategic Partnerships” include Danita King, principal/founder, PRNoir; Cyn Davis, senior manager, ICF International; and James Andrews, founder, Social People. Panelists will discuss how they combine their passion for their products and services to partner with other agencies for a successful collaboration.

Both webinars are free and open to the public. However, registration is required for all participants. To register for the session on February 20th – “Preparing for a Future in Communications,” please visit - https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/324362504. To register for the session on February 27th – “Leveraging Opportunities for Strategic Partnerships,” please visit - https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/921401105.

Registered guests will also be able to follow along with our conversation or ask our panelists questions by tracking and including the #bwbprw hashtag on Twitter during the webinar. For more information on the 2013 Minority Leadership Series, please contact Vanessa Loy at 1-877-BLACKPR.

About Business Wire

Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Investor relations, public relations, public policy and marketing professionals rely on Business Wire to accurately distribute market-moving news and multimedia, host online newsrooms, build content marketing platforms and provide audience analysis that improves engagement with specified target markets. Founded in 1961, Business Wire is a trusted source for news organizations, journalists, investment professionals and regulatory authorities, delivering news directly into editorial systems and leading online news sources, while boosting SEO and social media engagement via its multi-patented simultaneous NX Network. Business Wire has more than 30 bureaus worldwide to securely meet the varying needs of communications professionals and news consumers.

Learn more at www.BusinessWire.com and the BusinessWired blog; follow updates on Twitter @businesswire and Facebook

About Black PR Wire

Black PR Wire is a powerful leader in effective news delivery services. With an unmatched database and listing of over 1500 Black (African American, Caribbean and Haitian) media, organizations, social influencers and opinion leaders, Black PR Wire is the first and largest news distribution service to target the Black market. Services of Black PR Wire include a full range of comprehensive new release distribution, electronic audio and video messages, newsletters and more. The company offers its services in both English and Creole.

Learn more at www.blackprwire.com where you can sign up for Thrivin,’ our award winning newsletter and join The Hook Up and receive customized releases on demand. Also, follow us Facebook.com/BlackPRWire, and get updates on Twitter @BlackPRWire. At Black PR Wire, we distribute the news our media can use.