Peter Thorne Email & Phone Number

Stony Brook University, New York, United States

Stony Brook is NY State’s No. 1 public university and a flagship of the SUNY system, with over 25,000 students. Stony Brook is a center of academic excellence, a leader in social mobility, and a powerhouse research institution offering a world-class education.Responsible for university-wide issues management, leading crisis communications, rapid response, editing, and reviewing internal communications while ensuring alignment with the external communications team.• Lead crisis media relations efforts: Manage and assess sensitive issues, prepare proactive responses, and coordinate with external media consultants. Demonstrate strong judgment under tight deadlines to navigate complex situations.• Develop and implement communication systems: Design and refine external and internal communication frameworks and best practices. Respond to media inquiries on complex issues involving safety, security, and crisis management.• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership: Provide strategic counsel on crisis and issue management, critical messaging, and rapid response. Coordinate media preparation by creating briefing materials, background information, and talking points for the university president and senior leaders.• Edit and review internal communications: Refine and enhance content for internal newsletter and messaging, ensuring clarity and engagement for stakeholders.Notable Contributions:• Process Innovation: Enhanced executive briefing protocols and expanded crisis communications capabilities, driving greater efficiency and effectiveness.• Team Building: Recruited and onboarded key members of a growing and restructured communications team, strengthening overall team performance and cohesion.• Public Relations: Oversaw the writing and editing of public statements, news releases, and story pitches, securing coverage in prominent outlets such as The NY Times, FOX, Newsday, CNN, News12, WCBS, WNBC, Fox5, BBC, and other media outlets.

Stony Brook University, New York, United States

New York City

NYC DOC: 24/7 ops - facilities on Rikers Island & in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, & Staten Island; combined workforce of 10,000+.Develops external/internal communications for NYC DOC. Executes media inquiry responses, including complex issues that involve safety, security, & custody management. Proactively pitches messages to local, national, & global media about ongoing reforms & special initiatives. • Advises senior leadership team on critical issue messaging. Coordinates pre-interview media prep, speech writing, & writes talking points for the Commissioner & senior staff.• Oversees department internal/external websites & DOC social media channels. Supervises content & production of monthly internal hard copy/electronic E-News newsletter, video production & editing,• Oversees large staff events including Officer Academy graduations, promotion/award ceremonies, commemorative & other special events. Conducts facility visits to accommodate media requests.Notable Contributions: • Process Innovation: 24-hour rapid response capability to manage media inquiries; event planning protocols (handled increase in Academy graduates from 200 to 1200 and changed venue to Madison Square Garden); briefing protocols; coverage archive with searchable database of released statements. • Social Media Expansion: developed new internal communications channels (DOC TV & print newsletter); supervised redesign of DOCNYC.gov website; revitalized Twitter feed with follower growth increase of 300%+; launched first official DOC Facebook profile & YouTube channel (450K+ views); launched “Everyday Heroes” video series.• Flawless Public Relations: managed multiple mayoral visits & news conferences. Directed writing & editing of every news release/story pitch with statements that led to coverage in: NYTimes, AP, NYDN, NY Post, Politico, WSJ, Fox News, Bloomberg News, CNN, News12, NY1, WABC, WNBC, WCBS, WPIX, Fox5, Reuters, BBC, & many more global/national media outlets.

New York City

Office of the NYC Comptroller manages the City’s financial accounting/reporting, capital/operating budgets, HR functions, procurement/payment, facilities, support and information systems, oversees a $215.5B investment portfolio of 5 pensions, and supports other bureaus (Audit, Budget, Contract Administration, Economic Development, Engineering, General Counsel, IT, Labor Law, Law & Adjustment, Public Affairs, Public Finance, Public Policy, Press Office).Led Communications team members (nine staffers with three languages) to manage news releases and digital media, advise the Comptroller and senior leadership on message content, crisis communications, and media relations in proactive, strategic, and reactive situations.• Organized and managed news conferences. Supervised all media activity pertaining to the State of the City Address. Directed content and distribution of news releases that led to coverage in: NYTimes, WSJ, Fox News, Bloomberg News, CNBC, WABC, WNBC, WCBS, WPIX, and NY1.Notable Contributions: • Maintained Press Office operations during Superstorm Sandy and indefinite main office shut down. • Conceptualized and led innovative new strategy development for news releases. Updated format to leverage multimedia elements: one-click cross links to relevant content, embedded video and audio to connect with media outlets.• Expanded digital media footprint, including social media campaigns to boost Twitter followers by over 240%. Launched updated video-centric Facebook page and revitalized YouTube channel by uploading a wide variety of newly produced unique video clips.• Devised and implemented “Heat Map,” a new method to use multiple metrics that track and analyze media coverage, results of communications programs and strategies, and story placement by media outlet/demographics/geographic location.

New York City

Anchor | Reporter | Producer | Show Host | WriterWrote, edited, reported, anchored and produced under heavy timeline pressure while maintaining accuracy and credibility. Won and/or nominated for Excellence in Journalism awards every year from 2000 to 2012.• Specialized in original storytelling and enterprise/investigative reporting. Multiple EMMY®, Associated Press, Quill, and NY State Broadcasters Award Winner. EMMY® nominated Weekend Anchor and primary back-up anchor for the station's award-winning primetime and morning newscasts• Co-Founder/Producer of award-winning “FactFinders” investigative/enterprise reporting unit. Conceived and hosted station's award-winning annual New York International Auto Show primetime specials.• Reported major New York stories including: September 11 aftermath, American Airlines 587 crash, the 2003 Blackout, 2011 East Coast earthquake, Bernard Madoff scandal, Times Square car bomber, City Hall shooting, Long Island serial killer, Republican National Convention, resignation of Congressman Anthony Weiner, Occupy Wall Street, financial industry meltdown. Co-anchored election night coverage.• Developed the concept for and served as Host/Producer of the station’s award winning annual New York International Auto Show Specials

Los Angeles

Reporter | Anchor | Producer | Writer• Winner of the Associated Press Bill Stout Memorial Award as the best Live Spot News reporter in Los Angeles. Won the Radio and Television News Association’s Golden Mike award for best Development Reporting. EMMY® nominated for Live Sports Coverage of the Los Angeles Marathon.• Covered live breaking news from police pursuits, civil unrest, and high profile trials, to plane crashes, massive brush fires, and mudslides. Often reported live from station helicopter. Took a TV news crew inside San Quentin State Prison for several days to produce the landmark long-form news special: "California Scared Straight."

New York City

National Correspondent | Producer | WriterCovered 100+ nationwide trials and legal system proceedings that ranged from small claims court to high-profile criminal prosecutions. Notable assignments included Charles Manson and Sirhan Sirhan parole hearings, and Menendez Brothers and Betty Broderick murder trials.

Memphis

Anchor | Reporter

Salisbury, Md

Anchor | Reporter | Producer