Jonathan Friedland joins The Walt Disney Co. as vp, corporate communications, where he will participate in developing and executing the communications strategies for various issues and initiatives, including financial reporting, legislative and regulatory issues, corporate reputation management and executive communications. He also will work closely with Disney's businesses, including Parks and Resorts, Media Networks, Consumer Products and Studio Ent.
Jonathans impeccable journalism record and understanding of the media landscape make him an excellent addition to the Disney communications team, said Zenia Mucha, evp, corporate communications. His experience in covering large corporations and complex issues as well as his familiarity with a vast number of international markets will serve Disney well.
In 2004, Friedland co-founded Meximerica Media, owner of the Rumbo chain of Spanish-language family newspapers. Prior to that, he was the Los Angeles bureau chief of the WALL STREET JOURNAL, where he oversaw the papers national coverage of entertainment, defense, electrical power, hotel, gaming and toy industries. Under his leadership, L.A. bureau reporters won numerous awards for their coverage. He was also a member of the team that won a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
From 1998-2000, Friedland was Mexico City bureau chief for the WALL STREET JOURNAL, responsible for the papers coverage of Mexico, Central America and Cuba, while also writing about issues including the telecom, oil, tourism, banking and media industries. From 1995-98, he was a South America correspondent for the WALL STREET JOURNAL and established a new bureau for the paper in Argentina. Friedland was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in the international reporting category for coverage of the collapse of the Mexican peso and its impact on the region and world markets.
Friedland worked at the FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW from 1988-95 in Tokyo and Hong Kong and, prior to that, at INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR in New York. He began his career with INTER PRESS SERVICE in Washington D.C.
