travelmedia communications
About Us
Travelmedia Communications is led by Russell Johnson, who has developed media and educational programs for destinations, corporations and international organizations since 1984, and his wife Pat Meier-Johnson, who in the same year founded Pat Meier Associates, one of North America's premiere high tech public relations firms. When they married, more than a decade ago, they merged their companies and their talents, Russ working with Pat's high-tech clients and Pat working with Russ' tourism clients. They serve clients from all over the world from their offices in Mill Valley, California, featuring a fully-equipped media studio for production of radio programs, web and mobile device video, interactive educational programs and broadcast-quality High Definition television. The destination footage and high tech demos they have produced for their clients are seen regularly on TV, satellite and on-line networks all over the world.
As a complete one-stop-operation, Travelmedia does what few other companies can do: develop powerful, effective strategies and messages and the content to deliver them, then follow up with high-touch public and media relations. They also work in partnership with other public relations firms in the US and other countries on specialized projects.
Russell Johnson
Russ Johnson's media career began at age 16 when he hosted his first solo radio program, a weekly jazz show on Minneapolis radio station. While in college, he became News Director of University of Minnesota Radio then moved to CBS's WCCO-TV, McClatchy Broadcasting in Sacramento and KRON-TV in San Francisco, winning awards for broadcast journalism including an Associated Press Award for his series on California prisons. He left broadcasting to go to graduate school and teach, spending four years on the faculty of San Francisco State University teaching broadcast journalism, writing, mass media and television performance while hosting on the air at KABL Radio in San Francisco. Johnson founded Travelmedia in 1984 and was immediately engaged to produce films for Royal Viking Line and do media training, multi image shows and videos for the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and its annual conferences. More than 25 years later, Johnson is still involved with PATA, serving on its Board of Directors and Sustainable Tourism committees. Travelmedia has taken him to 58 countries and dozens of states and cities for CVBs, national tourism offices, cruise lines, airlines, major credit card companies, trade organizations, universities such as the University of Hawaii, world bodies such as the United Nations and the Asian Development bank and numerous high tech clients. His projects have ranged from sales and marketing videos for cruise lines and computer manufacturers to issues-oriented documentaries on sustainable tourism and future trends, to media training for executives in both the high tech and tourism industries. His pioneering web site, connectedtraveler.com, has served as a proving ground for internet technologies. With Pat, he was one of the pioneers of streaming media on the World Wide Web, producing some of the first audio and video webcasts, in cooperation with Real Networks, and podcasts. His interactive course: "Travel and Tourism: Opening Doors for Your Future" is being delivered in high definition video over the web. He has been a featured speaker at international conference on the subjects of sustainable tourism and travel technology. He is also the inventor of the Worldvibrations Radio Station a full automated radio station (minus transmitter) in a box that is in use at community radio stations around the world.
Pat Meier-Johnson
Pat Meier-Johnson also comes from a broadcasting background, having graduated from same program in which Russ taught. They weren't there at the same time, however, and didn't meet each other until years later. After working as a graphic artist and cartoonist at San Francisco's KQED public television she became Public Affairs Director for KLOK Radio in San Jose, California, meeting with grass roots organizations and hosting interview programs with community leaders. After several years as Creative Services Director at ABC Radio in San Francisco, she entered the uncharted waters of public relations, working for such clients as Memorex, where she had to prove that Ella Fitzgerald's voice recorded on the company's audio cassettes COULD break a wine glass, the Napa Valley Wine Auction and early video game companies. In 1984 she established Pat Meier Associates, one of the first woman-owned high tech public relations companies, serving both public and private companies. She has represented companies involved in the underpinnings of technology and business today, including networking companies, a major computer chip company, a travel booking engine, computer graphics companies and video streaming technologies. She is known her ability to communicate complex ideas and technologies with clarity and enthusiasm. Once nicknamed the "Queen of Multimedia" she represented pioneering companies in the development of CD ROM, DVD and web-based interactive programs. Today, she delivers an holistic approach to communications, combining Russ' production, media training and writing abilities with her own PR, promotion and event production expertise and years of ongoing contacts with top media, in both technology and travel. She has been a featured speaker at both technology and tourism events, including conferences of the Pacific Asia Travel Association. Her client base has now extended to eReaders, a Wikipedia-based travel information device, green energy and green transportation technologies and iPhone and iPad applications, which she showcases at her 20 years-running technology innovators event during the Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas where she hosts 250-plus journalists, bloggers and industry analysts for exclusive product launches and demonstrations. Russ provides year-round video coverage of the event and its sponsors on a YouTube channel. A match made in heaven.