Longtime San Diego public relations consultant John Freeman, a former sports and media journalist with the San Diego Union-Tribune, has ventured into writing, editing and publishing biographies, which he calls “legacy books.”
Since 2019, Freeman, a San Diego native and current Mission Hills resident, has produced 12 such books on notable San Diegans that are written as first-person narratives. The books are among the services he provides as part of Point PR Communications, Freeman’s PR consultancy.
“I’ve spent much of my professional life interviewing and writing about interesting people who enjoy talking about their lives,” Freeman, 72, told Times of San Diego. “They talk and I listen, and after a process of gently shaping the narrative, the result is lively, insightful book of memories that they’re proud to give as family legacy gifts to family members and friends.”
Freeman said he charges a negotiable monthly fee, as the writing process varies from two to six months. The completed memoirs are published on Amazon in either soft- or hard-cover. Then, Freeman’s clients order their preferred quantity with the bookselling giant.
“The stories aren’t only about their business successes, but more about their personal triumphs, setbacks and challenges,” said Freeman. “In short, they’re heartfelt reflections on their well-lived lives.”
Freeman’s first legacy book was “Hopes and Dreams” with Frank Hope, noted architect of the original San Diego Stadium, and his wife Barbara.
Additional book titles and profile subjects have included: “Ted Talks” with San Diego sports broadcaster Ted Leitner; “Down Deep” with Charlie MacVean, who skippered the submarine U.S.S. Seawolf during perilous Cold War missions; “A Velvet Gavel” with San Diego’s Lawrence Irving, a highly-respected federal jurist and mediator who led the record-setting $7.2 billion Enron settlement; “House Calls,” a collection of true-life ER tales by Dr. Gresham Bayne, considered as the “godfather of home-care medicine.”
A 1969 graduate of Point Loma High School, Freeman also graduated from the University of Arizona. His early career included publishing and editing jobs with the New York Yankees and National Basketball Association, before returning to San Diego in the mid-1980s.
He wrote for the San Diego Tribune (1984-92), followed by the merged San Diego Union-Tribune (1992-97). In recent years, he has worked in marketing communication roles in the wind energy and luxury yachting industries (2001-2012) and with the University of San Diego Extension (2013-2015). He founded Point PR in 2016.
His late father, Don Freeman, spent 55 years at The San Diego Union-Tribune as a popular columnist.
“Like my father did, I get a kick out of talking to people about their lives,” Freeman said, noting that his subjects are typically in their 50s, 60 and 70s. “By then, they’ve achieved some success and they’re more than willing to leave a lasting legacy.”
Former KPBS GM Tom Karlo Hands Off CapRadio Rescue Duties
Tom Karlo, a former general manager of KPBS who ended his retirement last year to rescue financially troubled CapRadio, is leaving now that the Sacramento-based National Public Radio affiliate has a “stronger foundation.”
Last week, the station announced that Karlo will step down as interim president and general manager at the end of February and serve as a consultant and special advisor to new interim president and general manager Frank Maranzino, the station’s director of technology. The announcement was made following an emergency board of directors meeting held Feb. 15.
“This moment is bittersweet for me. I will serve as a consultant for a couple of months to help Frank with the transition,” Karlo told Times of San Diego. “It’s a good time to hand off leadership duties and look ahead to my return to retirement.”
Karlo spent his entire 47-year career at KPBS, San Diego’s public broadcasting TV and radio station headquartered at San Diego State University, including the last 12 years as general manager. He retired in December 2020.
However, in August 2023, Karlo came out of retirement at the urging of Sacramento State President Luke Wood, who previously worked at SDSU with Karlo.
“I felt compelled because of my good friend Luke Wood. Also, if CapRadio went under, it would be a serious loss for Northern California,” Karlo said. “I was willing to do my part and step in as a strong supporter of public media.”
Capital Public Radio, as it is officially known, operates two NPR-affiliated radio stations, including news-talk KXJZ-FM (90.9) and jazz-and-classical music KXPR-FM (88.9). CapRadio also operates North State Public Radio, two stations owned by Chico State.
In recent months, Karlo has overseen layoffs and navigated the aftermath of a devastating audit detailing years of financial mismanagement by the previous leadership. Following the audit’s release, Sac State officials announced the university would oversee CapRadio finances.
In public statements, Wood has credited Karlo with preventing financial ruin for the radio operation that is licensed to Sac State, which also is an underwriter.
“Under Tom’s guidance, the station tackled significant challenges and has emerged on a much stronger foundation,” Wood said in a statement. “Tom worked tirelessly to stabilize operations and rally community support during a difficult time. Listenership is up, donations are up, our contract with NPR is now secured through 2028. He’s helped pave the way for rightsizing the budget. Ten years from now, when we look back and CapRadio is still going strong, it will be because of Tom Karlo’s time as GM at CapRadio.”
According to Karlo, “CapRadio is in a much better place than it was six months ago, but there is a long road ahead for the organization, which is still in a precarious financial position that came with ambitious expansion plans. It will take a couple more years to figure out how to handle a current debt that came with two expensive leases of Downtown Sacramento facilities that are still unoccupied.
“Overall, we’ve made good progress. The staff was reduced by 40 percent and we’ve implemented efficiencies and automation that increased local news service. Also, there have been significant increases in membership, car donation and contributions from major donors. Plus, audience growth is up 20 percent the last few months.”
Karlo said he expects the CapRadio board to begin later this year a nationwide search for a new president-GM. “The search will happen when the severe debt problem is stabilized,” he said. “I am grateful to President Wood and Sacramento State for all of their support, because CapRadio would not have a future without them. Personally, I’m eager for my own return to retirement life.”
Health Care Communicators Accepting Entries for Awards
The Health Care Communicators of Southern California, a professional networking group, is accepting entries for its 2024 Finest Awards program that recognizes excellence in healthcare marketing, advertising and communications for work completed between Jan. 1, 2023 and Dec. 31, 2023. Deadline for entries is Feb. 26. Entry cost is $125 for members and $150 for nonmembers.
Award categories include public relations campaigns, advertising, digital marketing, multi-media, writing, publications, collateral and design, special events, analytics and “off-the-wall.” Awards will be presented at a luncheon on Friday, May 17 at the El Adobe de Capistrano restaurant, 31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
HCCSC also is accepting nominations for its annual Communicator of the Year award. The COTY award is open to all professionals at any level who works in a marketing communication capacity in healthcare or other health-related fields in Southern California. This includes professionals from public relations, marketing, advertising, healthcare or media professions. Eligible nominees have consistently demonstrated excellence in healthcare communication through service to their organization and-or to the healthcare industry as a whole. There is no entry fee for COTY nominations.
For more information on HCCSC, visit hccsd.org.
San Diego AMA Hosts ‘Branding in the Age of AI’
The American Marketing Association’s San Diego chapter will host “Branding in the Age of AI,” a networking and educational program featuring a panel discussing the intersection of artificial intelligence and branding from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, at Downtown Works, 550 West B St., 4th Floor in downtown San Diego.
Panelists will include Alexandra Watkins, founder of Eat My Words, a Point Loma-based marketing naming firm, and author of “Hello, My Name is Awesome, How To Create Brand Names That Stick;” Mike Matamala, San Diego digital marketing expert and creative director with Enlyte and AstroBrand Media; Bobby Buchanan, founder and creative director, Buchanan Brand + Design of San Diego. The moderator will be Tom McFadden, president of Jacob Tyler, a San Diego brand and marketing agency.
The public is invited to attend. Cost to attend is $30 for members and $40 for nonmembers. Parking is not included. For more information, send an email to info@sdama.org or visit sdama.org.
Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego.
