Gemma Puglisi

Gemma Puglisi is an author, media expert, pundit and assistant professor of communication at American University in Washington, D.C. A first generation Italian-American, she was knighted by the Republic of Italy in 2006 for her work promoting Italian language and culture.

Puglisi is a former journalist and public relations executive and frequently comments on high-profile cases and breaking news stories. She has appeared on CNN International, Fox News Channel’s The O’Reilly Factor and The Big Story. Her other credits include WUSA-TV, Channel 9, XM Satellite Radio’s “Broadminded,” KXOM-AM & FM Radio, and she has been quoted in many media outlets including the Associated Press, abcnews.com; The Irish Times, Agence France-Presse, Hollywood Reporter, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, nbcsports.com; sportsillustrated.com; Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Roll Call, Boston Herald and the Congressional Quarterly.

Puglisi began her career in the entertainment field working for the MEW Talent Agency in New York City. She later worked for talent manager Vincent Cirrincione. Puglisi entered radio working for DIR Broadcasting and then for NBC Radio. She continued her career at NBC and joined the news division working for various programs and departments including NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw the Today Show, the network assignment desk, the New York Bureau, MSNBC and on documentaries.

Puglisi then turned to public relations and worked as a media relations manager and market reporter for the Nasdaq Stock Market; vice president for Powell/Tate; and as vice president, Manager of Media, New York for Edelman PR Worldwide. After her career in both the media and public relations, Puglisi began teaching at American University, becoming an assistant professor in the School of Communication.

Puglisi is the author of Public Relations Campaigns and Portfolio Building published by Allyn and Bacon for Pearson Education. The book is based on classes she taught at American University.

She has written extensively about the death penalty, particularly on the case involving death row inmate, Troy Anthony Davis. Her opinion pieces have been published by Washington Post, Atlanta Constitution, Savannah News, and Chronicle of Higher Education.