Ginny
Weissman is a television writer, Emmy-nominated producer and director, journalist,
author and literary manager and agent who has been an activist for pro-social
and positive entertainment during her diverse career. She has developed, sold
and supervised programming for cable and the networks focusing on issue-oriented
topics. Ginny's acclaimed documentaries have appeared on A&E, The History
Channel, Discovery Health Channel and PBS. Her views have been published in USA
Today, The Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Time magazine.
Ginny
Weissman began her career as a journalist at The Chicago Tribune. During
her eleven-year tenure at the Tribune, she held a variety of management positions
including editor of the TV Week magazine (circulation 1.2 million). She interviewed
hundreds of celebrities and wrote personality profiles and articles about the
importance of family programming. . She is the author of two critically acclaimed,
best-selling books, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Anatomy of a Classic (St. Martin's
Press) and Champagne Music, The Lawrence Welk Show (St. Martin's Press).
As an adjunct professor at Northwestern University, Ginny taught writing for film
and television. She believed that the future of the entertainment industry would
be determined by the work of today's students and taught ethics and responsibility
along with technique
Her
numerous television credits include "Investigative Reports," "American
Justice," and "The Unexplained" for A&E, "Wrath of God"
for The History Channel, "Chicago's Lifeline" for The Discovery Health
Channel and "Highway to Heaven" starring Michael Landon for NBC.
Ginny
was the Supervising Producer and Director for two Emmy Award-winning children's
PBS specials and music videos featuring Gaia who sings while performing American
Sign Language. She also wrote and produced an Emmy-nominated documentary, Magic
by the Lake: The Edgewater Beach Hotel, for the PBS series, "Chicago
Stories. In addition, she was a producer for the PBS magazine series, "Chicago
Tomorrow."
Humanitarian
work plays a large part in Ginny's life. After the Terrorist attack on September
11th, Ginny organized fundraisers for the ASPCA Disaster Fund and Canine Rescue
effort. After a trip to Peru, she organized a Christmas toy drive for the children
living in poverty near the mountains of Machu Picchu.
She
is known for her valued, long-time commitment to non-profit organizations such
as the Easter Seal Society and served as co host for their annual telethons for
fifteen years. The Easter Seal Society honored her with the "Communications
Award" for outstanding public service supporting the needs and rights of
persons with disabilities. She was honored again by The Easter Seal Society with
the "Outstanding Service Award" for fifteen years of dedication and
service. Ginny also was the recipient of the Mother Theodore Guerin High School
McManus Alumna Award which honors an outstanding graduate who has "distinguished
herself in service to the community and achievement in her career."
Ginny
served for eight years on the Board of Governors for the Chicago/Midwest Chapter
of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and was elected second
vice-president. She chaired two committees: the popular monthly luncheons featuring
prominent broadcast personalities from across the country and the media literacy/scholarship
committee. She has served as a judge for the Emmy Awards, the Humanitas Prize,
a prestigious national award for television writing and Script, a film writing
competition held by the Illinois and Chicago Film Offices.
Born
and raised in Chicago, she also has lived and worked in the television industry
Los Angeles. She co-founded Windy City West and hosted ten annual parties for
transplanted Chicagoans working in the Hollywood entertainment industry, and produced
a television special about Windy City West for NBC 5 in Chicago.
As
of January, 2008 Ginny will acquire for the Mind, Body and Spirit division of
Martin Literary Management based in Chicago. Her clients currently include John
St. Augustine, author of Living an Uncommon Life, Essential Lessons from
21 Extraordinary People (Hampton Roads Publishing) and Every Moment Matters
to be released in Spring, 2008 (Hampton Roads Publishing). St. Augustine is the
Executive Producer of Oprah & Friends at Harpo Radio on XM. She also
represents best-selling author Rev. Dr. Terry Cole-Whittaker who was a
community and church volunteer; graduated from seminary and became a minister
in 1973; authored 5 best-selling books including; What You Think of Me is None
of My Business; How to Have More in a Have Not World; Inner Path from Where You
are to Where You Want to Be; Love and Power in a World Without Limits-a Woman's
Guide to the Goddess Within; Dare to Be Great and her newest Creating Your
Destiny-A Remarkable Guide to Making Decisions that Give You Happiness and Prosperity.
Dr. Terry’s work as a minister allowed her to grow a 50 member church into 5,000
on Easter Sundays and be the executive producer and minister of a six year, weekly,
international, Emmy-winning television ministry syndicated on 400 markets reaching
millions.
Ginny Weissman
Ginny@MartinLiteraryManagement.com
2511 West Schaumburg Road #217
Schaumburg, IL 60194
312-420-BOOK
(2665)