Matthew Hiltzik

Matthew Hiltzik (born May 12, 1972) is a publicist and the founder of the strategic communications and consulting firm Hiltzik Strategies, which represents high-profile organizations and individuals.

Early life
Hiltzik was raised as an observant Jew in Teaneck, New Jersey, and graduated from the Ramaz School. He attended Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations before moving on to the Fordham University School of Law.

After law school, he worked as press secretary and deputy executive director of the New York State Democratic Committee, where he worked on the 1998 campaigns of Chuck Schumer and Eliot Spitzer and Hillary Clinton's Listening Tour in July 1999. In December 1999, Hiltzik joined Miramax as head of corporate communications, where he was involved in public relations for Miramax Films, Miramax Books, Miramax TV, Talk magazine, and philanthropic and political fundraising and crisis management while also serving as personal spokesman for Harvey Weinstein and the company.

Politics
In 2000, Hiltzik took a brief leave from the Weinsteins to re-join Hillary Clinton's campaign as the director of Jewish relations. He soon left politics to rejoin with the Weinstein brothers, after the brothers finalized their deal to leave Miramax. Hiltzik teamed up with the U.K.-based publicity company, Freud Communications, to start up their U.S. operations. He went out on his own in early 2008 to start up Hiltzik Strategies. Hiltzik maintains his political roots advising several campaigns including Reshma Saujani's 2010 candidacy for the 14th district of New York, and Thomas DiNapoli in his successful bid for New York Senate Comptroller. Hiltzik is also currently advising Jose Antonio Vargas's DefineAmerican campaign to elevate the national conversation about immigration policy and to pass the DREAM Act.

Hiltzik Strategies
Clients of Hiltzik's new firm include Katie Couric, Don and Deirdre Imus, Glenn Beck, Ryan Braun, Alec Baldwin, Trudie Styler, the New York Mets, Justin Bieber,  Sean Parker, and Univision's Raul de Molina. Over the last few years he has had to fend off rumors surrounding Couric's tumultous tenure as anchor of CBS Evening News and it was Hiltzik who worked with Alec Baldwin throughout his highly publicized and contentious divorce from Kim Basinger. In 2007, he also repped Imus in his comeback after the shock jock was accused of making an insensitive racial remark.

Hiltzik Strategies helps manage corporate communications for many organizations including, Jane Friedman's Open Road Integrated Media, and See Saw Films (The King's Speech). In addition, the firm works with numerous non-profits including the Rainforest Foundation, Child Mind Institute, Gen YOUth Foundation, Entertainment Industry Foundation, and Norman Mailer Center.

Hiltzik's work was profiled in a May 2012 episode of "One on One with Budd Mishkin," and in PR Newser's "Top 5 Cases of PR Lemons to Lemonade" in 2011 - for his work with Justin Bieber.

Other endeavors
Hiltzik executive produced Paper Clips, a documentary film that captures how Tennessee Middle School students responded to lessons about the Holocaust-with a promise to honor every lost soul by collecting one paper clip for each individual exterminated by the Nazis. He also executive produced Holy Land Hardball, about the attempt to bring minor league baseball to Israel. Most recently, Hiltzik co-produced Tiffany Shlain's documentary Connected, which explores the connections linking major issues of our time.

Hiltzik is a contributor to Jewish magazine Tablet, and an outspoken supporter of Israel.

Personal life
Hiltzik resides in New York City. He is married to wife Dana and has three children. Hiltzik is also a diehard New York Jets fan.