About Us

OUR AGENCY’S MODUS OPERANDI AND PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY

We regard our clients — and the media and others to whom we introduce our clients — as two parties in a symbiotic relationship. It is our role to facilitate and nurture that relationship.

The key to The Intelligentsia Agency’s high-profile campaigns and successful media placements is the agency’s ability to discern the newsworthiness of the idea, issue or event our clients represent; identify a variety of angles to pitch; target a variety of appropriate media outlets to reach the intended audience; position stories in a context relevant and relative to the media outlet; and establish personal relationships with members of the press so that journalists and producers are willing to explore and expose cultural trends The Intelligentsia Agency brings to their attention.

We bring worthy ideas to the attention of people who will appreciate them.

We introduce people who should know each other. Whether this means introducing millions of readers to a new author or creating synergistic opportunities for our clients as corporate spokespeople, the agency is dedicated to creating genuine value for everyone with whom we interact.

The Intelligentsia Agency is distinguished among PR agencies by our sensitive, intelligent, creative and rigorous attention to meeting clients’ needs.

We do not practice “hard sell” PR. The Intelligentsia Agency is so well-respected in the industry that the media often call us to solicit guests for their shows.

Integrity: Respecting the Private Lives of Public People

Your public persona should not compromise your personal life by exposing your entire identity. Privacy is one of the most important aspects of fame. A well-crafted publicity campaign will protect your personal privacy as well as it will project your public image. Personal and professional integrity are distinctive features of Intelligentsia clients and our PR campaigns on their behalf.

Founder’s Profile

Judy Tashbook Safern, President

  • Former Senior Publicist for HarperCollins Publishers and BasicBooks;
  • Created campaigns for John Gray, Allen Ginsberg, Erma Bombeck, Leon Uris and hundreds of other authors;
  • America Online’s first Manager of Corporate Communications and Media Relations;
  • Served as AOL corporate spokesperson and developed the company’s original consumer PR campaigns which helped the company grow from 800,000 subscribers to more than 6 million during her tenure;
  • Founded one of AOL’s international channels, serving as publisher and producer for nearly three years during which time AOL subscriber base grew to more than 11 million;
  • Vice President of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide’s Los Angeles Technology Practice;
  • Founded LeadingThinkers (now called The Intelligentsia Agency) in 1999;
  • Represented and consulted to such corporations as: The Betty Crocker Institute, America Online, Yad Vashem, Inter.net, IDT, and GE Medical Systems Information Technologies.
  • Served as interim VP of Communications for Audible and was part of the team who launched Audible’s mobile app, which was downloaded more than a million times in the first month. Also launched Audible’s ACX (Audiobook Creation Marketplace) and was responsible for “The Hollywood Initiative,” which was a campaign directed at film, television, and Broadway stars and their agents to interest A-list talent in recording audiobooks.

Founder’s Profile

Judy Tashbook Safern, President

  • Former Senior Publicist for HarperCollins Publishers and BasicBooks;
  • Created campaigns for John Gray, Allen Ginsberg, Erma Bombeck, Leon Uris and hundreds of other authors;
  • America Online’s first Manager of Corporate Communications and Media Relations;
  • Served as AOL corporate spokesperson and developed the company’s original consumer PR campaigns which helped the company grow from 800,000 subscribers to more than 6 million during her tenure;
  • Founded one of AOL’s international channels, serving as publisher and producer for nearly three years during which time AOL subscriber base grew to more than 11 million;
  • Vice President of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide’s Los Angeles Technology Practice;
  • Founded LeadingThinkers (now called The Intelligentsia Agency) in 1999;
  • Represented and consulted to such corporations as: The Betty Crocker Institute, America Online, Yad Vashem, Inter.net, IDT, and GE Medical Systems Information Technologies.
  • Served as interim VP of Communications for Audible and was part of the team who launched Audible’s mobile app, which was downloaded more than a million times in the first month. Also launched Audible’s ACX (Audiobook Creation Marketplace) and was responsible for “The Hollywood Initiative,” which was a campaign directed at film, television, and Broadway stars and their agents to interest A-list talent in recording audiobooks.