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Nikki Burns is a managing partner of
Burns Brown Pressley & Rankin (BBPR),
a public relations/consulting firm. A graduate of Jackson State
University, Nikki is a
journalist with more than 11 years of experience in print media.
As associate publisher/editor/reporter for a weekly newspaper in Jackson, Miss.,
she has covered numerous stories on various topics such as the
Jackson City Council scandal, the Essence Music Festivals to
Hurricane Katrina. Some of her most memorable interviews include
Oprah Winfrey, famed attorney Johnnie Cochran, Yolanda King
(daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr.), Terrie Williams (The Terrie
Williams Agency), Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and blues
legend B.B. King.
Although her primary role at The Mississippi Link was editor, Nikki
continued to write. Every issue of the paper since 1996 until the
week she left included a story written by her. Nikki’s reputation in
the community allowed her to have close relationships with top city
officials. Built on that trust, Nikki often broke exclusive news.
As a journalist, Nikki's has gained a reputation for being fair and
honest, which has earned her a great amount of respect in her
community and among her colleagues. Having been taught by
Doris Saunders, who formerly work for Johnson Publishing Company,
Nikki learned the importance of giving back. She has spoken to
several colleges and universities and mentored journalism students
by providing them with internships. When it comes to journalism and
business over all, Nikki believes simply that "if you knew better,
you would do better."
After leaving her first love (journalism), Nikki made the natural
transgression to politics. Her role as press secretary for
Jackson’s first African-American re-election
campaign, gave her the experience that she needed to land the job as
Hinds County Coordinator for U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson, who
was reelected in November 2005. From there, she again was named
press secretary for the Jackson Public School District Bond
Referendum. The referendum passed, allowing more than $100 million
for improvements throughout the district.
However, her title as Assistant Director of Community Outreach at
the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation changed Nikki’s focus on life.
Although she was hired to bridge the gap between the Foundation and
the surrounding urban community, helping Hurricane Katrina victims
became her primary focus. Nikki, along with several other Foundation
staff, open and operated a One Stop Shop to assist Katrina victims
with food, clothing, bills, health screenings, household supplies
and counseling. The victims taught Nikki that life is too short and
too precious to waste.
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