Brett Pulley of Bloomberg News Named New Dean of the HU Journalism School

Brett Pulley of Bloomberg News Named New Dean of the HU Journalism School

Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey has announced that Brett Pulley has been named dean of the HU Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications. Pulley’s appointment is effective January 1, 2012.

“The Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications has gained a national reputation of preparing students in the ever-changing media industry. Mr. Pulley’s vast knowledge and experience in the journalism and digital media makes him an ideal candidate to lead the School and prepare a new generation of communicators,” Harvey said.

Pulley, business journalist and author, currently covers the media and entertainment industries at Bloomberg L.P., the global information services, news and media company. His work appears daily on the company's terminals, its website, and inside its magazines. He is a frequent commentator on Bloomberg Television.

"I am honored to return to my alma mater and work with our dynamic president Dr. Harvey,” Pulley said. “This is an exciting time in the media business and an exciting time for the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications. The faculty and administration have been doing a terrific job of training and placing students in the business. With the proliferation of digital distribution platforms now driving profound changes in the media industry, we have a terrific challenge and a unique opportunity to make Hampton University one of the premier schools for journalism, communications, and digital media innovation. I am looking forward to leading the Scripps Howard School in this effort, and I'm thrilled about returning with my family to Hampton University. ”

Formerly a senior editor at Forbes Magazine, Pulley authored many cover stories for the magazine on topics ranging from the legendary Hollywood studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, to the entertainment giant, The Walt Disney Co. Prior to joining Forbes in 1999, Pulley spent five years at The New York Times, as a national correspondent, and as a local reporter covering politics and economic development. His work at The Times was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Pulley also spent five years as a correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, where he was based in Chicago and New York, covering the airline industry and national urban affairs.

Pulley has served as the president and chief executive officer of NewYork.com, an internet company dedicated to tourism and entertainment. In this capacity, he was responsible for a website with over 150,000 visitors and 500,000 page views each month, providing users with hotel and restaurant reservations, transportation services, sightseeing tours, and tickets to concerts, Broadway shows and sports events.

He has received numerous journalism awards, including two first place annual prizes from the National Association of Black Journalists, one in 1994 and another in 2002. Pulley has appeared frequently as a guest on television, providing commentary and insight on media and entertainment industry issues. He has made appearances on networks such as CNN, CNBC, and MSNBC, and has been called on to discuss the finances of celebrities on Entertainment Tonight, Showbiz Tonight, Inside Edition, Access Hollywood, CBS’s “48 Hours,” and NBC’s “Dateline.”

A native of Washington, D.C., Pulley has a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University, and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. He is a member of the board of trustees at Hampton University, and a member of the board of The Andre Gist Memorial Scholarship Foundation.


Pulley is the author of “The Billion Dollar BET” (John Wiley & Sons, April 2004), a book that takes an in-depth look at Black Entertainment Television and its founder, Robert L. Johnson. Pulley lives in South Orange, New Jersey, with his wife, Stacey, and their two teenage daughters, Zoe and Blake.