About Michael Kaminer

Since starting my second career, as a writer and editor, I’ve contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, Barron’s/Penta, Business Insider, Mansion Global, the Observer, Adweek, Travel + Leisure, CondeNastTraveler.com, AFAR, NY Daily News, New York Magazine‘s NYMag.com, UK Jewish Chronicle, Estiator, Vegetarian Times, All You, OutTraveler, Where, Atlanta Magazine, InNewYork, The Jewish Week, Advocate.com, Portfolio.com, Jewish Living, ThePointsGuy, the Forward, and others.

I oversee the Observer’s annual PR Power List, which I’ve edited since its launch in 2013.

For three years, I was a dining critic and features writer for the NY Daily News.  My final review, The Thirsty Koala, ran on October 5, 2015.  I still contribute food and travel features to the News.  You can see my reviews here.

I made my debut as a curator in 2009.  A story I wrote grew into an exhibit that traveled the world. Graphic Details:  Confessional Comics by Jewish Women ran until spring 2016, with a final show at Israel’s Negev Museum.  It had terrific runs in NYC, Toronto, San Francisco, Portland, Miami Beach, Washington, DC, London, and Columbus, OH.  A book based on the exhibit is out now from McFarland.  I contributed several essays.  It won a 2015 Eisner Award.

My second museum show is in development.  It’s on Jews in alternative music.  More to come.

About my previous life:

I founded the public-relations agency MKPR in 1992.  To focus on writing full-time, I sold the firm in 2006.  It’s now called PKPR.

Out magazine, which had yet to launch, became my first client in March 1992.  I worked alone, at home.  Out became one of the decade’s most successful, highest-profile magazine launches.

By the late ’90s, MKPR had 11 employees and clients like Bloomberg, Time Warner, and many more media companies and online properties.

We were one of the first agencies to represent lesbian and gay businesses to general media.  Same with digital media; back in 1994, we became one of the first PR companies to promote web businesses to consumers.

The agency’s mission involved doing good while doing well, and doing it all with integrity  Clients also included A & E, The New York Times, PlanetOut, The Advocate, PETA, Environmental Defense, and many more.

I’ve also written or co-written a few books; they’re on the home page.

These days, I’m privileged to serve on the Global Advisory Council of the Radical Flexibility Fund, a new organization working to futurize foreign assistance and private-foundation funding.  I’ve also worked with a range of progressive organizations and non-profits as a board member or adviser.

I divide my time between Montreal, NYC, and Toronto.  My constant companion, Chico, a border collie-shepherd mix, lived with me from August 1999 until his sudden passing on Thursday, October 21, 2010 (PS – That’s not him in the picture.  Chloe’s the resident canine at a clothing store on Queen W. in TO).