Mitch Messinger is the Publicity Director for ABC Daytime and SOAPnet and has held this position since October 2003. He oversees national publicity campaigns for programs and special projects within the daytime division of the Disney-ABC Television Group (DATG) – including the multi-Emmy Award-winning drama General Hospital – working with mainstream and soap press on a regular basis to garner media coverage. Past DATG campaigns include ABC’s broadcasts of the Daytime Emmys, spinoff series General Hospital: Night Shift and relationship series Holidate.
Previously, Mitch held publicity positions at PR agency Bragman Nyman Cafarelli, ABC Entertainment, Walt Disney Television Animation, Columbia TriStar Television Distribution and Buena Vista (Disney) International Television while his first job was in the theatrical publicity department at MGM/UA. Mitch received a Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies from the College of Arts and Sciences in conjunction with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in May 1992. A year later, he received a Master of Science degree in Television, Radio and Film from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. While a student, Mitch was actively involved on campus including University 100, Otto the Orange mascot, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Greek Council, Student Government Association, among other activities.
A long-running board member and a past president of the Syracuse University Alumni Club of Southern California, he also sat on the national board of the SU Alumni Association from 2004-2010. Mitch serves as an alumni representative for the undergraduate Admissions office where he attends college fairs and conducts off-campus interviews of prospective students. Only seven years out of school, he was the winner of the Syracuse University Outstanding Young Alumnus Award in 2000.
Born in New York City and raised in Manalapan, New Jersey, Mitch is married to the former Michelle Levine and they have a daughter Jillian. Living just outside of Los Angeles, he is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Publicist Guild.
