Patricia Tobin was born in White Plains, N.Y. in 1943. In 1977, she moved to Los Angeles after graduating from the Charles Morris Price School of Journalism.
Tobin began working at KCBS-TV and organized weekly networking events for communications professionals. In 1983, she founded her own firm, Tobin & Associates, with an interest in creating PR roles for minorities and targeting African American consumers.
Tobin’s firm stood out for its ability to improve community relations and publicity in communities of color. In 1987, Tobin helped Toyota recover relationships with the National Urban League, the NAACP, and other Black organizations after Japan’s prime minister made racist claims against Black Americans.
Tobin & Associates served many other well-known clients, including Nestle USA, Wells Fargo, Walt Disney Feature Animation, Spike Lee, and Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
In 1987, Tobin co-founded the National Black Public Relations Society (NBPRS), an organization that aimed to provide a network, support, and mentorship for Black PR practitioners. She also served as a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). Tobin died in 2008 and has been remembered by colleagues as the embodiment of positivity and a networking conduit.
Sources:
Legendary publicist Pat Tobin passes
PR Museum Black PR Pioneers
Pat Tobin, cofounder of NBPRS, passes away
