A newsworthy moment. A trusted relationship. An independently selected FOX 5 DC feature.
Four days before the Golden Leap Award ceremony, Olympic gold medalist Thea LaFond-Gadson appeared on FOX 5 DC to discuss her historic achievement. LaDàna Young, Rebuild Dominica's president and Above Prestige PR's principal consultant, initiated the pitch through an existing newsroom relationship and worked with the station to coordinate the appearance.
Project Snapshot
Placement:
FOX 5 DC / Good Day DC
Air Date:
November 15, 2024
Organization:
Rebuild Dominica, Inc.
APPR Role:
Story pitch, media liaison, booking coordination
Outcomes
Documented FOX 5 DC booking and broadcast ahead of the 2024 Golden Leap Award ceremony.
A personalized pitch reached an existing station contact with a clear local-news angle.
The newsroom confirmed a November 15, 2024 interview in advance of the November 19 event.
FOX 5 aired the segment, demonstrating strategic outreach and coordination without guaranteed airtime.
Outcomes are described directionally. Above Prestige PR does not publish client performance figures without written client approval.
The 2024 Broadcast
See the earned media placement and the story behind it.
Olympic Gold Medalist Thea LaFond-Gadson on FOX 5 DC
Organization: Rebuild Dominica, Inc.
Ahead of Rebuild Dominica's Golden Leap Award ceremony, LaDàna Young used an established FOX 5 DC producer relationship to pitch Thea's historic Olympic win, coordinate her on-air booking, and support interview preparation. FOX 5 aired the feature on Good Day DC.
APPR does not represent Thea as her personal publicist. The interview arose through LaDàna Young's work with Rebuild Dominica, Inc. and her own media relationships. FOX 5 DC retained full editorial discretion.
Overview
Four days before the Golden Leap Award ceremony, Olympic gold medalist Thea LaFond-Gadson appeared on FOX 5 DC to discuss her historic achievement. LaDàna Young, Rebuild Dominica's president and Above Prestige PR's principal consultant, initiated the pitch through an existing newsroom relationship and worked with the station to coordinate the appearance.
Challenge
Rebuild Dominica and the University of Maryland's Caribbean Students Association were preparing to honor Dominica's first Olympic gold medalist on November 19, 2024. The communications opportunity was to connect a major national sporting milestone with a timely local event without treating a news booking as something that could be purchased or promised.
Strategic Direction
LaDàna made a direct editorial pitch on November 1, placing Thea's history-making Paris Olympic triple-jump victory, University of Maryland connection, and upcoming ceremony at the center of the story. After FOX 5 expressed interest, she coordinated availability, guests, station requirements, and talking-point preparation ahead of the confirmed November 15 broadcast.
Work Behind a Potential Placement
Assessing newsworthiness and the timely local angle
Story positioning and personalized newsroom pitching
Using and maintaining professional producer relationships
Talent and schedule coordination with the newsroom
Interview talking-point and media-readiness support
Preparing supporting information and event context
Press follow-through and responsible publicity documentation
Impact
FOX 5 DC confirmed and broadcast the segment ahead of the award ceremony. The placement is a verifiable example of APPR's founder's media-relations and coordination capabilities. It is not evidence of a guaranteed booking service or a personal publicist contract with Thea.
Accuracy Note
LaDàna coordinated this appearance in connection with her nonprofit leadership and APPR expertise. She was not Thea LaFond-Gadson's retained personal publicist, and no ongoing representation is implied. This particular outreach was unpaid. Media outlets retain editorial control; APPR's paid services are strategic consultation, media readiness, positioning, materials, outreach support and coordination, not purchased airtime.
We don't sell airtime. We help prepare stories worth a newsroom's consideration.
FOX 5 DC · Good Day DCWatch the original FOX 5 DC segment
