Jonah Bryson

Bryson with the King family at Ebenezer Church

in Atlanta, GA

Jonah Bryson is an experienced American political communications strategist, currently serving as a press secretary and on-the-record spokesperson for the national president of the NAACP, the head of America’s flagship civil rights organization. Previously, he managed PR for Martin Luther King III, son of civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and was a traveling photographer for the King family. Bryson's work spans from grassroots campaigns to national politics.

In 2018, Bryson directed a production with survivors of the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting, to encourage Americans to participate in the midterms. It was released by People Magazine and hit #1 on Rolling Stone's trending list on election day. Sir Paul McCartney, Congressman John Lewis, Congressman Elijah Cummings, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore and countless others supported the project.

While working with the King family, Bryson directed Mr. King's 2019 reflections on the anniversary of the "I Have A Dream" speech, released exclusively by The New York Times. In 2020, Bryson directed the King family's filmed address, live from the UN General Assembly, for the anniversary of Dr. King's 1968 assassination. Bryson also composed its orchestral score. It was released by NBC News.

Shortly after joining the NAACP, Bryson conceptualized, directed, and shot a PSA voiced by Morgan Freeman for the 2020 presidential election. It aired on MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show.

To celebrate Joe Biden's first day in The White House as president, Bryson worked with Richard "Mouse" Smith, a lifelong friend of Biden, on a story that shines a light on the then-new president's lifelong commitment to social justice. It was published on Inauguration Day in 2021 in TIME Magazine, and the story was also covered by CBS News.

At the NAACP, Bryson focuses on planning and executing national press strategies on voting and reproductive rights, police accountability, gun reform, climate change and other issues, as well as developing and managing an extensive network of relationships with members of the press. Bryson's writing and strategic messaging has been positively quoted and referenced across CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Associated Press, Reuters, NBC, ABC, CBS, Axios, Politico, and other outlets.

During the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act and John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act negotiations on Capitol Hill, Bryson was quoted in The Washington Post, NBC, CBS, and other national media outlets.

In December 2021, at the PR News Media Relations conference in Washington DC, Bryson spoke on designing, delivering, and circulating newsworthy soundbites that make an impact and result in favorable headlines. He then hosted a media strategy workshop with Georgetown Professor Matt Charles following the speech.

Following Russia's cruel invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Bryson produced a piece featuring more than 200 musicians from around the world in support of humanitarian efforts. It aired in Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, South Africa, India and the US. The production features a Ukrainian violinist performing inside a bomb shelter in the city of Kharkiv, and Judith Hill, a former lead singer for Michael Jackson.

Currently, Bryson is a volunteer with the Humane Rescue Alliance, a Washington DC animal shelter, where he fosters and rehabilitates rescued dogs. Bryson was also a partner of Dr. Sylvia Earle's Mission Blue charity, which aims to preserve and protect our oceans.

In 2018, Bryson joined Fabien Cousteau, the grandson of the legendary Jacques Cousteau, on an expedition in the Cayman Islands to film the impacts of climate change on coral reefs. Bryson told CNN in 2019, "climate change is a very real threat to my generation's future."