Digital Media Leader

Paula Berg is among the most widely recognized experts on using digital and social media to build and defend brands and corporate reputation.

At Linhart PR, she is responsible for building on the firm’s digital and social media capabilities to deliver results and solutions to clients, while also creating sustainable capacity in this area among members of the Linhart PR client service team.

For three years, Paula led Southwest Airlines’ acclaimed online communication strategy, developing the company’s award-winning blog, “Nuts About Southwest” (named Best Blog by PR News in 2007, 2008 and 2009); leveraging a variety of popular online communications channels (including Twitter, YouTube and Facebook); and building the internal infrastructure to revolutionize the company’s online voice.

For her leadership in leveraging digital and social media to build the Southwest brand, Paula was recognized with the airline’s President’s Award in 2009.  PR Week has recognized Southwest as one of five companies that “get social media.”  Brandweek and Adweek have named Southwest as a brand successfully leveraging and gaining traction on Facebook, and the Associated Press and PC Magazine have identified the airline as a company leveraging Twitter successfully to gain customers.

Prior to assuming responsibility for Southwest Airlines’ digital and social media program, Paula held a variety of corporate communications roles with the company, including spokesperson for local and national media in a 26-city region; media trainer for executives and employees; and executive speechwriter.  She also supervised on-location production for Airline!, Southwest’s reality series for the A&E Television Network.

Before joining Southwest Airlines in 2001, Paula served as a legislative aide in the Colorado state senate and as an intern in the U.S. Senate, working in the officer of former Senator Wayne Allard.  She also worked as an event planner for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.