Walter Burrell began his career as a publicist at Universal Studios in the 1960's where he handled publicity for the studio's contract actors and feature films. Later, he was assigned to oversee publicity on site for films while on location during the filming process. As his name became recognized in Hollywood, he was requested by feature film producers which began his path to other studio lots in Hollywood. Walter worked at every major studio in Hollywood during his years as a publicist. After working with famous names for years, national publications began to request feature cover stories for their publications. He soon became a columnist for several national and local publications, covering happenings in Hollywood including films, television and music.

Journalistic Background:

Soul newspaper - 12 years
 For more than a dozen years, Mr. Burrell was the number one movie and television critic, reviewer, columnist and feature writer for Soul, which was the nation's only Black national entertainment newsmagazine.

Ebony magazine - 20 years
Mr. Burrell was a contributing writer for Ebony magazine, the largest circulation Black magazine in the world, for more than two decades.

Black Stars magazine - 10 years
Along with editor Ariel Strong and publisher John Johnson at Johnson Publications, Mr. Burrell helped design and formulate the format for Black Stars magazine, which was during its 10-year life span, the nation's largest Black entertainment magazine. He served as feature writer, columnist and entertainment critic for nearly every issue of the monthly magazine.

Players magazine
Mr. Burrell was a feature writer, critic and Q&A interviewer in the area of entertainment for Players magazine, the Black version of Playboy magazine.

Black Enterprise magazine
Mr. Burrell was a contributor to Black Enterprise magazine, the nation's largest Black business publication. He contributed feature articles centered around the business aspects of Black involvement in the entertainment industry.

Los Angeles Times
Mr. Burrell contributed as a feature writer to the 'Home' and 'Calendar' sections of the Los Angeles Times newspaper.

The Burrell Syndicate
For seven years, Mr. Burrell syndicated feature articles, interviews and reviews, pertinent to Black involvement in the entertainment industry, to virtually all of the nation's Black newspapers.

On-Camera
 • Served as host on 'The Total Experience', a variety/interview show on KNBC-TV (NBC affiliate, LA Channel 4).
 • Served as guest host for various other local television shows.

Resume:

EDUCATION

Compton Junior College (CA)     A.A. degree in English
Hampton Institute (VA)     B.A. degree in English

EMPLOYMENT

  Universal Studios
1967 - 1971
 Writer & Publicist
  Motown Records Corporation
1971 - 1972
 Writer & Publicist
  20th Century - Fox Studios
1972 - 1974
 Writer & Publicist
  MGM Studios
1974 - 1975
 Writer & Publicist
  Freelance Writer, Publicist & Journalist
1975 - 1978
 Writer, Publicist & Journalist
  ABC Television
1978 - 1984
 Writer & Publicist
  California State Los Angeles University
1985 - 1990
 University Manager/Press Office

NOTABLE WORKS

As a journalist:

Contributing writer/editor for the following magazines and/or newspapers: Ebony, Soul, Players, Jet, Black Stars, Essence, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Los Angeles, Soul $ Jazz and Rolling Stone.

Contributed feature articles and columns syndicated in 128 Black newspapers.


As a radio personality:

Host/writer for Walter & Friends, a two-hour interview show with Black entertainment celebrities which aired in 1977 on KDAY radio in Los Angeles.

Host/writer for The World of Entertainment, a news/gossip show featuring Black entertainers syndicated over Mutual Black Network in 1976.

As a writer:

Wrote Mocha, a novel based on personal lives of several Black entertainment celebrities.

Wrote The Black Stars, a compilation of in-depth interviews with several Black entertainment celebrities

Wrote The King Interviews, a compilation of in-depth interviews with Coretta Scott King, her family members, and several political associates of King.

As a film publicist:

Served as Director of Publicity and Publicity Writer for 44 motion pictures including:

Buck and the Preacher
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars
Claudine
The Greatest
Norman, Is That You?
The River Niger
Sounder