Matthew Hiltzik (born May 12, 1972) is an American lawyer and publicist. He is the founder of Hiltzik Strategies, which represents high-profile organizations and individuals such as various politicians and Hollywood figures. He has also occasionally been an executive producer on documentaries and written for magazines.
Hiltzik is a member of the New York State Bar Association.[5] After law school, he worked as press secretary and deputy executive director of the New York State Democratic Committee under Judith Hope, the first woman to head a major political party in New York. While in that role, he worked on the 1998 campaigns of Chuck Schumer and Eliot Spitzer, and Hillary Clinton's Listening Tour in July 1999. In December 1999, Hiltzik joined Miramax as head of corporate communications. He became senior vice president of corporate communications and government relations, and was involved in public relations for Miramax Films, Miramax Books, Miramax TV, Talk magazine, philanthropic and political fundraising and crisis management.[6]
In 2000, Hiltzik took a brief leave from Miramax to re-join Hillary Clinton's senatorial campaign as the director of Jewish relations.[7] Hiltzik worked on outreach in the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox communities for Clinton's campaign, including making inroads with women in the Hasidic community.[8] He met with leaders in New York's Jewish communities, including the Bobovers Hasidic section.[9]
Hiltzik teamed up with the British publicity company Freud Communications to start up their American branch in 2005.[10] He became Katie Couric's publicist and spokesman shortly before her move from NBC to CBS in 2006.[11] She acknowledged his role in her career in her 2021 memoir Going There.[12]
Hiltzik went out on his own in early 2008 to start up Hiltzik Strategies.[13] He maintained his political roots advising Jose Antonio Vargas's DefineAmerican campaign to address immigration policy in the United States and pass the DREAM Act,[14][15] and Thomas DiNapoli in his successful bid for New York State Comptroller. Hiltzik served on New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio's 2014 Inaugural Committee.[16] He also advised Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, in her primary against Rep. Carolyn Maloney.[17] Hiltzik advised political strategist Lis Smith on crisis management, and encouraged her to write a book about her experiences, which was published as Any Give Tuesday in 2022.[18]
Hiltzik is known for his work helping to build the public image of high profile women including Hillary Clinton, Ivanka Trump, Nicole Shanahan, Couric, and Ripa.[21][22]
Hiltzik and his team were engaged by attorneys to support litigation in the Johnny Depptrial, and Hiltzik played a primary role in rehabilitating the actor's image during his successful defamation case against Amber Heard.[24] Hiltzik kept a low profile in the media in the aftermath of the trial, while working to encourage support for Depp and revitalize his career.[25]
The Observer listed Hiltzik Strategies as one of the top crisis and reputation management firms in 2024, noting that it had "significant growth" in its client base.[29]
In July 2015, he was the first public relations professional to be named to the board of directors of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, a not-for-profit corporation that promotes economic growth throughout New York City.[39][40]
Hiltzik sits on the Board of the Ghetto Film School.[41] In the summer of 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, Hiltzik suggested that the school's film competition focus on the subject of connection during isolation and lockdown.[42]
Personal life
Hiltzik lives in New York City with his wife, Dana, and their three children.[37][43]
