Not one to color inside the lines, Ruth J. Morrison is the CEO and Founder of What’s The 411 Networks, a celebrity-driven integrated media, marketing, and lifestyle events company. She provides marketing and public relations advice to corporations, nonprofits, small businesses, authors, and political candidates. Her company is credentialed to cover the Brooklyn Nets, the New York Knicks, NY Giants, boxing, NBA, and NFL events. She is the author of an upcoming book focused on being an entrepreneur in the sports and entertainment industry. A video streaming pioneer, she developed and launched from conception the City of New York's multi-channel cable television network (NYC TV), which included licensing content for the network. Ms. Morrison is a former Communications Director and Legislative Advisor to a New York Member of the U.S. Congress. As the creator and executive producer of What’s The 411, an award-winning entertainment news and information television show, she became the first African-American independent television producer to distribute a weekly television show on a broadcast channel, WNYC-TV. She also licensed What’s The 411 to a broadcaster in South Africa. With the creation of What’s The 411Sports, she is now one of the very few women in the country to own a sports news media company. She was a public relations consultant for the largest football game held at Giants Stadium; the first African-American woman journalist to cover the New York Knicks as a beat reporter; and, for three years, she worked in Brasil as an entertainment and television licensing consultant for an American company.

Ms. Morrison was also the first Executive Director of the Brooklyn International Trade Development Center (BITDC), New York City’s first and only small business development center whose sole mission was to assist small businesses with selling their products and services to foreign markets. In this capacity, she partnered with the US Commercial Service and the International Trade Administration’s Western Hemisphere Unit. She signed Memorandums of Understanding with the Export-Import Bank of the United States and the U.S. Minority Business Development Agency. She developed a partnership with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and helped to launch the Allied African Nations Chamber of Commerce. She was an active member of committees implementing the U.S. – Brasil Joint Action Plan, which is under the auspices of the U.S. State Department and the government of Brasil.

Under Ms. Morrison’s leadership, BITDC promoted and recruited companies to participate in business opportunity missions to many countries around the world, most notably Dubai, Abu Dhabi, the Canary Islands, the UK, Brasil, and Haiti following the earthquake. She also created an Emerging Market Seminar Series.

Ms. Morrison earned a master's degree in Interactive Telecommunications from the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, completed her coursework towards a Ph.D. in political science at Columbia University and she was a Communications Fellow at the Annenberg Washington Program of Northwestern University. Ms. Morrison is a member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, the MIT Enterprise Forum of NYC, and the New York Association of Black Journalists. She has served on many non-profit boards and she has received numerous honors including awards from the European Federation of Black Women Business Owners at an event in London, and Nation to Nation Networking for her work in building bridges among cultures. Ms. Morrison is available to speak at events.

What's The 411TV's List of 25 Most Interesting People of 2012 was developed from interviews conducted by What's The 411TV correspondents during 2012

BROOKLYN, NY; December 20, 2012 - What's The 411, an entertainment and lifestyle television show, released today its list of 25 Most Interesting People of 2012.

What's The 411's 25 Most Interesting People of 2012 was developed from interviews conducted by What's The 411 reporters from January 1, 2012 through November 30, 2012. The list consists of celebrated personalities to ordinary people doing extraordinary things to the American people rallying for justice in the case of Trayvon Martin. Many people are local to the New York City metro area, while others are global figures.

"Throughout the years, What's The 411 has interviewed so many interesting people," said Ruth J. Morrison, CEO and Founder, Whats The 411 Networks. "This year, we decided to create our list of 25 Most Interesting People. It wasn't easy, but the reporters and producers narrowed What's The 411's Most Interesting People of 2012 to a list of 25. Some are known to almost everyone and some will be names heard for the first time."

"After developing and releasing our list of 25 Most interesting People of 2012, we learned that the Brooklyn Nets fired head coach Avery Johnson. Coach Johnson's firing was shocking and What's The 411 still stands by its decision to include Coach Johnson on its list. In our interview, we saw excitement, conviction, a warrior's attitude, and a commitment to bringing a competitive basketball team to Brooklyn," Ms. Morrison added.

The people making up What's The 411's 25 Most Interesting People of 2012 fall into the categories of entrepreneurs; kids doing great things; sports; fashion and beauty; health; non-profits; media and public relations; and even a former mob wife. The list also includes the winners of What's The 411's Jay Z Concert Ticket Giveaway, a couple so engaging they should have their own reality TV show.

Below is a list of What's The 411's 25 Most Interesting People of 2012 with hotlinks to their respective video interviews:

1. Marlena Ortiz - a 28-year-old breast cancer survivor who created the non-profit Beating Cancer in Heels to help women keep their self-esteem while undergoing cancer treatment
2. Trayvon Martin Vigil in Union Square, New York City - representing Americans standing up against racism
3. Hal Jackson (Posthumously) - legendary radio pioneer who broke many color barriers in radio broadcasting. Hal Jackson died on May 23, 2012 at age 96.
4. Danny Jacobs - a boxer who survived cancer and is now back in the boxing ring with two wins in two months
5. Magic Johnson - because he's Magic
6. David Stern - NBA Commissioner who bucked the prevailing sentiment at the time and developed a salary system which created many young black millionaires, a rising tide floats all boats
7. Sue Simmons - An iconic newswoman; anchor of WNBC-TV News for 32 years
8. Avery Johnson - the goody two-shoes head coach of the Brooklyn Nets; who knew he had so much fight
9. Billie Jean King - an iconic tennis champion and advocate for gender equality
10. Helen Shelton - an African-American woman who rose to executive ranks within a global public relations agency by providing value to her clients
11. Allan Houston - Assistant General Manager, New York Knicks and a former NBA player now leading the way advocating and demonstrating the importance of fathers through hisFather Knows Best initiative
12. Beauty/Fashion Trifecta: Vera Moore, Sofia Davis and Thomas Lavone: - Vera Moore is a beauty entrepreneur of 34 years in the competitive cosmetic business and now making a huge breakthrough with national distribution through Walgreen's; Sofia Davis, Editor, Fashion Avenue News Magazine; and Thomas Lavonne, an award winning New Jersey based fashion designer and entrepreneur with a celebrity following; known for his exceptional talent in Ready To Wear gowns, suits and fine apparel
13. Leslie Allen - a retired professional tennis player and keeper of the legacy of tennis champion Arthur Ashe through the Arthur Ashe Foundation
14. Alia Jones-Harvey - a Broadway theatre producer putting a new spin on classic Broadway theatre productions, thus creating diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity on Broadway
15. Dr. Devra Davis - an environmental health scientist ringing the cell phone environmental alarm bell16. Cheryl Wills - author and 20 years of making a difference in TV news in New York City
17. Constance CR White - a multi-dimensional fashionista running a magazine for Black women (no disrespect to Susan Taylor)
18. Dionne Williams - a fashion entrepreneur providing a professional platform for emerging fashion designers during New York Fashion Week
19. Alfred Edmond Jr. and Windsor Neckwear - creators of the Alfred Edmond Jr. Bow Tie Collection and other men's accessories; helping men everywhere to stand out while fitting in
20. Terrie Williams - CEO and Founder, The Terrie Williams Agency; author; mental health advocate; and mentor; for her honesty about depression and for mentoring young men
21. Leslie Chang, Scholarship Winner of Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health's Health Science Academy and Winners of Arthur Ashe Kids Day Essay and Art Contest - these kids are definitely going places
22. Pamela Quinzi - a fabulously sensational shoe designer with savvy marketing skills
23. Saffiyah Rodgers and Valerie Morrison - owners of My Girlfriend's Closet - making a business out of a childhood passion
24. Kim Benson and Qadir Muhammad - winners of What's The 411's Jay-Z Concert Ticket Contest - a comedic, smart and sassy couple; they should have their own reality TV show
25. Toni Marie Ricci - survived being married to the mob and now an author and mentor to other women

About What's The 411TV

Based in Brooklyn, New York, What's The 411TV is a division of What's The 411 Networks, a media/news and information company connecting sophisticated multi-cultural audiences through its distribution platforms of television, online, mobile, and social media.

What's The 411TV's celebrity portfolio consists of interviews with Magic Johnson, Beyonce, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Danny Glover, Harrison Ford, Samuel L. Jackson and many, many more.

What's The 411 Networks has the largest video celebrity interview portfolio of any Brooklyn-based independent media company.

Video Streaming Pioneer Targets Multi-Cultural Market
What's The 411 Networks, a Silicon Alley online media, entertainment and marketing company, today reboots its video-rich, multi-channel website. Targeting a sophisticated multi-cultural audience, the entertainment and lifestyle website seeks to bring diversity to the online video space.

"The re-launch of http://www.whatsthe411.com is a very exciting time," said Ruth J. Morrison, Founder, What's The 411? Networks. "As independent television producers, we were video streaming pioneers experimenting with online video when most people didn't have 56k modems let alone broadband connections. Today, we are coming full circle, as market forces are ripe for a new era of entertainment and lifestyle products."

WhatsThe411.com boasts a celebrity-infused catalog of original video content including throwback interviews with stars such as Beyonce, Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, Denzel Washington, Diana Ross, Patti LaBelle, Anita Baker, Phylicia Rashad, Lisa Nicole Carson, Courtney B. Vance, Ernie Hudson, Andre Harrell, Dick Wolf, and many others.

More recent original video packages include: pop singer Gloria Estefan discussing her new album produced by Pharrell Williams; NBA legend Walt "Clyde" Frazier; New York Yankees second baseman and home run derby king, Robinson Cano; and Harlem Week festivities featuring New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, former mayor David Dinkins, former Governor David Paterson, and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

The entertainment and lifestyle website features a streamlined design of nine primary channels:

Film/TV/Stage
Music
On The Town
Book Talk
Sports
Fashion, Beauty, Style
Health
Technology
Industry Insider

Additionally, the website contains Stars On The Horizon, an area that will feature aspiring singers. With the Missing Persons File, visitors are encouraged to give sightings of artists that have left public view. The Missing Persons File kicks off with TOTAL, the first girl group from P. Diddy's BadBoy Entertainment. Ask The Experts seeks to help people with the many facets of their lives: health, fitness, weight loss management, and wellness; relationships; money and finance; education; careers; etc.

"We expect success because we are filling a void. We also have a great vantage point being based in New York City, the media capital of the world. Further, What's The 411 Networks sees a great opportunity to connect with a global audience through social media and live events. Integrating social media marketing strategies will enable us to grow and expand our audience, influence and revenue," Ruth Morrison added.

Sign up today at http://www.whatsthe411.com to receive weekly e-newsletters. Follow @WhatsThe411TV on Twitter and visit our Facebook fan page http://www.Facebook.com/WhatIsThe411 to stay current on interviews, events hosted by What's The 411 Networks, and much, much, more.

Ruth Morrison, Founder, What's The 411 Networks is available for interviews.
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