CHICAGO—Veteran journalist and media relations consultant Ronald Childs has launched his own firm, Omen Communications, in Chicago. The firm will represents local, national and international clients for media relations, digital editorial content, social media and public relations strategy, business advisor and agent.

Childs served most recently as a vice president for media relations with multicultural public relations specialist Flowers Communications Group and media strategist with Burrell Communications Group, both dedicated practices that he founded and directed.

While with Burrell, one of the nation’s preeminent African American-owned advertising firms, Childs serviced several Fortune 500 public relations accounts and originated the program concept that is now known as McDonald's "365 Black" initiative. He also co-developed Habitat for Humanity International’s first-ever diversity program, “Building Upon Diverse Foundations.”

Prior to his tenure at Burrell, he was associate editor of Johnson Publishing Company’s now defunct EM [Ebony Man] magazine and spent three year as assistant director of publicity for Johnson Publishing Co.  He also was a communications specialist and speechwriter to Chicago’s first black mayor, Harold Washington.