Talk:Colleen Bell

Request to add more recent photo

Greetings! The photo currently in use on this page is Colleen Bell's temporary State Dept. photo taken before she assumed her current role as U.S. ambassador to Hungary. I'd like to suggest updating this with her official portrait, which I have uploaded to Commons. The filename is Colleen_Bell_State_Dept_portrait.png. Why have I not added it to the article myself? Simple answer: I am working on behalf of Ms. Bell through the firm SKD Knickerbocker to propose some changes to the page, starting here. If you see this request, will you consider making this change? Thanks, WWB Too (Talk · COI) 16:04, 14 September 2015 (UTC)

 Done - No problem! Altamel (talk) 06:07, 15 September 2015 (UTC) P.S. You left your username out when you signed your post. I assumed you added an extra tilde and took the liberty of fixing your signature. Let me know if I messed anything up.

Thanks so much, Altamel. WWB Too (Talk · COI) 21:14, 15 September 2015 (UTC) And thanks as well for catching the signature issue—I don't know why, but I've been adding five tildes on accident lately. It's appreciated!

Proposed update to Producing career

Hello again, during my time away from this page I've completed a draft to fully update this article, which is now posted in my user space. Assuming it makes this easier, I will propose section-by-section updates here so we can focus on one thing at a time. First, I'd like any new editors to this page to know that I have a financial conflict of interest: I am working on behalf of Ms. Bell through my firm, Beutler Ink, and SKD Knickerbocker.

I'd like to start out here by fleshing out the Producing career section. There's currently nothing there about Bell's role on The Bold and the Beautiful, other than to say that she's a producer. Since this is an encyclopedia entry on Colleen Bell and not the show, this section should focus more on her work with the program, and less about the program itself. I'd like to propose replacing this section with the following:

Producing career

Bell's television career began in 1991 at Bell-Phillip Television, the production company for the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. Bell served in various roles for the show, including as an associated producer, script supervisor and director of special projects. As the special projects director in 2011, Bell led a project to overhaul and update all the fashion on the show, which focuses on two rival fashion houses. She became a full producer of the series in 2012. As producer, Bell was named three times in Daytime Emmy Award nominations when The Bold and the Beautiful was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

References

Markup

Bell's television career began in 1991 at Bell-Phillip Television, the production company for the [[CBS]] [[soap opera]] ''The Bold and the Beautiful''.<ref name=Chambers14>{{cite news |title=White House unable to list qualifications of Obama's choice for U.S. ambassador to Hungary (but she does produce The Bold and the Beautiful) |last1=Chambers |first1=Francesca |last2= |first2= |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2858072/White-House-unable-list-qualifications-Obama-s-choice-U-S-ambassador-Hungary.html |newspaper=[[The Daily Mail]] |date=2 December 2014 |accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref> Bell served in various roles for the show, including as an associated producer,<ref name=Chambers14/> script supervisor<ref name=Mulcahy14>{{cite web |url=http://www.welovesoaps.net/2014/12/colleen-bell-ambassador-to-hungary.html |title='The Bold and the Beautiful' Producer Colleen Bell Confirmed by Senate as Ambassador to Hungary |author=Kevin Mulcahy Jr. |date=2 December 2014 |work= |publisher=WeLoveSoaps.net |accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref> and director of special projects.<ref name=Logan11>{{cite news |title=The Bold and the Beautiful gets a fashion makeover |last1=Logan |first1=Michael |last2= |first2= |url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/bold-beautiful-gets-1034890/?rss=breakingnews&partnerid=imdb&profileid=01 |magazine=[[TV Guide]] |date=1 July 2011 |accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref> As the special projects director in 2011, Bell led a project to overhaul and update all the fashion on the show, which focuses on two rival [[fashion design|fashion houses]].<ref name=Logan11/> She became a full producer of the series in 2012.<ref name=Mulcahy14/> As producer, Bell was named three times in [[Daytime Emmy Award]] nominations when ''The Bold and the Beautiful'' was nominated for [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]] in [[40th Daytime Emmy Awards|2013]],<ref name=Labrecque13>{{cite news |title=Daytime Emmy nominations: 'Young and the restless' leads CBS |last1=Labrecque |first1=Jeff |last2= |first2= |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2013/05/01/daytime-emmy-nominations-young-and-the-restless-leads-cbs |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=1 May 2013 |accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref> [[41st Daytime Emmy Awards|2014]]<ref name=HollywoodReporter14>{{cite news |title=2014 Daytime Emmy Nominations Announced |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/2014-daytime-emmy-awards-nominees-700439 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=1 May 2014 |accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref> and [[42nd Daytime Emmy Awards|2015]].<ref name=Littleton15>{{cite news |title='General Hospital,' Ellen DeGeneres, CBS Lead Daytime Emmy Nominations |last1=Littleton |first1=Cynthia |last2= |first2= |url=http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/general-hospital-ellen-degeneres-young-and-the-restless-daytime-emmy-nominations-1201463476/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=31 March 2015 |accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref>

As I've mentioned earlier, I prefer not to make edits where I have a conflict of interest, so I'm looking to get other editors' input and assistance. Would anyone be willing to make these changes in the article if they think they seem reasonable? I'm open to any feedback or suggestions. Cheers, WWB Too (Talk · COI) 19:39, 13 November 2015 (UTC)

Added producing career except last sentence which insinuated a role to her that is not verified in the sources. LaMona (talk) 18:59, 30 November 2015 (UTC)

Hi there LaMona, thanks so much for taking the time to update the Producing career section. I am curious about your read on the final sentence, however. Though certainly easy to miss, a Ctrl-F search will show Colleen Bell is listed as a nominated producer of the show in each of the sources for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Daytime Emmy awards. Perhaps there's a tweak that could be made to the sentence rather than avoiding entirely? WWB Too (Talk · COI) 21:26, 30 November 2015 (UTC)

First, linking to the Emmy announcements is a link to primary sources, not third-party sources as WP prefers. Second, we don't usually link to references that "name" a person, but to references that are ABOUT a person. Third, nominations are nice, but wins are what lead to clear notability. If you find any references that say "And the show won an award because Bell was such a good producer" then it would be appropriate to cite that in the article. LaMona (talk) 23:45, 30 November 2015 (UTC)

OK, I understand your position, LaMona. We do see this differently, but I'm not so concerned with this one sentence, especially since I have other suggestions for the page I'd like to make. I'll be posting the next one a bit later today, and if you'd be willing to have a look, I'd appreciate it. Cheers, WWB Too (Talk · COI) 15:49, 1 December 2015 (UTC)

Proposed update to Early life and education

Greetings again! I'd like to offer a slightly revised, better-cited version of the Early life and education section. I've omitted just one detail I couldn't properly source (graduating with honors) and included just a few more details (graduation year, study at St. Andrews, first job after college). Here's what it looks like and, for convenience, the underlying markup for the new language and citations:

Early life and education

Bell (née Bradley) was born in 1967 in Evanston, Illinois, to Sheila, an interior designer, and Edward Bradley, a lawyer. Bell studied economics and political science at Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, Virginia, where she graduated in 1989 with a bachelor's degree. She studied international relations during her junior year abroad at University of St Andrews in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Following college, Bell began working for Bell-Phillip Television Productions in Los Angeles.

References

Markup

Bell (née Bradley) was born in 1967 in Evanston, Illinois, to Sheila, an interior designer, and Edward Bradley, a lawyer.<ref name=ChicagoTribune91>{{cite news |title=Colleen Cradley, Bradley Bell Wed |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-11-16/entertainment/9104120850_1_interior-design-firm-producer-beverly-hills |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=16 November 1991 |accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref><ref name=Allgov14>{{cite web |url=http://www.allgov.com/news/appointments-and-resignations/ambassador-to-hungary-who-is-colleen-bell-140602?news=853292 |title=Ambassador to Hungary: Who is Colleen Bell? |author= |date=2 June 2014 |work= |publisher=AllGov.com |accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref> Bell studied [[economics]] and [[political science]] at [[Sweet Briar College]] in [[Sweet Briar, Virginia]], where she graduated in 1989 with a [[bachelor's degree]].<ref name=Peet15>{{cite news |title=Sudden Sweet Briar Closure Leaves Library in Limbo |last1=Peet |first1=Lisa |last2= |first2= |url=http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/06/academic-libraries/sudden-sweet-briar-closure-leaves-library-in-limbo/#_ |newspaper=[[Library Journal]] |date=22 June 2015 |accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref> She studied [[international relations]] during her junior year abroad at [[University of St Andrews]] in [[St Andrews]], [[Fife]], [[Scotland]].<ref name=Allgov14/> Following college, Bell began working for [[William J. Bell|Bell-Phillip Television Productions]] in Los Angeles.<ref name=ChicagoTribune91/><ref name=Allgov14/>

As stated before, I have a financial conflict of interest: I am working on behalf of Amb. Bell through my firm, Beutler Ink, and SKD Knickerbocker. I will not make any direct edits myself so I'm looking for others' input and assistance in making the changes if they seem reasonable. Looking forward to any and all feedback! Cheers, WWB Too (Talk · COI) 21:22, 1 December 2015 (UTC)

Done. LaMona (talk) 02:50, 3 December 2015 (UTC)

Thanks! And FYI, I'm re-adding the {{edit COI}} template, marked as answered. WWB Too (Talk · COI) 18:31, 3 December 2015 (UTC)

OK. I see how that's done, and will follow suit in the future. LaMona (talk) 21:54, 3 December 2015 (UTC)

Cool, no probs! Just want to make sure anyone who reads through later is clear on this. And FYI I'll have another request to propose fairly soon. WWB Too (Talk · COI) 23:32, 3 December 2015 (UTC)

Proposed update to Political career

Hello, once more! With this request I propose a rewritten version that would replace the existing Political career section. I suggest we begin by renaming it. A title such as Advocacy and political involvement would better encapsulate the breadth of Ms. Bell's activities. "Political career" is perhaps not the best way to describe someone who has never stood for elective office, and who serves on boards for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art or the UCLA Rape Treatment Center.

Additionally, I have rewritten the section to make it more concise, focusing more on Amb. Bell's work than that of organizations and individuals she has been affiliated with. The most significant removal is her involvement with the Natural Resources Defense Council—the current article uses primary sources, and I could not find a suitable replacement—as well as an unsourced mention that Bell was on the National Finance Committee for President Obama's 2012 campaign. However, this draft does add more detail on her fundraising efforts for Obama in 2011 and 2012. Here's what I recommend:

Advocacy and political involvement

Bell has been active in advocacy and philanthropy during her career. In 2007, Bell visited Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress on global warming as part of a delegation from the Leadership Council, a Los Angeles County group focused on environmental issues.

Bell was named to President Barack Obama's Advisory Committee on the Arts in 2010. In 2011, she was elected as the group's chair. Obama appointed Bell to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Board of Trustees in 2012. Additionally, she has served as trustee of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles Music Center, vice chair of the Children's Institute Inc. and member of UCLA Rape Treatment Center's advisory board.

Bell is also active with the Democratic Party. She served as an at-large delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. As a "bundler", Bell helped raise more than $2.1 million for Obama's 2012 presidential campaign throughout 2011 and 2012. In February 2012, Bell and her husband, The Bold and the Beautiful executive producer and head writer Bradley Phillip Bell, hosted a fundraiser for Obama at their home with actor Will Ferrell and his wife, Viveca Paulin. The event featured a speech by the president and a short concert by the Foo Fighters and was attended by approximately 1,000 people.

References

Markup

Bell has been active in advocacy and philanthropy during her career. In 2007, Bell visited [[Washington, D.C.]], to lobby [[United States Congress|Congress]] on [[global warming]] as part of a delegation from the Leadership Council, a [[Los Angeles County]] group focused on environmental issues.<ref name=Williams07>{{cite news |title=Washington Feels Hollywood's Heat |last1=Williams |first1=Alex |last2= |first2= |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/fashion/21wives.html?pagewanted=1&n=Top/News/Science/Topics/Global%20Warming&_r=0 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=21 October 2007 |accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref>

Bell was named to [[Barack Obama|President Barack Obama]]'s Advisory Committee on the Arts in 2010. In 2011, she was elected as the group's chair.<ref name=Logan11/> Obama appointed Bell to the [[John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts]] [[Board of Trustees]] in 2012.<ref name=Allgov14/> Additionally, she has served as trustee of the [[Los Angeles County Museum of Art]], [[Los Angeles Music Center]], vice chair of the [[Children's Institute Inc.]]<ref name=Johnson13>{{cite news |title=Obama Nominated Producer Colleen Bell to be Ambassador to Hungary |last1=Johnson |first1=Ted |last2= |first2= |url=http://variety.com/2013/biz/news/colleen-bell-nominated-by-obama-as-ambassador-to-hungary-1200802945/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=6 November 2013 |accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref> and member of [[UCLA]] [[UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica|Rape Treatment Center]]'s advisory board.<ref name=Mulcahy14/>

Bell is also active with the [[Democratic Party]]. She served as an [[at-large]] [[delegate]] to the [[2012 Democratic National Convention]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]].<ref name=Johnson12>{{cite news |title=Showbiz Figures Among Delegates to DNC |last1=Johnson |first1=Ted |last2= |first2= |url=http://variety.com/2012/biz/opinion/showbiz-figures-among-delegates-to-dnc-36449/ |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=8 August 2012 |accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref> As a "[[Campaign_finance_in_the_United_States#Bundling|bundler]]", Bell helped raise more than $2.1 million for [[Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2012|Obama's 2012 presidential campaign]] throughout 2011 and 2012.<ref name=NYTimes12>{{cite news |title=Obama's Top Fund-Raisers |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |url=http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/09/13/us/politics/obamas-top-fund-raisers.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=13 September 2012 |accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref> In February 2012, Bell and her husband, ''The Bold and the Beautiful'' [[executive producer]] and [[head writer]] [[Bradley Bell|Bradley Phillip Bell]], hosted a [[campaign finance|fundraiser]] for Obama at their home with actor [[Will Ferrell]] and his wife, [[Viveca Paulin]].<ref name=Daunt12>{{cite news |title=Two Obama Hollywood fundraisers set for soap opera titan's Holmby Hills Estate |last1=Daunt |first1=Tina |last2= |first2= |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/barack-obama-hollywood-fundraisers-will-ferrell-bradley-bell-285093 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=26 January 2012 |accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref> The event featured a speech by the president and a short concert by the [[Foo Fighters]] and was attended by approximately 1,000 people.<ref name=Almendrala12>{{cite news |title=Obama's Foo Fights Concert Fathers 1,000 Angelenos At Holmby Hills Estate |last1=Almendrala |first1=Anna |last2= |first2= |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/16/barack-obama-foo-fighters_n_1281022.html |newspaper=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=16 February 2012 |accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref>

Lastly, the existing Political career section currently includes a subsection titled Ambassadorial appointment to Hungary secured by cloture in the US Senate. My next proposal for this article will be a new section on Ms. Bell's ambassadorship to Hungary, so I ask: do others think it best to leave this subsection as it is and we can revisit it later, or move it to a new full section now?

As noted previously, I have a financial conflict of interest: I am working on behalf of Ms. Bell through my firm, Beutler Ink, and SKD Knickerbocker. I will not make any direct edits myself so I'm looking for others' input and assistance in making the changes if they seem reasonable. Cheers, WWB Too (Talk · COI) 15:35, 4 December 2015 (UTC)

Dropping a note here to see if anyone is able to help with these updates. Pinging LaMona and Altamel, since you've both helped update this article recently. I am also going to try WP:WPBLP today. Best, WWB Too (Talk · COI) 19:59, 9 December 2015 (UTC)

got your ping. Will try to get to this in the next few days. I see no problem with moving the ambassadorship to its own section, since, in a sense, it's the most notable thing about her. LaMona (talk) 16:58, 10 December 2015 (UTC)

OK, thanks! I'll keep an eye out. And if you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer. WWB Too (Talk · COI) 19:57, 10 December 2015 (UTC)

Hi again LaMona, the article has changed a tiny bit since we last talked, but I'd like to see if you had a chance to look at my proposed update to the section about Amb. Bell's political career? Let me know what you think when you have a chance. Cheers, WWB Too (Talk · COI) 14:33, 28 December 2015 (UTC)

This has been completed, so I am closing the request. Thanks so much for everyone's input and assistance! Cheers, WWB Too (Talk · COI) 17:40, 29 December 2015 (UTC)

a few improvements

I made a few improvements to this article which was becoming a bit promotional. Her career as ambassador has been 2 years long and yet 60% of this bio contains the details of a variety of rather incidental prepared speeches simply echoing, as ambassadorial speeches are wont to do, extant USG policy. This is highly UNDUE. I also deleted the sources WeLoveSoaps.Net and AllGov.com (a volunteer-written site whose editor runs a part-time sci-fi museum) as non-RS. LavaBaron (talk) 02:56, 30 May 2016 (UTC)

Hi again, LavaBaron. You made another change as well that I believe pushed things a little too far in the opposite direction, namely your final edit of May 30 adding to the very first sentence: following a contentious appointment process that focused on her perceived lack of foreign policy experience. As you cite UNDUE as a reason to remove some other information much further into the article, I believe inserting the claims of congressional Republican critics into the very first line of her biography is exactly that as well. Less than 18 months later, this debate is long-forgotten, and has not impacted her tenure as ambassador. I'd like to suggest reverting this change. Also, pinging LaMona, who had responded to my earlier requests, and User:Billmckern who also made substantial edits in December. Finally, anyone else who comes across this should note my COI as explained above (although my contractual obligations ended some time ago). Thanks, WWB Too (Talk · COI) 20:01, 24 June 2016 (UTC)

I agree that mentioning the "contentious appointment" in the lede is prejudicial. There is enough about it in the article itself. LaMona (talk) 14:47, 25 June 2016 (UTC)

Since there has been no other comment, LaMona, would you be comfortable making this change? I'm open to a longer discussion about it later, if need be, although this seems to be a clear example of the "prominence of placement" reasoning provided in WP:UNDUE. WWB Too (Talk · COI) 17:52, 30 June 2016 (UTC)

Done. If I could think of a shorter and less "contentious" way to introduce it in the lede I could, but as it is there seems to be plenty of coverage in the body of the article. LaMona (talk) 18:06, 30 June 2016 (UTC)

Thanks, and that makes sense. I've got this watchlisted in case there's any follow-up discussion later. Best, WWB Too (Talk · COI) 18:53, 30 June 2016 (UTC)