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Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed Ranked 6th Most Influential African-American by ‘The Root’

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Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed moved up four spots to No. 6 on The Root 100 for 2012.

The annual list recognizes the most influential African-Americans. This year, honorees were ranked based on a mathematical formula that combined reach (media and Internet mentions, plus Twitter followers) and substance (a score determined by The Root’s editorial team and based on a person’s contributions to his or her field or community) to establish an influence score.

Reed’s total influence score of 220.4 included his more than 1,420 media mentions, 19,300 Internet mentions and his growing Twitter audience, currently at 28,500 followers as of Sept. 24.

“Halfway through his first term, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has emerged as one of President Barack Obama’s most prominent surrogates in 2012, regularly making the rounds on Sunday news programs and hosting high-profile fundraisers,” The Root said. “He’s also credited with improving Atlanta’s public services, bolstering the city’s financial position and bridging racial divides.”

Beating out Mayor Reed were Trayvon Martin attorney Benjamin Crump in 5th, tennis champion Serena Williams in 4th, the NAACP’s Benjamin Jealous in 3rd, Newark Mayor Cory Booker in 2nd, and MSNBC media pundit Melissa Harris-Perry was ranked the number one most influential African-American for 2012 according to ‘The Root 100’ listing.

Source: Atlanta Business Chronicle

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