Mark McKinnon
Mark McKinnon at Cannes (Lessons On Winning a Campaign)
Mark McKinnon
Keynote Speaker
Creator, Executive Producer, Co-host of Showtime’s The Circus; Co-founder of the Bipartisan Group No Labels; Former Chief Media Advisor to George W. Bush and John McCain
Mark McKinnon shares his unique perspective on politics and communications with audiences and reveals the implications and opportunities for them and their enterprises.
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Mark McKinnon is a political advisor, reform advocate, columnist, and television producer. He was the creator and co-host of Showtime’s Emmy-nominated hit documentary series “The Circus” — the longest-running, most-watched unscripted show in the history of the network which ran for eight seasons.
McKinnon has worked for many causes, companies, and candidates, including President George W. Bush, Senator John McCain, late Governor Ann Richards, and Bono. He was the chief media advisor for five winning presidential primary and general election campaigns. Dedicated to bipartisanship, McKinnon helped start No Labels, an organization dedicated to bringing our parties together to problem solve and heal the partisan divide in our country.
According to Broadcasting and Cable magazine, McKinnon is one of “a handful of players behind every big decision, consensus or roadblock in Washington . . . putting a unique, sometimes hidden stamp on the outcome of today’s debates.” Politics Daily writes: “He’s known for his originality in a field typified by copycats, a mellow personality in a world populated with high-strung brutes and ecumenical urges in a profession dominated by its unadulterated partisans.”
“McKinnon is evidence that principled centrism is not an oxymoron,” wrote John Avalon in a Daily Beast column about the 25 Best Centrist Pundits. “McKinnon piloted John McCain’s 2008 primary campaign to victory. But he announced in advance that if Barack Obama won the Democratic nomination; he would ride off into the sunset rather than participate in the negative attacks he knew would be required. This is unheard of in the world of modern politics, where partisanship trumps principle as a matter of course.”
President George W. Bush says of McKinnon, “I was really impressed by Mark’s creativity, and I was particularly impressed by his honesty.” Senator John McCain, in his typical straight-talk fashion, remarks, “He’s almost a genius.” And President Barack Obama calls McKinnon “a class act.”
McKinnon has been a regular columnist for The Daily Beast, The London Daily Telegraph, and Vanity Fair, and was a consultant to the HBO show “The Newsroom” and Netflix’s “House of Cards.”
Featured Videos
Mark McKinnon
Why Trump Won
Mark McKinnon
Summarizing the Election
Mark McKinnon
Mark McKinnon at Cannes (Lessons On Winning a Campaign)
Mark McKinnon’s Speech Topics
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Bipartisanship. Is It Dead?
For more than two centuries progress has been achieved in America by the two major parties coming together and working out their differences for the good of the country. And while they might have vigorously disagreed during the day, you could find a democratic speaker like Tip O’Neil sharing martinis with a republican president like Ronald Reagan at night. But something happened over the last couple of decades that polarized our politics to such a degree that opponents became enemies and compromise became a dirty word.
Mark McKinnon worked half his life working for democrats like Governors Ann Richards and Mike Dukakis and the other half working for republicans like George W. Bush and John McCain. He cofounded No Labels, an organization dedicated to bringing the parties together and healing the breach through bipartisan problem solving. And he created a hit documentary TV series “The Circus” which reflected both sides of the divide. So, McKinnon has a lot of thoughts about how our politics got so divided and bitter, and whether there might be a path back to greater civility and progress for our country.
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The Power of Political Storytelling
As a seasoned political advisor, media columnist, and television producer, Mark McKinnon has a wealth of experience in crafting compelling narratives that resonate with audiences. Mark will touch on the importance of storytelling in politics, how to craft a powerful message that connects with voters, and the role of media in shaping public opinion. He will also reflect on the challenges facing political communicators in the digital age, such as the rise of social media, the decline of traditional news outlets, and the proliferation of fake news.
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The Future of Political Advertising
As a former media strategist for five winning presidential primary and general election campaigns, Mark McKinnon has a wealth of experience in political advertising. Mark will speak about the evolution of political advertising over the years, the impact of social media on political campaigns, and the challenges facing political advertisers in the digital age. He will also touch on the role of data analytics in political advertising, the ethics of political advertising, and the future of political advertising in the United States.
Speaker Topics & Types
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