Mark McKinnon

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Mark McKinnon

Associate Lecturer in Public Policy

Mark McKinnon, chief media advisor to President George W. Bush during the 2000 and 2004 elections, is an Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy. He is an award-winning media producer and communications strategist who has served as principal media advisor for corporate and political campaigns in the United States, Latin America and Africa. McKinnon directed the advertising effort for George W. Bush’s 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns. He is Vice Chairman of Public Strategies, Inc. and President of Maverick Media. President Bush recently nominated McKinnon to serve as a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. McKinnon has been awarded more than 30 Pollie and Telly awards, honoring the nation’s best political and public affairs advertising. He currently serves as vice chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation and teaches at the University of Texas’ Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. At the Kennedy School, McKinnon will teach “Modern Political Communications: From the White House to the Blogosphere.”

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Join BISG for a virtual book talk with Leslie K. John, Harvard Business School Professor and author of Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing.

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Inside SAM.gov: An Open Data Demo for Journalists

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This session is a hands-on demo, not a panel discussion on SAM.gov — the federal government’s System for Award Management.

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2026 Goldsmith Awards Ceremony

2026 Goldsmith Awards Ceremony

A celebration of journalism and storytelling that impact public policy and the functioning of government.

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The Economic Consequences of the Iran War

Join The Journalist’s Resource and EconoFact for an hour-long webinar on the current and potential economic consequences of the current war in Iran.

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Book Talk with Julia Minson (“How to Disagree Better”)

Join decision scientist and Shorenstein Center resident faculty member Julia Minson for a conversation about her new book, How to Disagree Better, to learn evidence-based techniques on how to transform every disagreement into an opportunity for growth.

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Theodore H. White Lecture on Press and Politics with Ken Burns

Theodore H. White Lecture on Press and Politics with Ken Burns

Attend the 2026 Theodore H. White Lecture on Press and Politics with preeminent documentary filmmaker Ken BurnsShorenstein Center Director, Nancy Gibbs, will hold a fireside chat with Burns in the JFK Jr. Forum at Harvard Kennedy School.

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