Mike Kiernan

About Mike Kiernan

After 20 years in print and TV journalism, I have worked since 1990 for government and non-profit agencies advocating on behalf of many social issues in support of at-risk children and their families. In April 2015, I became a consultant and free-lancer after nine years of communications work with Save the Children, most recently as head of advocacy and public affairs for the agency\'s Saving Newborn Lives program. From January 2010 to October 2012, between stints at Save the Children, I worked for the Council for a Strong America (CSA) as its communications director advocating for evidence-based programs shown to help at-risk children get a better start in life. I helped manage communications for four CSA membership organizations: Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, Mission: Readiness, Shepherding the Next Generation and America\'s Edge. During my tenure at CSA, our communications team set up more than 100 local press events in more than 40 states and developed successful media campaigns that reached audiences of tens of millions nationwide including a highly successful campaign waged by retired generals and admirals in support of stronger school nutrition standards. Prior to joining CSA, I worked for six years with Save the Children, directing communications for the agency\'s emergency response unit including responses to the 2004 tsunami in Asia and Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast. I also helped manage media outreach for many of the agency\'s major campaigns and reports, including its annual State of the World\'s Mothers Report. Before joining Save the Childen in February 2003, I served as the principal spokesman for three members of Congress as well as the Appalachian Regional Commission, the AFL-CIO\'s Working for America Institute and InterAction, a coalition of 160 private U.S. humanitarian aid groups. As a journalist, I worked for columnist Jack Anderson, the Washington Star, WRC-TV (Channel 4 News) in Washington D.C. and U.S. News and World Report.

Experience

1. Media and Communications

   Consultant

   Mar 2015 — Present · San Francisco, CA, US

Education

• Columbia University - Graduate School of Journalism

  Master of Science (MS), Journalism

  1969 — 1970

• Vanderbilt University

  BA, English Language and Literature/Letters

  1965 — 1969

Skills

• Proposal Writing
• Newsletters
• Grants
• Public Policy
• Fundraising
• Strategic Communications
• Politics
• Publications
• Community Development
• Editing
• Community Outreach
• Crisis Communications
• Public Affairs
• Grant Writing
• Public Relations
• Program Development
• Management
• Press Releases
• Campaigns
• Coalitions
• Journalism
• Program Management
• Government