Travels from District of Columbia, USA
Jeanne Meserve's speaking fee falls within range: $0 to $75,000
Award-winning journalist Jeanne Meserve has been on the frontlines of natural disasters, sniper attacks, and mass shootings. The veteran reporter combines top-notch communication skills with a rare in-depth knowledge of national security issues, vulnerabilities, and building resilience.
A longtime correspondent for CNN, she broke the news of the humanitarian crisis in New Orleans that resulted from Hurricane Katrina and was subsequently trapped there during the flooding. Her transparent reporting of the chaos that unfolded exposed severe weaknesses in the government’s capacity to manage disasters. Meserve’s coverage earned her a Peabody Award, but more importantly, mobilized her to advocate building resilience on a grassroots level.
Meserve serves as the President of Shore Road Multimedia a communications firm with a specialty in homeland security. She is also a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Group and the George Washington University Center for Cyber and Homeland Security, and has used her vast media experience to prepare American Red Cross communicators, leading scientists, entrepreneurs, and government officials for high stakes presentations and interviews. She is currently the director of training at The Communication Center in Washington, D.C.
For Jeanne Meserve, homeland security isn’t theoretical. It is personal. She was on the ground in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and was the first to report the catastrophic flooding in the Ninth Ward. Her experience covering all aspects of national security has made her a recognized expert in the field.
From biosecurity to cyber security, from transportation agencies to intelligence agencies, Meserve speaks with passion and authority about what the country must do to defend itself, and what citizens and businesses can do to prepare. Her ascent from radio reporter in Bangor, Maine, to award-winning anchor and correspondent at ABC News and CNN has given her keen insight into the news business and honed her skills as an expert interviewer and moderator. A natural storyteller with a sense of humor, Meserve both entertains and informs.
Jeanne Meserve reveals the behind the scenes logistics of reporting in risky situations and how her experience trapped in a flooded New Orleans hotel during Hurricane Katrina made her question her resilience and personal strength. Noting that only the news crews had provisions stockpiled for such an event, she analyzes why no one – from the citizens of New Orleans to the federal government – was prepared for a crisis that had been identified as an inevitable event years before Katrina hit New Orleans.
She notes that with services like 9-11, we’ve created a culture where we think that if we have an emergency, government aid and rescue is just one phone call or Facebook message away. “Let me tell you in a major crisis they will not be there with you, and the bigger the crisis, the less likely they will be there for you,” Meserve claims. Sharing examples of ordinary citizens who self-organized and pulled their resources together to manage crises themselves, she urges people to mentally prepare themselves so that in the case of a natural disaster or terrorist attack they will be able to react effectively rather than become victims.
CNN’s longtime Homeland Security Correspondent, Jeanne Meserve knows how to give a topic the attention and in-depth treatment it deserves. For decades the former journalist crafted compelling stories around challenging themes that changed minds across America. Meserve’s extensive knowledge and sharp presentation skills make her an unrivaled speaker and moderator in the areas of security and resilience.
Moderator and Interviewer
As the anchor of CNN’s coverage of Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination, Princess Diana’s death and other breaking news events, Jeanne Meserve has gathered awards and accolades for her insightful interviews of world leaders and everyday citizens. She understands how to illuminate a subject through one-on-one interactions and group discussions. As a moderator, Meserve uses humor, pacing, meticulous preparation and a gift for asking the sharp question to create vibrant panel discussions that engage the audience.
Risk and Frisk
Millions of dollars have been spent in the name of homeland security since the September 11th attacks. Jeanne Meserve uses vivid examples from her decade covering the issue to examine whether money has been spent wisely, where vulnerabilities remain and what America has lost and gained in the process. She also looks forward to suggest how we might do more in a time of less.
Can You Hear Me Now?
More than a decade after the September 11th attacks and more than five years after Hurricane Katrina, surveys show that only a small percentage of Americans have taken even rudimentary steps to prepare themselves and their families for emergencies. Jeanne Meserve examines why and asks how government and community leaders can more effectively communicate with the public before, during and after an emergency.
“We greatly appreciate your fantastic leadership of the IWF Executive Development Roundtable in Vancouver. The participants responded with overwhelming strong and positive feedback, with the program being rated 100% excellent overall!” Heath Nash, International Women’s Forum
“From the very beginning of our engagement with Jeanne she listened to our program goals, offered creative insight and counsel on the flow and operation of the program and did all of the preparation necessary to make sure she was fully informed for our keynote speakers and panelists. The result was an absolutely stellar program. Her professionalism, preparation, and personality brought our program to a whole new level of quality.” Rich Cooper, US Chamber of Commerce Foundation
“The World Health Organization launched its Global TB Report 2012 in Washington, D.C. and worked with Jeanne to develop a dynamic format for the press conference. Instead of having multiple presentations, Jeanne moderated a vibrant panel discussion on the new data among senior officials from the World Health Organization, U.S. Agency for International Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, and President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. She was at ease with the highly technical subject matter, and kept the session fluid and engaging. Her expert style and star power helped us ensure that the event was well-attended and favorably covered by top media. Feedback from our panelists and audience members was uniformly positive.” Philip Coticelli, The Coticelli Group
“Jeanne Meserve was an excellent anchor for our talk show on tuberculosis and HIV. Jeanne brought in her great experience with making challenging topics clear and accessible to large audiences. Also, she was able to bring into the conversation a variety of guests with very different backgrounds, while ensuring their contributions were balanced and fit cohesively with the narrative and format of the show. We look forward to working with Jeanne again and having her as our media champion in the fight against tuberculosis.” Vittorio Cammarota, World Health Organization
“In the years following the attacks of September 11, Jeanne’s provocative and compelling news stories brought the audience into some of the country’s most important counterterrorism operation centers and alongside the men and women charged with protecting the homeland from al-Qaeda. Her unique experience as a respected veteran journalist combined with her creative storytelling ability made her the perfect choice to lead a workshop with BAE Systems’ communications team on how to build successful relationships with reporters and pitch unique and interesting stories. Using the moderating and interviewing skills she mastered in her career, Jeanne challenged our team to think more creatively when formulating story ideas and to prepare for difficult yet practical, questions.” Brian Roehrkasse, BAE System
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