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Joe Lockhart

EXCLUSIVE
  • Strategic Communications and Media Expert
  • Former Communications Executive for the National Football League (NFL) & Facebook
  • Political Strategist and Former White House Press Secretary for President Bill Clinton
  • CNN Contributor and Co-Host, 'Words Matter' Podcast

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Joe Lockhart is widely recognized as one of the top communications and public affairs professionals in the world, and offers strategic communications counsel to CEOs, C-suite executives, and Washington's most powerful leaders.  He knows how to handle a crisis and regain control of a narrative, honed through decades of experience in public affairs, corporate communications, administration, and political campaigns. Lockhart is perhaps best known for his service as White House Press Secretary under President Bill Clinton from 1998 to 2000. He has also worked for the National Football League (NFL) as executive vice president, overseeing communications, government affairs, social responsibility and philanthropy, and for Facebook as vice president of global communications. Lockhart's current role is to advise corporations and organizations on their communications strategies and vulnerabilities. He was vice chairman for public affairs at Edelman; he was also previously the founding partner and managing director of the Glover Park Group, and was executive vice president at Bozell Sawyer Miller. 

An award-winning journalist, he is also a frequent contributor to CNN and reflects on the week's news with Katie Barlow as they co-host the Words Matter podcast. 

 


Joe Lockhart headshot
Past Hosts Include:
  • Fool Proof
  • Capco
  • Multifamily Executive Educational Conference
  • Society of International Business Fellows
  • Cushman & Wakefield
  • American Bar Association
  • Society of Industrial and Office Realtors
  • PGI
  • American Society for Technion
  • Bass Hotels and Resorts
Rave Reviews About Joe Lockhart
“
There are times when I truly love my job. Friday night's presentation of Joe Lockhart was one of those nights. He was charming, he was funny and he provided a fascinating insider's view of the strategies and forces that are shaping our country's future. The audience loved him; their respect and appreciation was palpable. I had to cut the questions off at 10 pm at which point he received a standing ovation. It was a great night and we all look forward to a return visit. Thanks for bringing him to us.

”
More rave reviews

"Everything went well. Joe was well received and I think a great fit for that crowd – with a good mix of humor, stories and some political campaign insight. "

-TechMedia

"Wonderfully personable, funny and informative and did a great Q and A session. WE LOVED HIM. "

-Bass Hotels and Resorts

"You were superb! Your warm insights, humor and message were as good as it gets. You are as cooperative a guest speaker as any, and make it easy and a pleasure to work with you. I wish you every success in this and any future endeavors; and I would be happy to recommend you to anyone. Thank you for an enormous contribution to a very successful evening."

-Fred Greenberg, American Society for Technion

"You really delivered. My client Intracorp was delighted. Their customers were impressed. And I looked like a hero for acquiring not just the appropriate speaker to kick-off a prestigious gathering, but one of our nation's most visible and influential personalities. My client is still raving about being one of the first to acquire an insider's perspective of the Presidency, the complex dynamics between the Presidency and the press, and the upcoming Presidential elections."

-Dawn M. Reif, Account Executive, PGI

"Your timing, political insight, good-natured bantering...was dead on perfect. The session received a rousing standing ovation."

-Robert Hammond, Society of Industrial and Office Realtors

"On behalf of the ABA Section of Antitrust Law, let me thank you for your truly excellent presentation at the Annual Spring Dinner. Your remarks were a wonderful mixture of humor and seriousness, and actually gave our audience a better sense of the news 'time cycle' as seen from The White House. As you know from my introduction, we had a number of foreign officials in the audience. Several commented most favorably on your lively presentation. "

-Ky P. Ewing, Jr., Section Chair, American Bar Association

"Congratulations on a job well done. Your presence made the evening a great success, and I would like to thank you for acting as the Speaker for the evening. "

-Jonathan R. Serko, Executive Director, Cushman & Wakefield

"Thank you for giving our group a look into the world of the White House Press Secretary. It is a perspective on recent events, including America's New War that we could not have gotten any other way. "

-E. Webb Spradley and William P. Starnes, Society of International Business Fellows

"On behalf of both the industry leaders attending the Multifamily Executive Educational Conference and the Multifamily Executive staff, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your inspiring keynote speech. It was a great pleasure to sit in on such an informative, educational and even occasional humorous address. "

-R. Leigh Curry, Director of Marketing, Multifamily Executive Educational Conference; Yardley, PA

"I have heard first hand that the HP contingent was thrilled with Joe's presentation and mere presence at their event. I already know the Capco contingent, especially our CEO Rob Heyvaert, was ecstatic and truly enjoyed getting to know Joe. Apparently the 45 minute Q&A session was not long enough, the delegates clamored for more time with Joe and complained that the session was not extended! "

-Sam Wang, Capco
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Joe Lockhart on Freedom of Speech in Kiev - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Joe Lockhart
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Communications and Crisis in Today's Unpredictable and Intense Media Landscape

In this talk, JOE LOCKHART shares the lessons learned while on the front lines of some of the most fascinating and high-stakes media moments of our time, at some of America's most iconic and essential institutions: the White House, Facebook and the NFL. Audiences gain insight from his lessons learne ...

In this talk, JOE LOCKHART shares the lessons learned while on the front lines of some of the most fascinating and high-stakes media moments of our time, at some of America's most iconic and essential institutions: the White House, Facebook and the NFL. Audiences gain insight from his lessons learned in shaping an effective communications strategy in today's unpredictable political and media landscape, amid the intensity of the 24/7 news cycle. Lockhart gives audiences a front row journey through the stormy political waters he faced while press secretary at the White House, to leading the NFL through a public feud with the president which ignited a passionate national debate about the protests and patriotism, to maintaining public trust in Facebook while serving as vice president of global communications.

Media Management in the Information Age

Crisis Management

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Speaker News

Speaker Spotlight: Joe Lockhart

Strategic communications guru JOE LOCKHART has been on the front lines of some of the most fascinating and high-stakes media moments of our time, at some of America's most iconic and essential institutions: the White House, Facebook and the NFL. In his speeches, Lockhart gives audiences a front row journey through the stormy political waters he faced while press secretary at the White House, to leading the NFL through a public feud with the president which ignited a passionate national debate about the protests and patriotism, to maintaining public trust in Facebook while serving as vice president of global communications.

Audiences gain insight from his lessons learned in shaping an effective communications strategy in today's unpredictable political and media landscape, amid the intensity of the 24/7 news cycle.  He is a frequent Opinions contributor to CNN and the New York Times, and  reflects on the week's news with Katie Barlow as they co-host the Words Matter podcast. 

Often earning standing ovations from host who find him "charming" and "funny," he provides a fascinating insider's view of the strategies and forces that are shaping our country's future. Says Fool Proof: "The audience loved him; their respect and appreciation was palpable. I had to cut the questions off at 10 pm at which point he received a standing ovation. It was a great night and we all look forward to a return visit."

 

Communications expert Joe Lockhart is a regular contributor to CNN's opinion page

In frequent columns and appearances on CNN, JOE LOCKHART offers his insights on communications and public affairs situations playing out in the news, on social media and in politics. From his executive experience running communications for the NFL, Facebook and the White House, Lockhart knows how to handle a crisis and regain control of a narrative. Read some of his most recent CNN columns here >>

Joe Lockhart's podcast gets at the real truth behind today's news 

A renowned communications expert who's leadership has shaped elite organizations from the NFL to Facebook to the White House, JOE LOCKHART offers eye-opening insights on today's media and political climate, and actionable lessons on crisis management and building an effective communications strategy. In his podcast, Words Matter, Lockhart provides refreshing analysis of the week's news and gets at the real truth behind all the distracting headlines. Lockhart believe that facts, evidence, truth and objective reality are necessary and vital in public discourse. Drawing on his experience as both a Washington insider and private sector executive, Lockhart dives into current events, and decodes what they mean for our future.

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Press & Media
The Contenders with Walter Mondale - Words Matter podcast
The Republican Party Is Completely Behind President Trump - The New York Times
Why I Was Wrong to Oppose Impeachment - New York Times
What Americans deserve to know after the deadly Capitol riot - CNN
Why it matters that Biden team restored regular press briefings - CNN
Episode 71: Former White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart [LISTEN] - Thirty Minute Mentors Podcast
Communicator Legend Dinner features former White House press secretary Joe Lockhart, tomorrow - The National Press Club
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Biography

Joe Lockhart is widely recognized as one of the top communications and public affairs professionals in the world, and offers strategic communications counsel to CEOs, C-suite executives, and Washington's most powerful leaders.  He knows how to handle a crisis and regain control of a narrative, honed through decades of experience in public affairs, corporate communications, administration, and political campaigns. Lockhart is perhaps best known for his service as White House Press Secretary under President Bill Clinton from 1998 to 2000. He has also worked for the National Football League (NFL) as executive vice president, overseeing communications, government affairs, social responsibility and philanthropy, and for Facebook as vice president of global communications. Lockhart's current role is to advise corporations and organizations on their communications strategies and vulnerabilities. He was vice chairman for public affairs at Edelman; he was also previously the founding partner and managing director of the Glover Park Group, and was executive vice president at Bozell Sawyer Miller. 

An award-winning journalist, he is also a frequent contributor to CNN and reflects on the week's news with Katie Barlow as they co-host the Words Matter podcast. 

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