Peter Fenn
Encyclopedia
Peter H. Fenn is a Democratic political strategist, consultant, television commentator and owner of Fenn Communications Group, a political and public affairs media firm based in Washington, DC in the United States. The firm has worked in over 300 campaigns, from presidential to mayoral, and represented a number of Fortune 500 companies.
, Lockheed Martin
, 3M
, National Association of Realtors
, The Brookings Institution, Purdue Pharma
and the Humane Society of the United States
in providing strategic communications advice and producing image and issue advertising.
In 1996 and 1998, Fenn and his firm (then Fenn & King Communications) were chosen as the lead media consultancy for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, producing ads that helped win back seats for the Democrats. In campaign 2000, Fenn was an adviser to Gore for President
and served as a surrogate spokesperson on cable news programs. He performed the same role in 2004 for the Kerry for President
campaign and in 2008 for Obama for President.
Prior to forming the firm, Fenn was the first Executive Director of Democrats for the 80's, a political action committee founded by Pamela Harriman and then-Governor Bill Clinton. Fenn also served on the staff of the Senate Intelligence Committee and as Washington Chief of Staff for Senator Frank Church. In 1983, Fenn aided in the founding and was the first Executive Director of the Center for Responsive Politics
.
Fenn has consulted overseas for the Agency for International Development and the National Endowment for Democracy. He produced television programs in Russia, Bosnia, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, and consulted for political parties and candidates in such countries as South Africa, Mozambique, Romania, Latvia, Colombia, Northern Ireland and Hungary.
, where he was President of the Alumni Association and where he is currently a Fenn . He earned a M.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California
.
For the past 15 years, Peter has served as an adjunct professor at George Washington's Graduate School of Political Management.
, along with political analyst Pat Buchanan
, until the show’s end in March 2008. He also served as a guest host on CNN's Crossfire
and The Spin Room. Fenn appears frequently as a TV commentator on the major networks and on cable news shows, and still appears regularly with Pat Buchanan on Saturday mornings on MSNBC
.
Fenn also writes regular columns for several DC papers and blogs, including The Hill’s Pundit’s Blog
, Politico
, and U.S. News and World Report.
, Summit Awards
, Vision Awards and the award from PRNews for the Best Public Service Ad Campaign of 2005.
Career
In 1983, Fenn founded a political consulting firm, then known as Fenn-King-Murphy-Putnam Communications. The firm later became known as Fenn & King Communications, and in 2003 Fenn incorporated Fenn Communications Group. Since its inception, Fenn and staff have assisted Democratic candidates across the country, including Vice Presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro, Senator Paul Simon, and members of Congress David Bonior, Dave Obey and Nita Lowey. In addition to political campaigns, they have aided clients such as General MotorsGeneral Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
, Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
, 3M
3M
3M Company , formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in Maplewood, Minnesota, United States....
, National Association of Realtors
National Association of Realtors
The National Association of Realtors , whose members are known as Realtors, is North America's largest trade association. representing over 1.2 million members , including NAR's institutes, societies, and councils, involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries...
, The Brookings Institution, Purdue Pharma
Purdue Pharma
Purdue Pharma L.P., is a privately held pharmaceutical company founded by physicians and now located in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. In its early years, Purdue was known for its antiseptic product, Betadine Solution, and its Senokot laxatives...
and the Humane Society of the United States
Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States , based in Washington, D.C., is the largest animal advocacy organization in the world. In 2009, HSUS reported assets of over US$160 million....
in providing strategic communications advice and producing image and issue advertising.
In 1996 and 1998, Fenn and his firm (then Fenn & King Communications) were chosen as the lead media consultancy for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, producing ads that helped win back seats for the Democrats. In campaign 2000, Fenn was an adviser to Gore for President
Al Gore presidential campaign, 2000
Al Gore, the 45th Vice President of the United States under Bill Clinton, announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States in Carthage, Tennessee on June 16, 1999. Gore became the nominee of the Democratic Party for the 2000 presidential election on August 17, 2000...
and served as a surrogate spokesperson on cable news programs. He performed the same role in 2004 for the Kerry for President
John Kerry presidential campaign, 2004
The Presidential Campaign of John Kerry, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts and the nominee of the Democratic Party challenged Republican incumbent President George W. Bush in the U.S. presidential election on November 2, 2004. Ultimately, Kerry conceded defeat in the race in a telephone call to Bush...
campaign and in 2008 for Obama for President.
Prior to forming the firm, Fenn was the first Executive Director of Democrats for the 80's, a political action committee founded by Pamela Harriman and then-Governor Bill Clinton. Fenn also served on the staff of the Senate Intelligence Committee and as Washington Chief of Staff for Senator Frank Church. In 1983, Fenn aided in the founding and was the first Executive Director of the Center for Responsive Politics
Center for Responsive Politics
The Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
.
Fenn has consulted overseas for the Agency for International Development and the National Endowment for Democracy. He produced television programs in Russia, Bosnia, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, and consulted for political parties and candidates in such countries as South Africa, Mozambique, Romania, Latvia, Colombia, Northern Ireland and Hungary.
Academics
Fenn has a B.A. from Macalester CollegeMacalester College
Macalester College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1874 as a Presbyterian-affiliated but nonsectarian college. Its first class entered September 15, 1885. The college is located on a campus in a historic residential neighborhood...
, where he was President of the Alumni Association and where he is currently a Fenn . He earned a M.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.
For the past 15 years, Peter has served as an adjunct professor at George Washington's Graduate School of Political Management.
Media contributions
Fenn was a rotating guest on TuckerTucker (television program)
Tucker is an American television program on MSNBC that focused on politics, hosted by Tucker Carlson. The show aired from June 6, 2005–March 14, 2008....
, along with political analyst Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
, until the show’s end in March 2008. He also served as a guest host on CNN's Crossfire
Crossfire (TV series)
Crossfire was a current events debate television program that aired from 1982 to 2005 on CNN. Its format was designed to present and challenge the opinions of a politically liberal pundit and a conservative pundit.-Format:...
and The Spin Room. Fenn appears frequently as a TV commentator on the major networks and on cable news shows, and still appears regularly with Pat Buchanan on Saturday mornings on MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
.
Fenn also writes regular columns for several DC papers and blogs, including The Hill’s Pundit’s Blog
The Hill (newspaper)
The Hill, a subsidiary of News Communications Inc., is a newspaper published in Washington, D.C. since 1994.Its first editor was Martin Tolchin, a veteran correspondent in the Washington bureau of The New York Times....
, Politico
Politico (newspaper)
The Politico is an American political journalism organization based in Arlington, Virginia, that distributes its content via television, the Internet, newspaper, and radio. Its coverage of Washington, D.C., includes the U.S. Congress, lobbying, media and the Presidency...
, and U.S. News and World Report.
Awards
Peter Fenn was selected by Campaigns & Elections Magazine as a "Rising Star" as a political media consultant and as a "Mover and Shaker" in 1995. His writing and producing have also earned him Pollie Awards from the American Association of Political Consultants, Telly AwardsTelly Awards
The Telly Award is an award presented by the namesake, New York City-based organization. The stated purpose of the award is to "honor the very best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web." The...
, Summit Awards
Summit Awards
The Summit International Awards grants awards for excellence in creativity and effectiveness of advertising and communication content.Founded in 1994, the organization has served the segment of the industry consisting primarily of advertising and other communication companies and individuals...
, Vision Awards and the award from PRNews for the Best Public Service Ad Campaign of 2005.