Michael R. Meyer
Encyclopedia
Michael Ryder Meyer, author
and journalist
, is currently chief speechwriter
for the Secretary General of the United Nations
, Ban Ki-Moon
.
He has also written The Year That Changed The World: The Untold Story of The Fall of The Berlin Wall.
His previous book, The Alexander Complex was published by Times Books
.
Before his post at the United Nations, Meyer was at Newsweek Magazine
for two decades, most recently (2001–2007) as Europe Editor for Newsweek International, where he also oversaw the magazine's coverage of the Middle East and Asia.
and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
.
and Congressional Quarterly
before joining Newsweek
in 1988.
Between 1988 and 1992, Meyer was Newsweek's bureau chief for Germany, Central Europe and the Balkans, writing more than 20 cover stories on the break-up of communist Europe and German unification. During this period, he witnessed firsthand many of the key events of 1989 and the fall of communism, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the revolutions of Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Poland. He was the last western journalist to interview the Romanian dictator, Nicolae Ceauşescu
, just before he was shot. He went on to cover the collapse of the Soviet Union, from Moscow to the Baltics. Beginning in the early '90s, he traveled widely throughout the Balkans, writing of the coming war in Europe and covering the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Meyer is the winner of two Overseas Press Club Awards.
From 1993 through 1999, Meyer was Newsweek's general editor for business and technology, covering the Internet revolution and receiving several prizes including the 1995 Computer Press Award. He was Newsweek's Los Angeles bureau chief from 1992 to 1993, the second-largest of Newsweek's bureaus, where he wrote and reported stories from the politics of immigration to Hollywood's studio wars to the Los Angeles riots, for which he shared in a 1993 National Magazine Award
for General Excellence.
From 1999 to 2001, Meyer took a sabbatical from Newsweek to work on a diplomatic posting with the United Nations
mission in Kosovo
, where he was a senior staff officer for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
with principal responsibility for nation-building and civil society. He was hired to start the first news agency in that region and was founding director of KosovaLive. He returned to Newsweek in 2001 as Europe Editor for Newsweek International, where he also oversaw the magazine's coverage of the Middle East and Asia.
Meyer is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
and was an Spring 1999 Fellow
, at the American Academy in Berlin
.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, is currently chief speechwriter
Speechwriter
A speechwriter is a person who is hired to prepare and write speeches that will be delivered by another person. Speechwriters are used by many senior-level elected officials and executives in the government and private sectors.-Skills and training:...
for the Secretary General of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, Ban Ki-Moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
.
He has also written The Year That Changed The World: The Untold Story of The Fall of The Berlin Wall.
His previous book, The Alexander Complex was published by Times Books
Times Books
Times Books is a publishing imprint owned by The New York Times Company and licensed to Henry Holt and Company....
.
Before his post at the United Nations, Meyer was at Newsweek Magazine
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
for two decades, most recently (2001–2007) as Europe Editor for Newsweek International, where he also oversaw the magazine's coverage of the Middle East and Asia.
Early life and education
He holds a B.A. from Hamilton College and received graduate degrees from Columbia University School of JournalismColumbia University Graduate School of Journalism
The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism is one of Columbia's graduate and professional schools. It offers three degree programs: Master of Science in journalism , Master of Arts in journalism and a Ph.D. in communications...
and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University is the oldest school in the United States dedicated solely to graduate studies in international affairs. It is regarded as one of the world's foremost schools of international affairs. Every Fall, the school enrolls approximately 265...
.
Career
Meyer worked at The Washington PostThe Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
and Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
before joining Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
in 1988.
Between 1988 and 1992, Meyer was Newsweek's bureau chief for Germany, Central Europe and the Balkans, writing more than 20 cover stories on the break-up of communist Europe and German unification. During this period, he witnessed firsthand many of the key events of 1989 and the fall of communism, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the revolutions of Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Poland. He was the last western journalist to interview the Romanian dictator, Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
, just before he was shot. He went on to cover the collapse of the Soviet Union, from Moscow to the Baltics. Beginning in the early '90s, he traveled widely throughout the Balkans, writing of the coming war in Europe and covering the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Meyer is the winner of two Overseas Press Club Awards.
From 1993 through 1999, Meyer was Newsweek's general editor for business and technology, covering the Internet revolution and receiving several prizes including the 1995 Computer Press Award. He was Newsweek's Los Angeles bureau chief from 1992 to 1993, the second-largest of Newsweek's bureaus, where he wrote and reported stories from the politics of immigration to Hollywood's studio wars to the Los Angeles riots, for which he shared in a 1993 National Magazine Award
National Magazine Award
The National Magazine Awards are a series of US awards that honor excellence in the magazine industry. They are administered by the American Society of Magazine Editors and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York City...
for General Excellence.
From 1999 to 2001, Meyer took a sabbatical from Newsweek to work on a diplomatic posting with the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
mission in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, where he was a senior staff officer for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
with principal responsibility for nation-building and civil society. He was hired to start the first news agency in that region and was founding director of KosovaLive. He returned to Newsweek in 2001 as Europe Editor for Newsweek International, where he also oversaw the magazine's coverage of the Middle East and Asia.
Meyer is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
and was an Spring 1999 Fellow
Berlin Prize
The Berlin Prize is a residential fellowship at the Hans Arnhold Center, awarded by the American Academy in Berlin.- Fellows of the American Academy in Berlin :-References:*http://www.americanacademy.de/home/about-us/hans-arnhold-center/...
, at the American Academy in Berlin
American Academy in Berlin
The American Academy in Berlin is a research and cultural institution in Berlin whose stated mission is to foster a greater understanding and dialogue between the people of the United States and the people of Germany.The American Academy was founded in September 1994 by a group of prominent...
.
Works
- "The Wink That Changed the World This is the way the Warsaw Pact folded, not with a bang but a gesture." slate, July 6, 2009
- "Scaling the Berlin Wall", The Daily Beast, October 31, 2009