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Carmen Gentile

International Journalist, Best-Selling Author & Conflict Reporter

International Journalist, Best-Selling Author & Conflict Reporter

Travels From Travels From:
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
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Carmen Gentile Biography

Carmen Gentile is an American journalist, author and public speaker who specializes in reporting on conflicts and the developing world. He is the author of the memoir "Blindsided by the Taliban," a dark-humored retelling of his unusual injury in Afghanistan while embedded with American troops near the Pakistani border. In September 2010, Gentile was shot in the side of the head with a rocket-propelled grenade that did not detonate, although it blinded him in his right eye and crushed part of his skull. Gentile managed to capture his highly unusual injury on video.

He underwent several surgeries including one at a U.S. military hospital at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. After numerous operations and months of rehabilitation, Gentile returned to Afghanistan and resumed front line reporting, which is chronicled in his critically acclaimed book "Blindsided by the Taliban" (2018).

In recent years, Gentile has combined storytelling from places like Iraq with his passion for motorcycling, writing stories for publications like Motorcyclist and Postindustrial, the media outlet Gentile founded in 2018 covering the Rust Belt, Appalachia, and other Postindustrial Communities around the world.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 05/29/2024.

Carmen Gentile Speaking Topics

  • Safety and Security Precautions in a Hostile Environment

    Carmen Gentile has spent years working in war zones and other hostile environments the world over.

    Now Carmen is imparting the lessons he learned in the field to others who cover conflict and wish to remain safe while getting the story.

    He imparts years of accrued knowledge as a volunteer instructor for the nonprofit organization Trauma Training for Journalists.

    Earlier this year, TTJ held a training for journalists working Cambodia, where those reporting the news have been harassed by authorities and caught in the middle of deadly protests.

    Carmen instructed a group of multinational journalists on how to cover violence while remaining safe in the process.

    Among the topics he covers in his lessons:

    • Preparations for going into a hostile environment: having the right accreditation, visas, and other essential documents.
    • Finding a reliable translator and driver.
    • What to do in the event of a mass shooting, bombing or other spontaneous outburst of violence.
    • How to act when detained by authorities or violent non-government groups.
    • Staying safe while reporting for prolonged periods in a war zone.
    • Safety equipment: body, armor, helmet, first aid kits, emergency contacts.

  • Journalism and Conflict Reporting

    Getting the story from the front lines has become increasingly difficult, what with news outlets and news consumers paying less attention to the fighting and suffering overseas.

    Carmen Gentile has reported on wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as bouts of unrest around the world.

    Most of his work has appeared in mainstream publications like USA Today and other leading outlets.

    But with more Americans focusing their interest on events at home, Carmen has turned his attention towards finding new ways to get audiences and readers to pay attention to the important stories happening thousands of miles away.

    While reporting on the fighting in Iraq between local forces and the Islamic State, Carmen and a photographer found a new angle on the story.

    Both being passionate about motorcycles, they found in the embattled city of Mosul a unique bike which they purchased from a local man, then hired a mechanic to repair.

    The duo then rode the bike in northern Iraq, telling the story of the war and the people affected by it through their motorcycle adventure.

    The story proved so popular that Carmen is currently collaborating with a production team to create a series that combines motorcycle riding and reporting in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti, The Balkans and elsewhere.

    In his talk about journalism and conflict reporting, Carmen will discuss:

    • The recent conflicts and hardships he’s covered, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the refugee population along the Turkish/Syrian border.
    • The changing nature of conflict reporting: fewer resources and diminishing interest among news consumers and editors.
    • Finding creative new ways to continue telling important stories and enticing new readers and viewers to take an interest in other parts of the world.

  • Blindsided by the Taliban: A Journalist's Story of War, Trauma, Love, and Loss

    Based on his book of the same name, Carmen Gentile is a longtime conflict correspondent with a flair for storytelling and will make his own tale of survival from a deadly and unusual attack compelling and thought-provoking for anyone who's faced adversity in their own lives.

Carmen Gentile Videos

  • Blindsided by the Taliban: Journalist & Postindustrial media co ...
    In 2010, journalist and Postindustrial media co-founder Carmen Gentile was embedded with the 32 Calvary regiment in eastern Afghanistan ...
  • City Books' Shelf Life EP 18 Carmen Gentile
  • Journalist Recounts His Journey To Recovery After Injury In ...
    Journalist Carmen Gentile was embedded with an Army unit in Afghanistan when an unexploded rocket grenade struck his face, shattering one ...

FAQs on booking Carmen Gentile

  • How do I book Carmen Gentile to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Carmen Gentile for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Carmen Gentile, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Carmen Gentile or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Carmen Gentile

    Speaking fees for Carmen Gentile, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Carmen Gentile are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Carmen Gentile, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Carmen Gentile speak about?

    Carmen Gentile is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Authors, Culture, Journalism, Literary, News & Media, Political, Virtual.
  • Where does Carmen Gentile travel from?

    Carmen Gentile generally travels from Pittsburgh, PA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Carmen Gentile’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Carmen Gentile for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Carmen Gentile for your next private or corporate function.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Carmen Gentile or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Carmen Gentile is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Safety and Security Precautions in a Hostile Environment, Journalism and Conflict Reporting and Blindsided by the Taliban: A Journalist's Story of War, Trauma, Love, and Loss. The estimated speaking fee range to book Carmen Gentile for your event is $5,000 - $10,000. Carmen Gentile generally travels from Pittsburgh, PA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Alex Berenson, Vijay Prashad, Janine di Giovanni, Toby Harnden and Clarissa Ward. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Carmen Gentile for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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