Media & Entertainment Scholar; Founding Director of Norman Lear Center; Former Disney VP of Production; Award-Winning Columnist

Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Marty Kaplan Biography

Marty Kaplan is the founding director of the Norman Lear Center and holds the Norman Lear Chair in Entertainment, Media and Society at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Kaplan has contributed to the study of media’s impact on society through research on political coverage, public health messaging in entertainment, and the influence of narrative in science communication. His leadership at the Lear Center has focused on examining how media and entertainment intersect with democracy and public discourse.

Kaplan’s career includes roles in government, academia, journalism, and the entertainment industry. He served as chief speechwriter to Vice President Walter F. Mondale and was deputy campaign manager during Mondale’s presidential run, directing speechwriting and research operations. In the private sector, Kaplan was vice president of production for live-action feature films at Walt Disney Studios and a writer-producer with credits including the political comedy "The Distinguished Gentleman" and the screen adaptation of "Noises Off." He has also been a commentator and columnist, hosting the nationally syndicated radio program "So What Else Is News?" and contributing to NPR, Marketplace, The Huffington Post, and Jewish Journal, where his columns have earned six First Place prizes from the Los Angeles Press Club.

A summa cum laude graduate of Harvard College in molecular biology, Kaplan was a Marshall Scholar at Cambridge University and earned a doctorate in modern thought and literature from Stanford University. His academic background and career experience position him as a public speaker on the relationship between media, culture, and society. Kaplan addresses the societal implications of entertainment and communication, bridging scholarship, policy, and creative industries.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 11/19/2025.

Marty Kaplan Videos

Marty Kaplan on Narratives in Science Communication

Marty Kaplan on Narratives in Science Communication

"Don't bring a data set to a food fight." Climate change, evolution, the obesity crisis, nanotechnology: These are but a few of the scientific...

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  • What topics does Marty Kaplan speak about?

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    Marty Kaplan generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, 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.
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Marty Kaplan is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Marty Kaplan for your event is available upon request. Marty Kaplan generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Jodi Halpern, Cliff Sims, Christopher Bell, Richard Lui and Jeffrey Kluger. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Marty Kaplan for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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