Doug Hattaway

Doug Hattaway is President and CEO of Hattaway Communications, Inc., a strategic communications firm. As an American communications consultant and spokesperson he has served dozens of major organizations, political campaigns, and government leaders in the U.S. and around the world. Hattaway was a senior adviser to Hillary Clinton during her 2008 presidential run, as well as Al Gore’s spokesman during the 2000 election. His calming presence on the campaign trail in 2008 and his prominent role during the Florida election recount – “the political story of the century” – have gained him much attention, and he has been named "an important figure in politics" by the website Who Runs Gov.

Hattaway has appeared frequently as a public affairs analyst and commentator on CNN, MSNBC and the Fox News Channel.

Biography

Hattaway graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and a major in Political Science. He received his Master of Arts in English from Florida State University. While pursuing his graduate degree he taught a Theater in London course at the TASIS American School in Surrey, England.

From 1986-89, Hattaway was press secretary to Representative Andy Ireland (R-FL), who had been elected in 1973 as a Democrat, but switched parties in 1984. Hattaway worked for Rep. Ireland when he was a member of the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees and co-chair of the Defense Burden Sharing Panel, which examined U.S. defense policy in Europe.

During the 1990s, he worked as a freelance correspondent, writing about politics, economics and environmental issues in South and Central America, Northern Ireland, and the Caribbean.

Hattaway served as press secretary for New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D), now a senator from that state, from 1997 to 1999.

In 2000, Hattaway became the New Hampshire spokesman for the Al Gore's presidential campaign during the primary against Senator Bill Bradley. He was then promoted to become the campaign’s national spokesman. He became the campaign’s primary voice during the Florida recount. After a controversial Supreme Court decision halted the recount, Hattaway told the New York Times, “If you count the voter’s intent, Gore wins. If you look for excuses not to count votes, Bush does better.”^[1]

After the 2000 election, Hattaway went to the Hill to fill in for then-Senate Democratic Leader Daschle’s full-time communications director. He took charge the day before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and was still in the position when Senator Daschle’s Washington, D.C., office received a piece of mail containing anthrax. Hattaway told PR Week, “I thought I had a good crisis communications experience after the Florida recount. Now I’ve got September 11 and anthrax. It’s not the kind of crisis management experience you want.”^[2]

He has lectured at a wide variety of institutions including: Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and Business School, Cornell University, Miami University, Emerson College, American Society of Political Consultants, Radio and Television News Directors Foundation, Progress (United Kingdom) and Democrats Abroad.

In 2002, he chaired a conference for government communications officers entitled, “Reinventing Media Relations for Government Post 9/11,” sponsored by the American Conference Institute.

Hattaway Communications

As founder and President of a global strategic communications firm, Hattaway Communications, Inc., Hattaway has worked with clients around the world in a broad range of fields. The firm, according to its website, employs tools and techniques used in marketing, political communications, digital media and grassroots organizing. It offers a wide range of products and services in five categories: research, strategy, message, communications and evaluation. The firm works with clients in diverse fields, including politics, government, non-profit, advocacy, business and philanthropy.^[3] The firm was founded in Boston and opened its Washington office in 2010.

Politics

In 2008, the firm worked closely with Hillary Clinton’s campaign for President during the Democratic primary. The firm provided message development and media coverage analysis to determine how the candidate’s messages were breaking through in media coverage. During the general election, the firm ran an independent issue advertising campaign for a group called the Winning Messages Project, and won a Pollie award for high-impact advertising. Other political clients included Jeanne Shaheen for U.S. Senate (2008), Deval Patrick for Governor of Massachusetts (2006) and Al Gore for President (2000).

Non-profit and Advocacy

During the high-profile debate regarding same-sex marriage rights in Massachusetts, Hattaway Communications managed message R&D and advertising for the state’s largest grassroots advocacy organization, MassEquality. Media reports^[4] highlighted the firm’s advertising as a key ingredient in the successful campaign. The firm has been engaged in a number of high-profile policy issues with national organizations, such as the Human Rights Campaign, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Common Cause, Americans for Gun Safety, Third Way and Center for American Progress.

Energy and Environment

Hattaway Communications quickly gained recognition as one of the leading public affairs and strategic communications firms serving the emerging clean energy sector in the Northeast. For the New England Clean Energy Council, an association of business and investment leaders, the firm developed a strategy to brand New England as a leader in clean energy innovation.

Philanthropic

Hattaway Communications has an active philanthropic practice with products and services specifically designed to serve foundations and their grantees. The firm has worked with some of the biggest names in philanthropy, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation and other top philanthropic institutions.

International

Hattaway Communications has worked with political parties, government leaders, multilateral institutions and nongovernmental organizations in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Middle East. For CARICOM, a union of Caribbean nations, the firm conducted public opinion research and developed a communications strategy to build public support for a common market.

International Affairs

Hattaway has worked extensively with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide. He managed communications for the NDI/Carter Center election observer delegation for the 2006 parliamentary election in the Palestinian territories. He also provided training and consulting services for NDI programs in North Africa and the Middle East.

In 2004, he managed communications for NDI's Congress of Democrats from the Islamic World, which convened delegates from predominantly Muslim countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East to address the challenges that face the movement toward democratic reform.

As Press Secretary to New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen (1997–99), he helped plan and lead the first trade mission ever undertaken by a New Hampshire Governor.

Hattaway has also provided communications services to international research centers affiliated with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), which work to achieve sustainable food security and reduce poverty in developing countries.

Personal life

Hattaway was married to former Massachusetts state senator and former GLAAD President Jarrett T. Barrios.^[5] The couple split in 2009. ^[6]

References

1. ^ "Analysis of Florida Ballots Proves Favorable to Bush". New York Times. 2001-04-01. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/04/us/analysis-of-florida-ballots-proves-favorable-to-bush.html. Retrieved 2009-03-20. 
2. ^ "Hattaway builds own firm after 90 days with Daschle". New York Times. 2001-12-10. http://www.prweekus.com/Hattaway-builds-own-firm-after-90-days-with-Daschle/article/43198/. Retrieved 2009-03-20. 
3. ^ "Hattaway Communications". Hattaway Communications. http://www.hattawaycommunications.com. Retrieved 2009-04-15. 
4. ^ Millman, Jason (2007-06-16). "Pols say gay families' ads swayed them". Boston Herald. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/1289434141.html?dids=1289434141:1289434141&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+16%2C+2007&author=JASON+MILLMAN&pub=Boston+Herald&edition=&startpage=5&desc=Pols+say+gay+families%27+ads+swayed+them/. Retrieved 2009-04-15. 
5. ^ "Barrios set to resign from state senate". Boston Globe. 2007-05-23. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/05/23/barrios_set_to_resign_from_state_senate. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 
6. ^ Barrios, Jarrett. Barrios, Jarrett (2010-09-02). "Equal right to marry, and divorce". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/09/02/equal_right_to_marry_and_divorce. Retrieved 2010-09-03. 

External links

• Hattaway Communications
• Washington Post's 'Who Runs Gov'

Persondata
Name	Hattaway, Doug
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1964
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death