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My Professional Journey

I began my career as a journalist reporting from across Europe and Africa for top-tier broadcasters including Channel Four, the BBC, TF1, FR2, ARD, Channel 9 Australia, 60 Minutes, and Reuters TV. I also wrote for several print outlets including the LA Times, die TAZ, the Economist, and People Magazine, and produced award-winning social issue documentaries for Franco-German public broadcaster ARTE.

In 2007, while reporting from a refugee camp in East Africa, I decided to shift from writing about people suffering injustices to working with them. I’ve since put my communications skills to use for issues I feel passionate about including human rights, climate change, tax justice, gender equality, and press freedom.

My first NGO position was as a communications manager at Greenpeace International. I later went on to work as Communications Director for three international organizations: the Open Government Partnership, the Financial Transparency Coalition, and the Center for Justice and Accountability. As a member of senior leadership at each of these organizations, I managed teams, contributed to high-level plans, interacted extensively with board members and funders, and helped ensure long-term organizational sustainability and success.

I have produced campaign videos that went viral, led communications at numerous international summits, ghost-written op-eds for the New York Times, the Financial Times, and other outlets, and developed winning communications campaigns.

In early 2019, I established Dietlind Lerner Mission-Driven Strategic Communication to meet a critical need I observed in the advocacy and social change sectors for integrated strategic communications. My goal is to empower mission-driven initiatives with the tools and training they need to successfully incorporate strategic communications across their entire organization. 

A dual US-French citizen, I hold a BA from Barnard College of Columbia University and am fluent in English, French, and German with basic Spanish.

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My Story in Pictures

As a journalist, I interviewed the powerful (high-level politicians, thought-leaders, and heads of business), the remarkable (Hollywood superstars, major athletes, and original thinkers including inventors and artists), and those to whom life has been less kind (refugees, rape survivors, and the desperately poor). A dozen years into this career, moved by the great inequalities and injustices I witnessed, I left journalism to work for organizations aspiring to create positive change.

 
 
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I had the honor of moderating a press conference announcing the arrival of Kumi Naidoo as Greenpeace International's new Executive Director. Kumi (one of civil society’s most inspirational figures) was formerly a youth leader in the anti-Apartheid m

I had the honor of moderating a press conference announcing the arrival of Kumi Naidoo as Greenpeace International's new Executive Director. Kumi (one of civil society’s most inspirational figures) was formerly a youth leader in the anti-Apartheid movement and we hosted the press conference in Johannesburg's Old Fort Prison, which once held Nelson Mandela. We received extensive media coverage around the globe.

Finishing a story about the Lost Boys of Sudan from the waiting room of the Lokichogio airport in the Turkana District of northwestern Kenya. I’d spent several days with four Lost Boys living in the sprawling Kakuma refugee camp, which is run by the

Finishing a story about the Lost Boys of Sudan from the waiting room of the Lokichogio airport in the Turkana District of northwestern Kenya. I’d spent several days with four Lost Boys living in the sprawling Kakuma refugee camp, which is run by the UN with significant support from a handful of NGOs. The experience inspired me to transition from writing about people suffering injustices to working on projects with the potential to really help them.

President Obama, along with 15 other heads of state and civil society leaders, launched the Open Government Partnership at the UN in 2011. As the first Communications Director, I built the organization’s “communications machine,” and also led outrea

President Obama, along with 15 other heads of state and civil society leaders, launched the Open Government Partnership at the UN in 2011. As the first Communications Director, I built the organization’s “communications machine,” and also led outreach at Summits in Cape Town, Mexico City, Tiblisi, Paris and the UN.

The Center for Justice and Accountability uses international human rights laws to obtain justice for victims and survivors of torture and other atrocity crimes. As Communications Director, I developed a creative, long-distance, communications campai

The Center for Justice and Accountability uses international human rights laws to obtain justice for victims and survivors of torture and other atrocity crimes. As Communications Director, I developed a creative, long-distance, communications campaign to support the establishment of a war crimes tribunal in Liberia. I also ran communications about the first war crimes case against the Asaad regime (for the death of journalist Marie Colvin), generating close to 1000 media hits globally.

I received this thank you photo from children living in the Vesnova Orphanage in southern Belarus. I had reported a feature about them for People Magazine to mark the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident. Most of these kids suffer from physica

I received this thank you photo from children living in the Vesnova Orphanage in southern Belarus. I had reported a feature about them for People Magazine to mark the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident. Most of these kids suffer from physical or mental disabilities, often the result of their parent's experiences following the nuclear disaster. (And a majority of the live-in nurses had had thyroid cancer, a direct result of radiation exposure.)

As a communications manager at Greenpeace International, I traveled to Sumatra to document extensive deforestation by the palm oil industry. In addition to destroying the climate (it is responsible for about 20% of annual greenhouse gas emissions),

As a communications manager at Greenpeace International, I traveled to Sumatra to document extensive deforestation by the palm oil industry. In addition to destroying the climate (it is responsible for about 20% of annual greenhouse gas emissions), deforestation often deprives indigenous people of their livelihoods. The stories I gathered were used in our communications materials at the Copenhagen Climate Conference (COP 15).

As a field producer for 60 Minutes Australia, I spent a week embedded with the French Foreign Legion in the desert of Djibouti. An ardent pacifist, this is likely the only time I’ll ever hold a gun (apparently upside down). A cardinal tenant of jour

As a field producer for 60 Minutes Australia, I spent a week embedded with the French Foreign Legion in the desert of Djibouti. An ardent pacifist, this is likely the only time I’ll ever hold a gun (apparently upside down). A cardinal tenant of journalism is impartiality, and I often interacted with people whose beliefs are opposite to mine (including neo-Nazis, pimps, and drug dealers). It was never dull and almost always educational.

Campaigning on climate change in the Democratic Republic of the Congo provides a significant communications challenge. Given the extreme poverty and on-going violence, it can be insensitive - and ineffective - to talk about “protecting our planet”.

Campaigning on climate change in the Democratic Republic of the Congo provides a significant communications challenge. Given the extreme poverty and on-going violence, it can be insensitive - and ineffective - to talk about “protecting our planet”. I oversaw a press conference on a Greenpeace ship where experts were able to present research on adaptation and mitigation strategies, as well as the potential of solar as an energy source. The event was reported on across the county (and sailing down the Congo River remains a career highlight.)

For a story about the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, I interviewed children of rape, many of whom were HIV positive and/or orphaned. Today Rwanda is one of the safest countries in Africa, with significant economic growth, and improvements

For a story about the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, I interviewed children of rape, many of whom were HIV positive and/or orphaned. Today Rwanda is one of the safest countries in Africa, with significant economic growth, and improvements in living standards. At the same time, the authoritarian regime has little tolerance for any opposition. A case in point is the recent kidnapping from abroad and imprisonment of Paul Rusesabagina (of Hotel Rwanda fame) whom I had the pleasure of interviewing several times. Rwanda raises difficult questions about post-conflict societies.

Meeting with French government officials at the Elysée Palace to discuss Open Government Partnership initiatives. As Communications Director for this international partnership of 75 governments and hundreds of civil society organizations, I often w

Meeting with French government officials at the Elysée Palace to discuss Open Government Partnership initiatives. As Communications Director for this international partnership of 75 governments and hundreds of civil society organizations, I often worked with senior-level government officials to coordinate communications initiatives and outreach opportunities.

A group photo taken at FinEquity’s Annual Meeting in Singapore, the first of several events for which I headed outreach. FinEquity is convened by CGAP at the World Bank and brings together a unique spectrum of experts active in the field of women's

A group photo taken at FinEquity’s Annual Meeting in Singapore, the first of several events for which I headed outreach. FinEquity is convened by CGAP at the World Bank and brings together a unique spectrum of experts active in the field of women's financial inclusion. The communications strategies and “machinery” I developed led to significant growth and increased participation in initiatives designed to provide women in developing countries with access to and control of financial services with the potential to improve their lives significantly.

As a journalist, I interviewed dozens of celebrities, from Hugh Grant and Tom Cruise to Beyoncé and Green Day. One of my favorites was Mahir, an early Internet sensation from Turkey who served as the inspiration for Borat.

As a journalist, I interviewed dozens of celebrities, from Hugh Grant and Tom Cruise to Beyoncé and Green Day. One of my favorites was Mahir, an early Internet sensation from Turkey who served as the inspiration for Borat.