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United States Rick Stengel has transitioned from acclaimed journalist to former government official, sharing his insights on media, diplomacy, and global affairs.
Stengel collaborated with Nelson Mandela on writing Mandela's autobiography, 'Long Walk to Freedom,' from 1992 to 1994. He later authored 'Mandela’s Way: Fifteen Lessons on Life, Love and Courage,' based on personal interactions with Mandela, and released a 10-part podcast 'Mandela: The Lost Tapes' using over 60 hours of taped interviews conducted for the autobiography.
Richard Stengel is a board member of CARE, a global humanitarian and poverty relief organization. He joined CARE's Board in 2017.
Stengel had a long tenure with Time magazine, starting in 1981. He served as Nation Editor, Culture Editor, and Editor of Time.com. He was also the 16th managing editor of Time for seven years, where he transformed it into a digital and social media powerhouse on a global scale. He covered various events and notably interviewed Julian Assange and Mohamed Morsi for cover stories.
Rick Stengel left journalism to work for the State Department as the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. In this role, he was tasked with responding to major disinformation efforts targeting the United States and its allies, including the rise of online propaganda from Russia and ISIS.
Rick Stengel, born Richard Allen Stengel, in New York City in 1955, has pursued a career spanning journalism, government, and authorship. After attending Princeton University, where he played on the basketball team and graduated magna cum laude in 1977, he continued his studies as a Rhodes Scholar at Christ Church, Oxford, focusing on English and history. Stengel began his journalism career at Time magazine in 1981, covering topics like South Africa and presidential campaigns. His early career included contributions to other prominent publications such as The New Yorker, The New Republic, Rolling Stone, Spy, and The New York Times, along with appearances as a television commentator. In 1999, he taught a course on “Politics and the Press” at Princeton as a Ferris Professor and was an original on-air contributor for MSNBC. He briefly left journalism to serve as a senior advisor and chief speechwriter for Bill Bradley’s 2000 presidential campaign.
Stengel returned to Time in 2000, becoming the managing editor of Time.com, where he oversaw news coverage and editorial content. He later held various roles, including national editor. From 2004 to 2006, Stengel was the president and CEO of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, aiming to elevate its profile, increase its endowment, and expand its programs. He initiated the Peter Jennings Institute for journalists, a partnership with Constitution High School, and brought the Liberty Medal to the organization. In 2006, Stengel was appointed the 16th managing editor of Time magazine, a position he held for seven years. During his tenure, he implemented a graphic redesign and focused on selective, knowledge-based content, enhancing coverage of war and politics. He notably selected “You” (user-generated content) and Mark Zuckerberg as Time’s “Person of the Year,” sparking media discussion. He also authorized the magazine’s iconic red border to be changed to green for a special environmental issue and reported on significant global events like the Iraq War and presidential campaigns. In 2012, he received a News & Documentary Emmy Award as executive producer for Time.com’s “Beyond 9/11: Portraits of Resilience” and accepted the “Magazine of the Year” award at the National Magazine Awards.
In 2013, Stengel transitioned to government service, accepting a role as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs under President Obama from 2014 to 2016. In this role, he modernized the State Department’s communication strategies, integrating social media across embassies and developing digital platforms to share American narratives internationally. He led efforts to counter Russian disinformation and ISIS messaging, establishing the Center for Strategic Counter Terrorism Communications and the first counter-Russian disinformation hub, which eventually led to the creation of the Global Engagement Center. Stengel also co-founded the “English for All” initiative, a joint effort with the Peace Corps to promote English language education worldwide. He concluded his government service as the longest-serving Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy in American history. Post-government, Stengel served as a strategic adviser at Snap, Inc. from 2017 to 2021, focusing on communications. He is currently an on-air analyst for MSNBC and NBC, providing commentary on political news, and is a board member of CARE, a global humanitarian organization.
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