Newsweek editor named UN director of communications and speechwriting

Michael R. Meyer, a United States journalist who worked previously in support of United Nations activities in Kosovo, was today named as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Director of Communications and Speechwriting.

Mr. Meyer “has had a long and distinguished career as a journalist with Newsweek Magazine,” UN spokesperson Michele Montas said in making the announcement. Most recently, he was the Europe/Middle East editor for Newsweek International. He has also served as the magazine’s Bureau Chief in Central Europe and in Los Angeles.

In addition, Mr. Meyer was assigned by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to work with the UN Mission in Kosovo on media development projects from 1999 to 2001.

The 55-year old journalist served as Newsweek’s Bonn/Berlin bureau chief covering the collapse of the Berlin Wall and German reunification. He was also Newsweek’s lead reporter throughout the revolutions in Eastern Europe and the war in Yugoslavia.