Steven Caplan

Lecturer of Communication Studies Loyola Marymount University

  • Los Angeles CA

Strategic communications executive & crisis management expert with 25+ years at the intersection of media, politics & public affairs

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Loyola Marymount University

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Biography

Steve Caplan is a strategic communications executive with nearly 25 years of experience in public policy, crisis management, and brand communications. As Founder and Principal Strategist of Message, a Los Angeles-based strategic communications agency, he specializes in navigating complex policy challenges at the intersection of entertainment, media, and public affairs.
Steve's award-winning work includes leading crisis mitigation strategies for Fortune 500 companies, spearheading Comcast's Internet Essentials program that reached nearly 10 million Americans (earning the People's Choice Award at the 2022 SxSW Innovation Awards), and raising over $8 million in COVID-19 relief funds for entertainment industry workers during his tenure as Chief Strategy Officer at Gonring, Lin, Spahn.
His executive leadership experience includes serving as Executive Vice President of the Association of Independent Commercial Producers, where he represented over 270 production companies in the $5 billion commercial production industry, and as a partner at GMMB, one of the nation's largest cause marketing firms, where he led campaigns for the Motion Picture Association of America and the acclaimed "Me Not Meth" campaign.
Steve has taught at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism since 2021, developing and instructing courses including Introduction to Advertising, Political Advertising in the 2024 Election, Social Media Advertising, and Advertising/Media Planning. He began his career in political campaigns and served in the administration of former Philadelphia Mayor Edward G. Rendell.
Steve holds a master's degree from the Fels School of Government at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts from UC Santa Barbara.

Education

University of California, Santa Barbara

BA

Political Science

1987

University of Pennsylvania

MFA

Government

1994

Articles

Unregulated online political ads pose a threat to democracy

The Conversation

Steve Caplan

2024-07-16

This piece argues that the current lack of regulation in online political advertising poses serious risks to democratic integrity. Platforms like Facebook and Google enable opaque campaign targeting, hiding advertiser identities and spending, facilitating micro‑targeting and dark‑money influence. The article calls for updated policy frameworks and greater transparency to safeguard public accountability in electoral communication

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U.S. policy shifts have upended marketing—how CMOs should respond

Ad Age

Steve Caplan

2025-04-22

This opinion piece argues that today’s Chief Marketing Officers must weave policy awareness into their core marketing strategies. With increasing scrutiny on data privacy, AI ethics, and regulatory compliance, CMOs cannot operate in silos—they must collaborate with policy teams and become strategic leaders who anticipate regulatory shifts and proactively align marketing with organizational governance and public policy imperatives.

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How to revive strategic thinking in an age of digital outrage

Big Think

Steve Caplan

2025-01-23

This article draws on philosopher Byung‑Chul Han’s concept of the “outrage society” to critique how rapid-fire digital outrage crowds out deeper strategic understanding. Rather than reflexive reactions to viral crises, leaders are urged to cultivate long-term vision, institutional resilience, and thoughtful decision‑making that transcends social media’s short‑attention cycles. Strategy, not spectacle, is essential for sustainable collective action

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