ABOUT ME
MY STORY
I’m Ryan McKenna, founder of Policy 42 Communications, a media relations consultancy built on the belief that clarity is one of the most underrated assets in communications.
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My career began in one of the most fast-paced and visible arenas imaginable. I worked on the public and fan relations team at World Wrestling Entertainment, traveling the country to support promotional efforts for some of the biggest events and personalities in sports entertainment. It was an early masterclass in pressure, storytelling, and audience connection. Those lessons still shape how I approach media strategy today.
Over the past two decades, I have helped leaders, scholars, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations turn complex ideas into coverage that matters. Before launching Policy 42, I led media relations at the Wilson Center, one of the nation’s top public policy think tanks, where I worked to position the institution and its experts at the forefront of global conversations.
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I take a firmly nonpartisan approach to communications. In today’s media environment, credibility is everything. Whether you are speaking to policymakers, the press, or the public, your message is only as strong as the level of trust people place in the person delivering it. My work is rooted in that trust. I help clients communicate in ways that are clear, authentic, and credible across the political spectrum.
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I do not believe in boilerplate PR. I believe in asking hard questions before the press does. I believe in message discipline, strong timing, and the power of knowing when to speak and when to pause.
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The name Policy 42 is a nod to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, where the number 42 is the answer to life, the universe, and everything. That spirit of curiosity, clarity, and creative problem-solving is at the core of how I work.
If you are looking for a communications partner with both newsroom instinct and policy fluency, I would be glad to connect.
