Who We Are
John Marcus is an award-winning writer/producer of political, issues and retail advertising.
In the past election cycle, Marcus created and produced ads for American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS, including a Pollie Award winning spot supporting Missouri Senator Roy Blunt. Marcus also wrote and produced winning independent expenditure campaign spots for the National Republican Congressional Committee for Scott Rigell (VA-02), Steve Pearce (NM-02), and Andy Harris (MD-01). Additionally, Marcus wrote and produced IE ads for Dan Benishek (MI-01), Tim Walberg (MI-07), Kevin Yoder (KS-03), Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Jaime Herrera (WA-03), Morgan Griffith (VA-09) and Renee Elmers (NC-02).
In presidential elections, Marcus won the "Best Presidential – Television" Pollie Award for writing and producing "Ready to Lead", a bio spot for Senator John McCain's campaign, for lead consultant Greg Stevens. In 2004, Marcus helped produce "Ashley's Story", a McCarthy Marcus Hennings, Ltd. ad for Progress for America Voter Fund, supporting President Bush. "Ashley's Story" was named by Advertising Age as one of the top ten ads of the year, the only political ad so honored. And for the 1996 Dole for President campaign, Marcus wrote and produced the runner-up in the Pollie "Best Presidential – Television" category, again for Greg Stevens.
In past political cycles, Marcus produced TV and radio ads supporting the confirmations of Supreme Court Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito. He also wrote and produced a winning campaign for the five bi-partisan "Let's Rebuild California" propositions in California. Marcus has written and produced over 200 ads for the National Republican Congressional Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Republican Governors Association.
National Journal's Charlie Cook once wrote that the craft of storytelling is missing from political ads because, "… few current media consultants have any training in filmmaking." Marcus spent two years in California earning a Master of Arts degree in film and began his career writing and producing ads for Abramson/ Himelfarb Advertising and The Jayen Group.
Marcus wrote and produced TV, radio and print ads for Verizon FiOS TV; led the launch of Pennsylvania's TAP 529 college savings program; and led the successful national launch for ValueAmerica, where his national television and radio campaign brought about a 600% increase in sales. The campaign won an Addy Award in the highly competitive national retail category.
He has written and produced national advocacy campaigns for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the California Chamber of Commerce, the Coalition to Protect America's Health Care, the Coalition to Protect Americans Now and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He also wrote and produced a national TV, radio and print rollout for the U.S. Department of Labor's "Skills to Build America's Future" campaign.
Early in his political career, Marcus produced ads for consultant Stuart Stevens for Senator Dan Coats, Governor Tom Ridge, Governor Haley Barbour, Michigan Congressman Bill Schuette, NCPAC, and others. He was freelance creative director for special projects for Greg Stevens for six years.
Marcus was partner and creative director in the award winning political media firm, McCarthy Marcus Hennings, Ltd., from 1999-2011.
Marcus won two Public Relations Society of America Thoth Awards for work done for Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide – for a film for NASA and for a series of television PSAs for FEMA.
Marcus wrote and produced award-winning work for Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich; three films presented at the Senate Majority Dinner; a campaign bio film for Ohio Governor George Voinovich; a film for Virginia Governor George Allen; and a spot for General Colin Powell for AmeriCorps.
For PBS, Marcus produced and directed "The Quiet Champion," a one-hour television special; was segment writer-producer for Fox Television's America's Most Wanted; produced the television show Real Estate Today; and was senior producer for NFIB's Small Business Focus, a nationally syndicated business television show.
Marcus has written articles that have appeared in The Washington Post, Potomac Life Magazine and The National School Board Journal and has been a guest lecturer at Georgetown University, Villanova University, American University and the Campaign Management Institute.
Marcus earned his B.A. in Communications at John Carroll University, and his M.A. in Film at Loyola Marymount University.