President and CEO of MicroFocus Media
Adjunct Faculty, Fielding Graduate University
Bonnie Buckner is President and CEO of MicroFocus Media, a political and corporate market research firm which she co-founded in 2004. MicroFocus Media is an industry leader in providing customized, ideological research for targets on new and traditional media, maintaining strategic partnerships with Nielsen Media Research, Arbitron and HCD Research. MFM’s clients include U.S. Presidential and other prominent political campaigns, national political organizations, national foundations and research organizations, and corporate clients.
Buckner also consults privately with companies, organizations and individuals, architecting business solutions and developing ideas to their fruition. A doctoral student in Media Psychology, Buckner’s dissertation topic is the comparative identity of nations and the image of nations as an assessment tool of national identity. Buckner utilizes specific imagery techniques in her consulting practice.
Buckner teaches a media and political psychology course for the Masters in Social Change program, a joint venture with Fielding Graduate University and UCLA. A published author, Buckner has participated in numerous panels across the United States on topics as diverse as Cognitive Psychology and Producing for the Small Screen to Micro-Targeting for Political Campaigns.
Buckner’s past ventures include co-Founder and President of BC, a restoration and urban renewal venture. In this capacity Buckner spearheaded the organization of community grass-roots neighborhood improvement efforts in conjunction with city boards and non-profit organizations. These efforts focused in part on the lack of green space and recreation opportunities for local children, resulting in the planting of over 400 trees in the most densely populated area of Los Angeles in partnership with two non-profit organizations. Furthering this commitment Buckner helped oversee the creation of opportunities for neighborhood involvement for children in the areas in which BC held active projects; these included sponsoring neighborhood clean ups with a city juvenile detention program and in co-sponsorship with local Council Members.
Buckner served on the Los Angeles Mayor’s Community Beautification Grant proposal committee, reviewing grant proposals. She then excused herself the following year to work with a sub-group from the Ambassador Hill Neighborhood Organization, helping them to develop and write a proposal for a neighborhood improvement effort, which was awarded full funds. The plan was augmented by matching funds from Viacom/JCDecaux which Buckner garnered. Buckner then helped oversee the implementation of the plan. Buckner also served on the founding board of the Wilshire Center – Koreatown Neighborhood Council.
Buckner additionally has an extensive background in marketing, providing copy for national ad campaigns, entertainment and product positioning campaigns and various corporate internal and external media materials. She has also produced a reality series broadcast on cable TV featuring college-aged adults speaking about life-changing events, and a feature-length documentary on the topic of women’s sexuality.
