Joan Meyerson

Born in Los Angeles, Joan Meyerson graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and attended its graduate school of history. She also studied at the University of Mexico and the Sorbonne in Paris. She began her career in television at the now legendary David Wolper Productions, where her many credits include Associate Producer of the Academy Award-nominated documentary on endangered species, "Say Goodbye." Meyerson went on to develop an extensive and varied background as a television writer,producer and director. Her credits in children's programming include a CBS pilot, animation and live-action series, and interactive game programs. Meyerson has produced, directed and written multiple episodes of the series "ZooLife with Jack Hanna" (syndicated), "The Hunt for Amazing Treasures" (TLC), and "Things That Go Bump," (Discovery Health). Other writing credits include the David L. Wolper series, "Legends, Icons & Superstars of the 20th Century." For PBS, her writing credits range from the special "Michiyo and Kelly: A Quest for Education," to the PBS Empires mini-series, "Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire" (International Documentary Association best-limited series nomination). She also co-wrote and co-produced the PBS top-rated miniseries "Walking the Bible," based on the New York Times best-seller of the same name. She has written "The National Memorial Day Concert," one of PBS' top rated Variety/Musical Specials, for many years and has been honored with two Writers Guild of America Awards for Outstanding Script. Meyerson has been active in service to the WGAW for over two decades. She has served five terms on the Board of Directors and been a member of several Negotiating Committees. Other committees she has served on include Membership & Finance, New Media, Organizing, Non-Fictiion Writers Caucus Steering (co-chair), East-West Study, and Women Writers. Meyerson is also a former board member of Women in Film and the International Documentary Association. A member of the Directors Guild of America, she has written/produced/directed programs on location in the U.S. and in Japan, Vietnam, Mexico, Guatemala, England, and the Netherlands. Turning the tables, she also produced programs on California for French Television. Meyerson has been a guest lecturer on the art and craft of writing documentaries at UCLA and USC, and moderated panels representing the Writers Guild, Writers Guild Foundation, and the International Documentary Association at numerous seminars, conferences and festivals. She is married to attorney Mark Meyerson, formerly Senior Vice President, Legal Affairs, at Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, specializing in copyright issues and intellectual property.