Mentoring/Coaching

I’ve long mentored younger/less experienced journalists, internationally and nationally, and have conducted both group and one-on-one sessions to help people understand how to pitch stories, how to find a news peg, how to approach their reporting — whether at home or abroad in dangerous situations — and how to organize their writing. I’ve trained high-profile newsrooms on how to report sensitively on traumatic situations and have taught this at the NYU graduate school of journalism. I’m an inductee of Columbia University’s Ochberg Society for journalists who cover violence, and won their prestigious 2012 Frank Ochberg Award for Media and Trauma Study.

Some testimonials:

“Lauren has a kind of connectedness with her mentees that is unusual in this industry. Her breadth of knowledge and compassionate guidance are exactly what journalists-in-training need right now. 10/10 would recommend!”

— Jamila Bey, editorial director of WHYY

From Benjamin Hindrichs, Sandra Abdelbaki and Helena Rodriguez Gomez, three young German journalists reporting for Al-Jazeera:

“It’s so helpful to learn about such specific reporting from someone with experience since starting straight away as they teach you in uni might cause quite some harm.”

“The workshop with Lauren was very helpful to get specific tips with concrete examples on how to navigate delicate situations with more tools to ensure the well being of the sources and of the reporters.”

“I believe the training prepared us better to conduct our investigation. It’s always good to be reminded of your ethics as a journalist, how to take care of yourself mentally, and protect yourself and your sources throughout your work.”