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

“After just one coaching session with Lauren looking at my pitches from Ukraine, I received two commissions from prestigious publications! Lauren is not only an expert in covering war crimes and gender-based violence, but she also has great ideas on who to pitch and how to choose the right topics to cover. I recommend her to any journalist or writer covering human rights, war, women, politics and/or the environment, but also to anyone who needs to brainstorm their pitches or simply wants to become a better journalist. I also recommend her editing and proofreading skills.”

—  Sara Cincurova, former Agence France-Presse correspondent with bylines in The New York Times, The Guardian, Newsweek, The Cut, BBC and more

“Lauren was one of my professors at NYU and her guidance proved invaluable. She provided crucial insights on handling the emotional challenges of journalism, offering support drawn from her intense experiences. Her mentorship focused on more than the technical aspects of the craft, helping students navigate the personal challenges of the profession.”

— John Verner, journalist and publishing editor at VOX ATL

Benjamin Hindrichs, Sandra Abdelbaki and Helena Rodriguez Gomez, three 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.”