Hometown: Hoffman Estates, IL (Chicago suburb) 

Education: University Of Missouri-Columbia 

Career Path: I was a weekend anchor in Columbia, MO for KOMU-TV 8 for a short time before taking a job as a general assignment reporter for WICS-TV 20 in Springfield, IL. Then I made the move to be part of the WFMJ Today team in 2008 and I have been having a great time ever since! 

Interest and Hobbies: Golf, running, crossfit, yoga, skiing and figure skating.  

Why did you choose to get into broadcast journalism?  My mother always had the our local paper on the kitchen table with my breakfast when I was kid. She always stressed the importance of being well-informed and it stuck. In high school I loved writing for my school paper because it gave me a platform to ask questions, get answers and then create a story. In college I was introduced to using pictures and video to tell those stories and I was hooked. In broadcast journalism you have such a short amount of time to convey compelling stories and I still thrive on that challenge each day I come to work! 

What time do you go to bed and get up each morning? The alarm goes off at 3:15 a.m. Eyes open at 3:30 a.m. Out of bed by 3:37a.m.. I have it down to the exact minute! 

What's your favorite part of your job?  The best part of my job is the people I work with everyday. Mike, Jen, Jess, Pat and then there are so many people our audience doesn't see that makes getting up earlier and coming to work that much easier. I also love being able to sample the best the Valley has to offer; the best food, business, schools, and of course, making new friends.  

Personal:  The WFMJ Today Wedding is one of my favorite times of year and it's for a very personal reason. My first year hosting the wedding, Matt and Cristina Beggs introduced me to a wonderful young man who eventually became my husband. His name is Scott and his Ohio roots run deep. He was born and raised in Struthers and graduated from the Ohio State University. We now live in Boardman in a great neighborhood which we are proud to call home. No pets. No kids... at least for now!

You can watch Lauren weekeday mornings from 5:00-7:00 a.m. on WFMJ Today!

 

E-mail Lauren at wfmjtoday@wfmj.com.