COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST | EDITOR | WRITER | JOURNALIST
Communications professional with 15+ years of experience in media and higher education. Skilled writer and editor who can translate complex subject matter into compelling content across digital, print, and social platforms. Proven ability to manage editorial calendars and staff, collaborate with senior leadership, and drive engagement through storytelling.
Experience
Santa Clara University
Associate Editor, Santa Clara Magazine, Feb. 2020–Present
Assistant Director of Storytelling, Nov. 2018–Feb. 2020
Lead content development for the university’s flagship publication, writing, producing, and editing long-form stories, news features, and digital articles highlighting research, faculty experts, and community impact.
Develop and execute comprehensive communications strategies to promote university research, academic programs, and institutional priorities across channels, most recently serving as a point person in the magazine’s first redesign in 10 years
Serve as a communications partner to university administration, marketing leadership, faculty, and alumni stakeholders, as well as editor for other marketing colleagues and student interns, ensuring alignment with brand voice and editorial standards
Manage editorial calendars and content pipelines for various platforms, including magazine, general website, special cross-collaboration and campaign groups, and internal communications
Freelance Writer
Ongoing
Write articles for national and regional outlets, translating complicated topics including public policy, science, and social issues into accessible content for a wide audience.
PHOENIX magazine
Associate Editor, Sept. 2016–Sept. 2018
Assisted in content planning and production for both print and digital platforms for Arizona’s oldest city magazine.
Managed freelance contributors and helped coordinate workflow across editorial and design teams
Ensured consistency in messaging, tone, and editorial quality of stories
Assisted in organizing brand events
KJZZ News
Digital Producer, Nov. 2015–Sept. 2016
Managed website and social media channels for Phoenix’s NPR-member radio station, optimizing content for engagement and accessibility.
Designed and produced digital content, including data visualizations and interactive features
Applied analytics and audience insights to inform content strategy and improve performance
Maintained CMS and ensured effective digital presentation of multimedia content
The Washington Post
Features Reporter, Summer 2015
Produced high-impact content for the Post’s vaunted “Style” section by reporting on cultural phenomena such as running a congressional campaign as a 20-something, building puppets, and waiting in line at the Supreme Court.
Arizona State University
Various positions, Aug. 2013–May 2015
Reported on social issues for digital media outlet Cronkite News (part of AZ PBS)
Served as Ethics & Excellence in Journalism Fellow for the Carnegie-Knight News21 investigative journalism fellowship covering gun rights and regulations in America
Collaborated with faculty as teaching assistant and official grader for various undergraduate courses
Revised official style guide and organized expert webinars for the National Center on Disability and Journalism
Grand Canyon University
Copywriter, Nov. 2012–Aug. 2013
Created marketing and enrollment communications aligned with institutional branding and messaging strategy
Developed print and digital content to support recruitment and awareness campaigns
Clear Channel Communications
Producer, Jan. 2009–June. 2012
Wrote daily news summaries and edited stringer content for radio stations across the country under the 24/7 News Source umbrella
The SAN DIEGAN
Staff Writer, Jan.–July 2008
Reviewed restaurants and retail for annual travel book
Education
Arizona State University
Master of Mass Communication, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, May 2015
Outstanding Graduate Student award; Kappa Tau Alpha national honor society
University of San Diego
Bachelor of Arts in English literature, minor in political science, Jan. 2008
Magna Cum Laude; Phi Beta Kappa; Blackfriars scholarship, University of Oxford
Other noteworthy stuff
Adobe Creative Cloud (currently: InDesign & InCopy); CMS, HTML & CSS (currently: Wordpress); Web data visualization; Wikipedia; conversational Spanish; photography
Conferences & Classes: Investigative Reporters & Editors, 2017; Stanford University Continuing Studies, Writing Creative Nonfiction, 2019; Power of Narrative, Boston University, 2020; CASE Editors Forum, 2023
Awards and honors
CASE District VII Awards 2023
Best of, Writing/News Feature (1,000+ Words): “And How Does That Make You Feel?” Summer 2022
Best of, Overall Magazine>Alumni/General Interest: Summer 2022 issue
CASE Circle of Excellence Awards 2022
Bronze, Writing/News Feature (1,000+ words): “Value Proposition,” Spring 2021
CASE District VII Awards 2022
Best of, Writing/News Feature (1,000+ words): “Value Proposition,” Spring 2021
San Francisco Press Club Awards 2021
Second place, Magazine Series or Continuing Coverage: “Wine,” Spring 2020
Third place, Magazine Series of Continuing Coverage: “Race,” Fall 2020
San Francisco Press Club Awards 2020
First place, Feature Story/Light Nature: “Adam, Eve, and the Apple of Intelligence”
Arizona Press Club Awards 2017
Second place: Community and Statewide Short-Form Writing
FOLIO: Eddie & Ozzie Awards 2017
Honorable Mention, City & Regional Cover Design, Free PHX, PHOENIX magazine, June 2017
EPPY Awards, Editor & Publisher Magazine 2015
Best College/University Investigative or Documentary Feature, “Hooked: Tracking Heroin’s Hold on Arizona”
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Rocky Mountain Southwest 2015
Governor’s Award, “Hooked: Tracking Heroin’s Hold on Arizona”
Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards, Regional 2015
Finalist: in-depth reporting, online feature reporting, best use of multimedia; News21 Gun Wars
Bill Muller Memorial Scholarship, Phoenix Press Box Association Scholarship 2014-15
University of San Diego Trustee Scholarship 2004-08
Mayo Foundation Scholarship 2004-08
Nice things people have said
(via ZipRecruiter)
As associate editor at PHOENIX magazine, Lauren Loftus wrote several news, lifestyle, and feature articles every month. She also managed our blogs during her tenure, working directly with writers to vet, assign, edit, and post their pieces online. Lauren is a talented reporter and writer and consistently delivered excellent work for the magazine – always on time or ahead of schedule. She was an asset to our team and company and would be the same for any company she works with!
—Leah LeMoine, Managing Editor, PHOENIX magazineLauren is a rising talent in the field of storytelling. She's a thorough and thoughtful journalist and one of the finest long form feature writers around. Lauren thinks about storytelling in a big way, looking to incorporate audio, video, and dynamic layout to make a story pop.
—Matt Morgan, Director of Storytelling at Santa Clara UniversityLauren was a star reporter in the 2014 News21 national student investigative reporting project that I directed. She did outstanding reporting and writing, particularly on a groundbreaking story at that time about the growing involvement of American women with guns. She was hard-working, mature, collaborative and showed initiative. I recommend her highly.
—Leonard Downie Jr., Professor at Walter Cronkite School of Journalism; former Executive Editor at The Washington PostLauren is a first-class writer and reporter who also is adept at digital story-telling. She is especially good at spotting trends and stories that have not previously been told. She is responsible, ethical and a great team-player with all the qualities it takes to develop into a great leader.
—Kristin Gilger, Senior Associate Dean at Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University