Laura E.

Peters
Experience

Trending topics reporter

LEP
Sept. 2012 - now

The News Leader, Staunton, VA

Currently serving Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County as the trending topics reporter covering the local
buzz in the area. On a daily basis I interact with the public. Its my job to report what people want and need to
know. From tiny houses to food trucks, Im tapped into local movements here in the Valley. Im also in charge of
the papers social media and have expanded its interaction throughout the Valley. Since working in a smaller
newsroom, Ive covered elections and other beats. The past two elections I served as the main social media
correspondent and wrote several articles and did videos during a full day of coverage. Previously, I was the
agriculture and business reporter for this daily paper, my duties include covering local business, farming and
feature reporting on the community. I also accompany many of my stories with video and photographs that are
shot and edited by me.
Education reporter

Feb. 2011 Sept. 2012

The Loudoun Times Mirror, Leesburg, VA

Within just a couple months in my first job as a full-time reporter at a weekly paper, I gathered so much
knowledge of the news business. Within a year, I was promoted from covering towns and villages to the education
beat covering all of Loudoun County. I cover school board meetings and features within the entire school system.
Previously, I covered half of Loudoun County on my own. I was charge of Leesburg and western Loudoun towns
and any event or town council meeting or decision they make. Ive also contributed to crime coverage, feature
writing, video production, photography and investigative reporting. I also copy edit and do pagination for sections
of the paper and I was in charge of the West Page and East Page in the A section of the weekly paper. With my
work with NOVA Exec, Ive been a contributing writer and a creative director on photo shoots. Ive served as
project editor on special tabs for the paper and worked very closely with my editors to make sure we produce high
quality work.
Contributing writer

Dec. 2010 Feb. 2011

Patch.com, Leesburg, VA
Moving up to Leesburg, I was immediately offered to freelance for Patch.com. I did an average of five articles a
week on art, town events, politics, history, features and opinion pieces.
Contributing writer

May 2010 Dec. 2010

Chesterfield Observer, Chesterfield, VA

I worked as a freelance writer writing feature articles and news pieces. I wrote two to three articles per week.
News correspondent

Dec. 2009 May 2010

Capital News Service, Richmond, VA

One of my classes at VCU allowed me to work directly at the Capitol in Virginia as a news correspondent for two
publications in Richmond, Virginia. I produced radio pieces for WRIR and wrote articles for the Commonwealth
Times, as well as for the Culpeper Times.
Board operator/producer/news team

Jan. 2009 Dec. 2010

WRIR, Richmond, VA
As a part of the WRIR News Team, my first assignment was to cover the 2009 Gubernatorial Race in
Virginia. I produced the City Hall Calendar was my internship project that had a direct connection with the City of
Richmond. I set up shows that were live on the air, announcing Public Service Announcements and Underwriting.
Education

Virginia Commonwealth University

Aug. 2007 May 2010

Richmond, VA - B.S. Mass Communications, Print Journalism 2007-2010

CELL (703) 728-8696 E-MAIL PETERSLE10@GMAIL.COM LAURAEPETERS.TUMBLR.COM TWITTER @peterslaura