Lauren Watson

Research and Reporting Fellow at the Columbia Journalism Review "25
Columbia Graduate School of Journalism "24

find me on bluesky or LinkedIn

[Margaret E Atwood @MargaretAtwood]

Here's a piece of literature by me, suitable for seventeen-year-olds in Alberta schools, unlike -- we are told -- The Handmaid's Tale. (Sorry, kids; your Minister of Education thinks you are stupid babies.)

John and Mary were both very, very good children. They never picked their noses or had bowel movements or zits. They grew up and married each other, and produced five perfect children without ever having sex. Although they claimed to be Christian, they paid no attention to what Jesus actually said about the poor and the Good Samaritan and forgiving your enemies and such; instead, they practised selfish rapacious capitalism, because they worshipped Ayn Rand. (Though they ignored the scene in The Fountainhead where “welcomed rape” is advocated, because who wants to dwell, and also that would have involved sex and would de facto be pornographic. Well, it kind of is, eh?) Oh, and they never died, because who wants to dwell on, you know, death and corpses and yuk? So they lived happily ever after. But while they were doing that The Handmaid’s Tale came true and Danielle Smith found herself with a nice new blue dress but no job. The end.

[Columbia Journalism Review @CJR]

Q&A: Kiley Bense on Climate Journalism in a New Information Environment, with @laur_watso. https://t.co/5x2RUum1tq

[Columbia Journalism Review @CJR]

If passed, the Oregon Journalism Protection Act would be the first law of its kind in the United States, forcing Big Tech to compensate press organizations for a portion of the value that news generates on platforms, by @laur_watso. https://t.co/Pomaw4pb3J

[Columbia Journalism Review @CJR]

Grifts, memes, disruption, vengeful billionaires—to understand Donald Trump, there’s much to learn from those who cover crypto, by @laur_watso.
https://t.co/DIQFQ3ii9X

[Columbia Journalism Review @CJR]

Inside Outside: Layoffs, acquisitions, and a contributors’ revolt, by @laur_watso. https://t.co/eh5Lt2WNQF

[Columbia Journalism Review @CJR]

Student journalists navigate a surge in requests to take down previously published material, by @laur_watso. https://t.co/d9ulzve1WH

[Lauren Watson @laur_watso]

@Thuncher @squamishchief ...and 🤞it isn't even may yet! I hope the rain stops it.

[Jennifer Thuncher @Thuncher]

And so it begins...
Four-hectare wildfire sparked in #Squamish
#wildfires
https://t.co/dAAEbETMdQ via @squamishchief

[Mario Zelaya @mario4thenorth]

Ronald Reagan perfectly sums up tariffs.

The logic is sound.

[Columbia Journalism Review @CJR]

The DOGE cuts are a local news story, too.
Federal workers manage lands, protect forests—and, yes, breed fish—all over the country, by @laur_watso. https://t.co/y4pOYR0DR3

[Columbia Journalism Review @CJR]

The editors of Mongabay, which covers environmental news from around the world, rarely say no to a story. It’s usually a matter not of if, but how to work through the risks. New by @laur_watso. https://t.co/zIscI8iWmd

[Columbia Journalism Review @CJR]

Sanctions Were Meant to Stop Russian Propaganda. They’re Hurting Vital Journalism Too. By @laur_watso https://t.co/cYwYq4XDlG

[Columbia Journalism Review @CJR]

It was a hellish election night with @HellGateNY —a New York-focused news and culture cooperative. @laur_watso https://t.co/590PP31y8U

[Lauren Watson @laur_watso]

It seems ridiculous to share this here, on this platform, right now. But here it is, words of wisdom and clarity to keep reading and rereading as we report on the future unfolding. Thank you @SheilaCoronel, written in @CJR

Ten Tips for Reporting in an Autocracy https://t.co/YeSUJsaI4o via @cjr

[Columbia Journalism Review @CJR]

"Last time Trump was mad at Bezos, the Pentagon steered a $10 billion contract for cloud computing away from Amazon." Jeff Bezos Should Donate the Washington Post to a Charity, by @stevenwaldman. https://t.co/Er1NZCTneh

[Michael (MJ) Lyle @MjLyle]

I'm used to interviewing people and not being interviewed. It's harder than it looks. LOL
It was a pleasure to speak with @laur_watso about covering this election.

[Columbia Journalism Review @CJR]

The Nevada Current’s @MjLyle on covering a swing state amid poll anxiety, with @laur_watso. https://t.co/kdAgsx1t04

[Columbia Journalism Review @CJR]

Thousands of residents were still without power when @mosbren and his team distributed the @WataugaDemocrat on Wednesday; it was the first news some had received since the storm. @laur_watso for @CJR's Getting the Story, on the work of local reporters https://t.co/DeZfXYY9WH

[Lauren Watson @laur_watso]

@emilybell @CJR Thank you so much, @emilybell