#MediaMonday – Lauren Grifo
KTAR News on 92.3FM is among the most trusted – and most popular – news outlets in Arizona. And if you pitch their team well, you have a great chance of good coverage on their station. With 24 hours to fill, there the news opportunities abound.
But should you just blindly sent out a pitch to a bunch of reporters and hope for the best?
No! No! No!
We always recommend getting to know the media – and how they work – before hitting the send button on even the best story idea.
That’s actually how these now-regular #MediaMonday posts came about.
What is #MediaMonday, you ask?
Each Monday, we here at HMA post a handy dandy blog to help our readers get to know the media just a little bit better.
With a TWIST!
No, we aren’t posting story pitch tips or media lists, but instead great stories from the media themselves about their lives, their work and other little known facts! Think of it as your first “networking” opportunity of the week!
Today’s #MediaMonday comes to us from KTAR’s own Lauren Grifo.
So, Lauren, time to share!
What do you want to tell the blogosphere about yourself today?
I currently work for KTAR News on 92.3 FM as the PM Editor. I produce the 6 p.m. show, and you can catch me anchoring from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. I graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University in spring 2015. My major is in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Criminal Justice.
I actually started as an intern with KTAR in 2014. I worked my way up to part-time editor, and then had the amazing opportunity to become the midday editor upon graduation. It wasn’t until recently that I got promoted to PM editor. I love writing, reporting and anchoring. I always knew I wanted to be a journalist.
In college I was a DJ on ASU’s alternative station, The Blaze, and I also had the opportunity to volunteer with Channel 11. I helped run the cameras during some of their day shows. That was a fun experience too!
I work a lot, but in my free time I love to….
Spend time with my family and friends. I am very grateful to have such an amazing support system.
I like to watch a lot of movies and TV shows. My favorite movies are Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Back to the Future. (I wasn’t born in the ‘80s, but I find the decade fascinating).
As for favorite TV shows; I like How I Met Your Mother and Grey’s Anatomy.
I also enjoy listening and playing music. My favorite genres are country and rock.
All through middle school and high school I played the saxophone. I was in marching band, jazz band, symphonic band and even a polka band! I don’t get to play as often as I would like to now, but playing for all of those years sure was a blast.
I am from Fountain Hills and have lived there my whole life with my mom, dad and little brother. I also have a dog named Bocelli (Yes, after the Italian opera singer).
Find me online @LaurenGrifo and feel free to send me story ideas – after you listen to the show first – anytime at: lgrifo@bonneville.com
