Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Evans Manatos.
Hi Laura, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Becoming a television news anchor and reporter was a dream of mine, starting in middle school. At each phase of my life, I did whatever I could to pursue that dream – multiple local news internships, networking with news professionals, securing entry-level positions to get my feet wet. Many people warned me about how difficult it was to land a job in TV news, but for me, becoming a journalist wasn’t a matter of “if”, it was“when.”
After college, I worked various internships and entry-level jobs with networks including CNN, NPR, and NBC during their Summer Olympic coverage in Barcelona. My first on-air job was with the NBC affiliate in Eureka, California, where I served as an Anchor and Reporter. From there, I went to ABC in Santa Barbara and then FOX5DC in Washington, DC, where I was a primary anchor for nearly 20 years. I earned many awards for my reporting and anchoring, including two Emmys and five Emmy nominations, an Associated Press award, two Golden Mics, and a Radio Television News Directors Assn (RTNDA) award.
Being in the news business for over 25 years was challenging and fulfilling. But after a while, I grew tired of the constant flow of negative news. I was no longer interested in talking about the world’s problems every single day. Eventually, as a mom of 3 kids, I thought about how that daily barrage of bad news might impact them, I also wondered how it was affecting our community. I was drawn to producing uplifting, inspiring, and solution-focused stories. However, you often hear the saying – “If it bleeds, it leads” – so my solution-focused stories often lost out to crime and breaking news. Ultimately, I felt news was not serving our community constructively, and, it was no longer serving me.
I left the anchor desk without a parachute. However, I was steadfast in my conviction to focus on solution stories. So I launched Laura Evans Media (LEM) to help social impact organizations that are helping our communities become happier and healthier, more equitable and connected. I wanted to put my media experience and my knowledge of the intricacies of media to work by finding and developing the stories of these organizations, connecting them with journalists to tell their stories, and helping them get their message heard.
Within a few years of launching LEM, several other journalists left their work in news and joined my effort. I have grown from being a solo-preneur in 2017 to leading an award winning and diverse team of 15. I’m very proud of our team and my efforts to build and foster a positive, supportive, and purposeful work culture that prioritizes flexibility, diversity, inclusion, and wellness, a departure from toxic newsroom culture.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of my biggest challenges was realizing it was time to say goodbye to what was once my “dream job.” I knew the business was no longer serving me (or my family), but I didn’t know how to fix it. I ultimately realized I could not fix it. I needed to step away from the anchor desk to quietly contemplate what was next and how to create a new path. Through that quiet time of discovery, I realized my work in news could serve as a stepping stone to something greater. Starting a business also doesn’t come without challenges, but when I meet an obstacle, I find a way around it. These challenges prompt us to continue to learn, discover, and evolve. I’m grateful for the obstacles; they only make me stronger.
We’ve been impressed with Laura Evans Media, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart?
Laura Evans Media (LEM) is a woman-owned, progressive public relations firm comprising a diverse group of Emmy-award-winning journalists focused on telling solution-based stories about changemakers. We help our clients get their message heard through publicity, thought leadership, content, partnerships, and more. Our firm, based in Washington, DC, elevates the voices, stories, and thought leadership of individual changemakers and social impact organizations working to make people happier and safer, communities healthier and more connected, and our world kinder and more equitable. Our team is made up of seasoned media and communications professionals from coast to coast who have worked in media and have an acute understanding of the business and vast connections across all media types. LEM specializes in helping clients find and tell powerful, persuasive stories on multiple platforms, and we regularly earn coverage from leaders and organizations on local, national, and international levels. LEM has built a strong reputation as a firm of strategic thinkers known for generating innovative ideas, powerful messages, and engaging stories. We excel at managing crises, showcasing meaningful thought leadership, organizing and executing large-scale media coordination, and brokering powerful partnerships.
What changes do you expect to see in your work and the industry over the next five to ten years?
As the media industry undergoes significant transformations, it’s crucial for PR professionals to remain agile, thinking innovatively with a broad perspective. I foresee a future where a more humanized and data-driven approach will be vital in helping companies differentiate themselves. Social platforms like LinkedIn and TikTok, as well as live events, will become more valuable spaces for PR, not just for amplifying messaging but also for showcasing thought leadership content and building relationships with the media or customers. Traditional PR strategies that placed a high value on top-tier media coverage now see social media’s importance as a critical support tool. Influencer marketing and in-person events are also gaining prominence in PR strategies.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lauraevansmedia.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraevansmedia/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraEvansMedia/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraevansmedia/
- Twitter: https://x.com/lauraevansmedia?lang=en
Image Credits
For photos #3, 4, 7 and 9 & 10, Credit: Lancer Photography
