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stage, and I worked on the STV website
when it first started. We went out and
filmed short videos, bands and that type
of thing so I got involved in that side
early on. It slowly evolved and I started
doing more and more of the showbiz
side of programming. Then ended up on
the news! Which was quite strange, as I
don’t think I look like a news journalist,
and it is a very straight field for
broadcasting, whereas I am very bubbly.
But STV have been amazing at letting
me explore new areas without having to
change my style. You have to just make
the most of every opportunity, grab
things when you can, and speak to
everyone. The internet has opened up a
whole new level of opportunity now,
and there are so many ways to put
yourself out there and showcase your
work, especially if it’s something you are
really passionate about.
“Nowadays, we are Multimedia
Journalists, which means although we
are in front of the camera, we do
absolutely everything. We will film a
piece, script it, present it, edit it, and
produce it. So every single skill you learn
at university is put to good use.”
“I have been lucky enough to
interview so many amazing people
through my career. I interviewed the
esteemed actor Brian Cox the other
week, and he was amazing, a real
Scottish legend.
“I loved interviewing Rod Stewart,
and Dolly Parton. So often, interviews
with big stars are very much a
production line and timed to the second,
so it’s wonderful to have time to chat. I
do get nervous but I am genuinely
interested in people, and try just to be
as relaxed and natural as possible. I
have the utmost respect for my
colleagues who do hard-hitting news,
they are the ones who have to ask really
difficult questions. For me, it is an
absolute joy of a job, no two days are
ever the same, and one of my favourite
things is just chatting to people. Often,
people observing me interview people
assume I am old friends with the
interviewee, when in fact we have
just met.”
Now she has Penelope, her 2-yearold
daughter, Laura has to juggle her job
much more than before. “I used to work
every hour God sends, go to every
single event I could, and really put
myself out there, and now I have to
work to balance that, especially as I live
with cancer. You learn to make the most
of the time you do have.
“But as I’ve got older, I find it easier
to balance, and maintain a healthier way
of working to look after my mental
health too. That is something I wish I
could have told my younger self, to think
more about self-care.”
Laura with George Clooney. Laura with Rod Stewart.