Career Stories: Lauren Heiser, producer/editor for Scripps News

By: Hanna Rabb

At Scripps, we can grow our careers and experience new opportunities. Sometimes that means getting exposure to new areas of the business by changing departments, brands or work locations. All across the company, employees have taken unconventional paths to get to where they are today.

Lauren Heiser is a producer/editor for Scripps News.

Lauren Heiser joined Scripps in 2017 as a weekend MMJ at KPAX in Missoula, Montana. “Since I joined the industry, the jobs I’ve taken have been good opportunities that presented themselves to me,” Lauren says. But those who have worked with her during her career journey say that she’s someone who has always sought out opportunities to learn and grow.

Melissa Rafferty first worked with Lauren as her executive producer at KPAX (Melissa is now news director at the station). “Over the course of about four years, Lauren took advantage of every opportunity and ultimately became a morning show anchor,” Melissa says.

“I started out running camera, then audio. I was a weekend MMJ, then a fill-in anchor and then I anchored ‘Montana This Morning,’” Lauren recalls. “While I was an anchor, I became good at all the different tasks I was responsible for, but I really wanted to become a better producer and hone my news judgement.”

“She was a really good producer and writer – that talent came out,” Melissa says. “I helped her with some of the tools, but she’s a self-starter and took it from there. It’s been awesome to see her progression to Court TV and then Scripps News.”

While many opt to steer their careers in the reverse direction – moving from behind-the-scenes roles into on-air positions – Lauren says that regardless of the roles she’s held, she’s a storyteller first. “I want to tell stories that are entertaining and important. My priority is always to provide information that helps people make daily decisions and keep themselves and their families safe.”

In 2021, Lauren relocated from Montana to Atlanta and worked with the Court TV team as a producer. “I learned from some really incredible and accomplished people there,” she remembers.

The opportunity to learn more presented itself again in 2024. “I was itching to get back into the news side of things. It was scary to try to rewire my brain after covering a specific kind of story for so long, but you can’t be afraid of the next step,” Lauren says.

That next step, still in Atlanta, is serving as producer/editor for Scripps News. “Lauren has a constant willingness to learn something new and put it into action,” says Chaas Toborg, senior producer at Scripps News. “She’s always seeking feedback and ways to elevate her work. From very early on, she showed excitement about the content this team produces and the value it provides for Scripps stations.”

“I’m known for saying yes when a new opportunity presents itself,” Lauren says – and that doesn’t only apply to her career. She was married in August 2024, and she and her husband have a house full of animals. “I volunteer with animal advocacy groups. We foster and always have multiple animals in the house.”

A key takeaway: Be brave

While Lauren says moving from Montana to Atlanta for a new role was “terrifying,” she adds that it’s necessary to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. “Learning a new skill is worth it. You gain confidence, and that’s really important in our industry.”