Success Stories: Class of 2002

Laurie Edwards

My first book, Life Disrupted, was published in 2008. It received a starred review from Library Journal and was named one of 2008’s Best Consumer Health Books. My second book, a social history of modern chronic disease, will be published by Walker Books/Bloomsbury USA in April 2013. I am a full-time lecturer at Northeastern University, where I teach health science writing. I am also a freelance writer, consultant, and health care blogger, and a frequent speaker at academic, health care, and social media conferences.

Alyssa Pivirotto

It’s hard to believe but it’s been 10 years since I graduated from Georgetown – 10 years of highs and lows but I have no regrets about choosing a journalism career. For the first 7 years after graduation, I produced newscasts in both Tucson and Phoenix. I worked every shift – overnights, 10pm newscasts – you name it. I loved producing and was good at it – I even won an Emmy in the Best Newscast category. But, I always had my eye on management. Finally in 2008 I became the Senior Producer for the ABC affiliate in Phoenix. But, in 2009, the company made some drastic changes/cuts in the midst of the recession and I lost my job.
That unexpected turn took me to Palm Springs, CA where I worked as the Assistant News Director (running the daily operations of the newsroom) at the CBS affiliate. This was, by far, my best professional experience and taught me that sometimes the seemingly worst situations pave the way for the best opportunities.

And now, it’s time for a new challenge. I haven’t decided if I want to stay in local news but I’m hoping an MBA will open even more doors. I begin an Executive MBA program in the Fall of 2012 and am excited to see where it takes me. But even if I wind up working outside of the industry, as any true news junkie will say, you can never really escape!