About Me

About Lauren



Lauren J. Mapp is an award-winning journalist based in San Diego, currently working as the caregiving, senior care and Indigenous communities reporter for The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Mapp was selected by the Columbia Journalism School and Columbia Aging Center as a fellow for the 2021 Age Boom Academy, a conference focused on covering the impacts of social isolation and loneliness on seniors. She serves as a board member for the Society of Professional Journalists San Diego chapter, and is a member of the San Diego Association of Black Journalists, San Diego Press Club and the Native American Journalists Association. 

Prior to the UT, Mapp worked as an investigative reporting intern at inewsource, contributing editor for Times of San Diego, senior staff writer at The Daily Aztec and editor in chief at The Mesa Press. She has also been published by the North Coast Current and The National University Herald.

Mapp graduated from San Diego State University in May 2019 with a degree in journalism and a minor in American Indian studies. Faculty at the School of Journalism and Media Studies selected her as the Outstanding Graduate to represent the program during the 2019 commencement.

In addition to her bachelor's degree, she has three associate degrees in journalism, political science and culinary arts from San Diego Mesa College, as well as BarSmarts and Certified Beer Server certifications.

Prior to moving to San Diego in 2005, she was a part-time staff writer and photographer for Indian Time and The People's Voice, two weekly newspapers in the Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) territory of Akwesasne on the border of New York and Quebec. At both papers, she covered the breaking news, the arts, food, music, sports and cultural events.

Growing up in Worcester, Massachusetts made her the avid Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics fan she is today. In her free time, Mapp likes to take dance lessons (primarily East Coast swing, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, Bal Swing and ballet), try new restaurants, read, cook and travel.

Her wanderlust has taken her through 20 countries and 34 states, with many more trips left on the bucket list.


Full resume is available online as a PDF, and more information can be found on LinkedIn.



Education

San Diego State University | San Diego, CA (May 2019)

Major: Journalism; Minor: American Indian Studies
Honors: Chosen as the Outstanding Graduate for the School of Journalism and Media Studies

San Diego Mesa College | San Diego, CA (May 2016)
Major: Journalism (A.A., C.A. with High Honors); Culinary Arts/Culinary Management (A.S., C.A. with Honors) and Political Science (A.A.)

Burncoat Senior High School | Worcester, MA (May 2003)
Studied theater at a public high school specializing in performing arts


Accolades

2023

First Place, Daily Reporting and Writing — Health Story

First Place, Daily Reporting and Writing — Multicultural Story
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Third Place, Daily Reporting and Writing — Multicultural Story
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

First Place, Daily Reporting and Writing — Politics/Election Story
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Second Place, Daily Reporting and Writing — Politics/Election Story

First Place, Digital — Blog
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Second Place, Digital — Social Media Account
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

2022

Honorable Mention, Online and Daily newspapers: General News
San Diego Press Club

Second Place, Online and Daily newspapers: Multicultural
San Diego Press Club

Second Place, Online and Daily newspapers: Reviews: Restaurant
San Diego Press Club

Third Place, Online and Daily newspapers: Reviews: Restaurant
San Diego Press Club

Honorable Mention, Online and Daily newspapers: Travel - Domestic
San Diego Press Club

Third Place, Online and Daily newspapers: Travel - International
San Diego Press Club

Second Place, Websites: Blog - Topic Based
San Diego Press Club

National Press Foundation

First Place, Daily Reporting and Writing Division — Crime/Courts Story
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists


Third Place, Daily Reporting and Writing Division — Food Story
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists


Second Place, Daily Reporting and Writing Division — Health Story
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists


First Place, Daily Reporting and Writing Division — News Feature Story
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists


First Place, Crime/Courts Story
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists


Second Place, Digital — Blog
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

2021

Columbia Aging Center & Columbia Journalism School

Second Place, Online and Daily Newspapers — Multicultural
San Diego Press Club

First Place, Daily Reporting and Writing Division — Food Story
Celebrating Indigenous culture with Haudenosaunee Cornbread
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Second Place, Daily Reporting and Writing Division — Health Story
Coronavirus compounds grief for those in hospice
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

San Diego Society of Professional Journalists


2020

First Place, Daily Reporting and Writing Division — Health Story
The Invisible Illness: Caring for Children with Epilepsy
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

First Place, Digital Division — Blog
Off the Mapp Food, Beverage and Travel Blog
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Second Place, Nondaily Reporting and Writing Division — Food Story
A Good Gut Feeling: Fermentation, Food Are Focus of Encinitas Event
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Second Place, Nondaily Reporting and Writing Division —
Investigative/Enterprise Story (Single Subject)
$44 Million Spent on San Diego Bus Rapid Transit Route That Isn’t Rapid
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Honorable Mention, Online & Daily Newspapers — Multicultural
San Diego Press Club

At Large: Wildcard: Racial Inequality
San Diego Press Club

San Diego Press Club


First Place, Websites: News Site
Times of San Diego
San Diego Press Club

First Place, Nondaily Reporting and Writing, Food story
Roasters brewing up artisan coffee movement in North County
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Third Place, College Media, Feature Story
Neon signs shining light for new generation
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Print Scholarship
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Armen E. Keteyian Internship Scholarship for Investigative Reporting
San Diego State University

Spring 2019 Dean's List
PSFA
San Diego State University

Class of 2019 Outstanding Graduate
School of Journalism & Media Studies at San Diego State University

2018

Fall 2018 Dean's List
PSFA
San Diego State University 

Most Valuable Person
Arts & Culture Section
The Daily Aztec

Second Place, Websites, Blog - Topic Based
Off the Mapp Blog
San Diego Press Club

Second Place, College Print, Feature
SDSU alumni pour success into new wine business
San Diego Press Club

$2,500 Joe Lipper Scholarship
San Diego Press Club

Spring 2018 Dean's List
PSFA
San Diego State University

 $1,000 Photography Scholarship
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Third Place, College Media
SoCal Bronies gallop to SDSU
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Third Place, Digital Blog
Off the Mapp Blog
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Third Place, Nondaily Reporting & Writing
Encinitas opting for an electoral divide
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Third Place, College Media
Coffee shops in San Diego have grounds to brew popularity
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Third Place, College Media
New CSU program automatically substitutes supply orders with sustainable options
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Columbia School of Journalism Fellowship to attend the Investigative Reporters and Editors Conference

San Diego Association of Black Journalists Scholarship

Gertrude Jockusch Endowed Scholarship


2017

Fall 2017 Dean's List
PSFA
San Diego State University

Second Place, Non-Daily Reporting and Writing: Politics and Government Story
Coast not quite clear post-election
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Second Place, Online Blog
Off the Mapp Food and Travel Blog
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

2016

Second Place, Review/Criticism
Truffle Mac, divine views make for perfect afternoon delight
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

Third Place, Review/Criticism
S&M inspires diner's carnivorous dreams
San Diego Society for Professional Journalists

Second Place, Headline
S&M inspires diners' carnivorous dreams
San Diego Society for Professional Journalists

Fourth Place, Critical Review
S&M inspires diner's carnivorous dreams
Journalism Association of Community Colleges

2015-2016 Dean's Honor List
San Diego Mesa College

2013

Third Place, College Media: News
Prop 35 aims to crackdown on sex trafficking in California
San Diego Press Club

Second Place, Critical Review
Journalism Association of Community Colleges (Fall Conference)

Second Place, Critical Review
Journalism Association of Community Colleges (Spring Conference)

Fourth Place, Informational Graphic
California Community College Budget Issues
Journalism Association of Community Colleges (Spring Conference)

2012-2013 Dean's Honor List
San Diego Mesa College

2012

Second Place, Review/Criticism
San Diego Society of Professional Journalists

San Diego Mesa College Hotel/Motel Scholarship for Culinary Arts

San Diego Mesa College Journalism Scholarship

2011

First Place, College Newspaper Restaurant Review
San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards

Second Place, College Newspaper Restaurant Review
San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards

Second Place, Feature Photo
Journalism Association of Community Colleges

2010

San Diego Hotel/Motel Scholarship for Culinary Arts

San Diego Mesa College Associated Students Community Service Scholarship

San Diego Mesa College Associated Student Academic Leadership Award

2009

San Diego Hotel/Motel Scholarship for Culinary Arts


Certifications

Hootsuite Platform Certification | December 2018

Certificate of achievement is available online.

Banjo Basics Certification | December 2018
Certificate of achievement is available online.


Google Analytics for Beginners | November 2018
Certificate of achievement is available online.

Certified Beer Server | November 2017

Certificate of achievement is available online.

BarSmarts | February 2017
Passed the BarSmarts exam on Feb. 5, 2017. BarSmarts tests individuals on the history and production of distilled spirits and cocktails. 

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