Welcome to my online portfolio.
If you are looking for Lacey Mason the journalist – you’ve come to the right page. If you’re looking for Lacey Mason the graphic designer, she’s right here.
I keep it simple; links to written and video work as well as my resume are located at the top of this page.
This is Lacey 
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I also randomly (OK, halfheartedly) keep a blog. Here’s that.
Currently, I work at WTOP in Washington, D.C. as a digital editor.
And, while the traditional format for a portfolio sticks to resumes, references and clips, I’ve never had the chance to experience a traditional…anything. So, here’s a bit more about me, to maybe explain how glad I am to be here.
For the full story though, you’ll have to promise two things: A beer and your story.
The basics: At age 12, I was grounded for “prank” calling people to ask if Bill Clinton should be impeached. You can imagine how it went from there.
Small town Nebraska provided the setting for high school. Mostly on my own, I worked two jobs, was captain of my speech team, photo editor for the year book and a reporter for the “Cardinal Call.” Somehow, I managed to letter in theater. Though it may be hard to believe, I wasn’t one of the “cool kids” (I blame the Lincoln Journal Star for publishing my first letter to the editor when I was 9).
When I was 16, I job shadowed at 102.7 KFRX (now 106.3) with Sonny Valentine – it was love. For radio. Not for Miss Valentine – but she was lovely.
After high school, I moved to slightly-bigger-town Nebraska and started college along with a full time job at a burrito joint and a part time gig at a doctor’s office. Volunteering to edit for an annual creative writing publication kept the juices flowing.
To give it to you straight: I wanted to be involved with everything because I didn’t want to miss anything.
But even the most enthusiastic and driven of young girls can’t predict the future, and the unexpected can quickly change life.
An email revealed I had four siblings I’d never met.
A robbery gone awry left my home burnt to a crisp.
I got sick.
As Vanilla Ice once said, it was time to, “Stop, collaborate and listen.”
OK, I’m sorry, that was lame. Comic relief, right?
What I’m getting at is, I needed to take time off.
During my break, I exercised my freedom by exploring Canada, taking spontaneous trips via Amtrak and meeting a sister for the first time. I breathed, I explored, I made some mistakes.
Near the end I adopted a kitten and got back on my feet with the help of an amazing g’ma and stellar friends.
While all of this was great material for future writing and advice-giving (get renter’s insurance!) – I needed to snag that degree first.
At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I was an opinion editor and columnist for The Daily Nebraskan, a video editor for Strategic Discussions for Nebraska, a freelance contributor for the Star City Blog and a video-slinger at Blockbuster. It was a busy, educational blur. And, hey, I quit smoking, too!
I wrote about everything from vegetarian food, religion, babies, navigating college as a non-traditional student and poverty. And being able to edit one-on-one with students from different majors was a challenge and reward.
Two days after graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor of journalism (at age 25), I packed up Arlo the cat and headed toward that “bigger and better” – Washington, D.C.
My internship with NPR was an opportunity to learn from the best and exercise my skills in a national setting. Fact checking and editing book reviews, setting up the NPR Opinions homepage each morning and writing when the opportunity arose was a great way to close out a college career and spend a summer.
After, my travels brought me to Los Angeles where I spent time freelancing for Brazen Careerist, the Santa Monica Mirror and Google.
Now, I’m back in D.C., where I was always meant to be. And, while I’ve heard time and again that journalism is dying, I’m optimistic.
Journalism is not dying; it’s changing. As a non-traditional student, who came from difficult circumstances to make the life I wanted work – I know we can do it. We can overcome and change with the industry.
But we need to listen (get ready for an abrupt change in tone).
The most recent Census data shows a record disparity between the wealthiest and poorest Americans, including a rise in child poverty to 21 percent. This gap is largest for single-parent and minority households.
Startling statistics like these make it clear: The voices of the most vulnerable segments of our population aren’t being heard.
Mass media has shifted to “niche media,” allowing for passionate journalists to make waves without compromising integrity.
Sometimes, the facts need elaboration. There’s more truth out there. And we need to get it.
Feel free to contact me, for any reason, at thisislacey@gmail.com.
Enjoy the site and have a lovely day.
Credit for third and fourth photos go to the talented Nathan Estenson
