Laura Shields

Laura represents the Media Coach in Brussels. In the past year she has run media and social media training courses with a UN agency, Oxfam, Action Aid and a number of commercial organisations. She also advises a number of clients on media and communications strategy.

After graduating from Cambridge University in 2000, Laura worked as a journalist specialising in financial news and US politics. After three years as a producer for CNN and CNBC’s European business programmes she moved to BBC News as the Economics and Business Analyst. From 2007 Laura produced political and financial news for BBC Radio 4′s World at One and PM programmes. She also worked as a producer of feature packages, helping to shape the department’s coverage of the credit crunch. Laura was chosen to be a key member of the BBC’S US Election Night television coverage in November 2008. She has also run seminars for BBC journalists on UK economics, energy and international trade and development. She was a contributor to the BBC website and has also had her work published in the Daily Express.

Laura is now working as a journalist and media trainer based in Brussels. She has dual UK US nationality and speaks English and Spanish.

Laura brings to the team drive, intelligence and an analytical style that makes another highly professional trainer with top-notch international media experience.

I have to say that I was sceptical in the beginning but following the radio debate, I now can’t find the words to describe how extremely worthwhile it was! What proved useful was the fact that we had pre-empted and anticipated all the key issues that were likely to emerge during the radio debate and that we had thought through and rehearsed our positions in advance. And you know what? Every single issue we anticipated came up and I was able to provide clear, articulate and properly thought-through responses!

The most important thing for me though was because of this, I relaxed! Instead of sitting nervously and worrying about what questions would be flung at me, I sat back and enjoyed the debate and I think that this contributed to what I am told was a really good performance (the BBC team wrote to say that I was unanimously the best panellist on the debate and I feel I should share the credit with you!)

I have already given feedback on the training session to others in Actionaid and would very highly recommend you to others for the excellent job you are doing.

I look forward to working with you again!

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