Post Reporter Kirsten Laskey
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Daily Post reporter Kirsten Laskey has been honored with two state writing awards from the New Mexico Press Association. The announcement of her awards was made Saturday night during the annual New Mexico Press Association state convention in Albuquerque.
Laskey won the coveted first place prize for her review of “Chicago” published May 7, 2023, in the Los Alamos Daily Post. Laskey began her review saying, Shimmy off to the side, Broadway, there’s a new player in town. And it just might be as talented, innovative and spectacular as you. That new player is the Los Alamos Little Theatre (LALT), which opened its newest production, “Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville. this weekend.” To read her full review, click here.
Laskey’s second award was in the business category for which she won second place in the state for her story on “SALA Event Center Offers Up Fresh, Cutting Edge Idea For Creating Immersive, Virtual Reality Experience Venue” published March 16, 2023, in the Post. She began her story saying, Imagine slipping on a headset and suddenly being transported half-way around the world. Turn in any direction and see something beautiful – cascading green hills, a sparkling ocean or a flowing waterfall. You might be sitting in a chair but with the headset on, you are soaring above this fairytale landscape – gliding over valleys or small, European villages and thinking for a second your feet will bump up against a church’s steeple. Now imagine seeing and experiencing all this wonder not just from the confines of a virtual reality headset but in an entire theater. To read her full story, click here.
Everyone at the Post is very proud of Laskey receiving this statewide recognition for her excellent writing. She first discovered this passion in her senior year at high school when she began writing at her school paper.
“The very first story I did was on my psychology class,” she said, adding, “I was immediately hooked! Now to be recognized at the state level for doing what I love is extra special.”
Laskey began writing on a very part-time basis for the Post in 2012. She joined the news team fulltime in January 2017, primarily covering County government. She occasionally reports on other beats at the newspaper as is highlighted by her award winning review and business story.
“Working for the Post has been a dream come true for me,” Laskey said. “I couldn’t ask for any more wonderful colleagues and I certainly couldn’t ask for a better boss … our publisher Carol Clark has taught me so much about ethics in journalism and she is my role model for not only how to be a reporter but also how to work with and serve our readers.”
As a reporter, Laskey has the opportunity to interact with people from many walks of life.
“I love meeting people and really enjoy promoting and honoring their achievements, their work and little bits of their lives. It is a real privilege when someone shares their stories with me and allows me to share their stories with our readers,” she said.
Along with her love of writing, Laskey is an avid world traveler. She has visited Greece, Turkey, Spain, Italy, England, France, Germany, Austria, Hungry, Switzerland, Cuba, Brazil, South Africa, Tanzania, Mauritius, India, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Japan, Ecuador, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico, Argentina, Antarctica and spent time last fall in Iceland.
Born in Baton Rouge, La., Laskey attended Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo. where she earned a degree in English.
