The Human Side of True Crime: A reflection on my humble beginnings covering murder trials as a Network News Page in New York City
As I reflect on my individual growth with the 48 Hours team, I’m grateful for the opportunities to learn and contribute to impactful storytelling.
I don’t have many photos from my court coverage, only approved cameras are allowed inside the courtroom, so here are some work photos from over the years.
Filming outside of court, 2022Long shoot day selfie, 2023In studio promos with CBS News correspondent Natalie Morales, 2024
My role has allowed me to delve into a variety of stories, expanding my skills as both a producer and reporter. One particularly memorable experience was covering the tragic case of Jennifer Dulos during my time in NYC. I took the train up to Connecticut (for the first time) to one of the pre-trial hearings.
A little background on the story: Jennifer disappeared and her community knew her as a dedicated mother who would never leave her boys. It was a huge deal and all eyes in the tri-state area were focused on her husband, Fotis Dulos. Jennifer was eventually found after Fotis Dulos was seen on surveillance video dumping big black trash bags all around the city with his new girlfriend Michelle Troconis. Eventually, Fotis committed suicide.
Fotis Dulos wasn’t present in court this day back in 2019, only his attorney. After the hearing ended, the producer I accompanied ran up to Fotis’s attorney, she introduced herself then asked him a question.
I want you to picture little me trailing behind her in the crowded hallway and just observing. She had such a confident approach because she had researched him. It happened so fast and quickly but whatever she said related to him. I remember he laughed and took her card when she handed it to him and he walked out of the courthouse to go on about his day.
The whole train ride back to the city I was thinking what would I have said if I was by myself. I was nervous about when my time would come. The attorney could easily just say, “No comment” or “Not interested” and walk away. There’s only one shot, one first impression.
Attending the pre-trial hearing for Fotis Dulos was a pivotal moment in my career. I was able to witness firsthand the intensity and competition surrounding such a high-profile story. Observing a seasoned producer’s confident approach and effective communication with the defense attorney was inspiring. It reinforced the importance of preparation, research, and building rapport in high-pressure situations.
While I may have been nervous to approach the attorney myself, this experience taught me valuable lessons about seizing opportunities and making a lasting impression. It’s a reminder that even the smallest interactions can have a significant impact.
Looking back, I’m proud of the progress I’ve made. From being a Page/ Broadcast Associate to covering multiple trials, each experience has been unique and has shaped my growth as a storyteller. I’m excited to share more about these experiences in my next post.
P.S. because only approved cameras are allowed in the courtroom.
Out shooting b-roll of the whistleblower at the Chicago Lake Front. It was my first time there in the city.
I had no idea what the CBS Page Program had in store for me but I’m beyond grateful for every day that I get to report to the Broadcast Center.
In late October, I became a production associate (PA) for Whistleblower. I had watched the show before I interviewed for the program so I had an idea of the show but no idea how it was created.
This season featured many different industries: pharma, midwives and OBGYN doctors, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, SeaWorld, Chicago PD, spinal surgeries, a polygamous sect and so much more.
One of our whistleblowers from this season was Shannon Spalding. She blew the whistle on Chicago PD and immediately won my heart for her badass warrior persona. “It was like shock and awe,” she said about her experience going undercover in the Ida B. Wells projects. She wasn’t the only one thinking these thoughts. It was my first time being on a set and meeting a whole crew. Most of the days were cold, quiet and dark (until catering arrived).
The early mornings and late nights made it hard to have a life outside of work. I was working at Trader Joe’s less than part-time until I eventually had to quit. Shoots were seven days a week and when I wasn’t there, I was a graphics/ newsroom PA for Weekend News. I’ll never forget working everyday for a month straight and putting 80 hours on my timesheet for one week alone. This grind was and still is no joke but I didn’t come to NYC to play or sleep. I accepted the challenge and rose to the occasion. I was getting pushed by everyone around me and I appreciated the support. They wanted me there and I felt it.
I fell a couple times at this set house but I still managed to smile.
Hannah and I sitting in for Alex and the whistleblower.
My first field shoot was in December. I was excited because it was somewhere familiar and I got to help out in a different setting. Too bad I missed my train because I wasn’t early enough and got lost at Penn Station. Luckily the next one wasn’t hours away but 30 minutes later. I still felt terrible that I let my team down after they begged for me to go. I paid the fare difference out of my own pocket and apologized. They understood that you live and learn from mistakes so it made me feel at ease but I knew I couldn’t mess up again.
During these past few months, I’ve learned a lot about production, freelance, being a team player and also being happy about doing tasks that other people might not want to do. I got to help with the R. Kelly and Gayle King Interview, it was great working with such a large team and receiving my first credit with a network. I was juggling the special and my Whistleblower needs but it was really fun. Throughout this whole process I’ve always kept remembering why I wanted to be in this industry: to represent. On these sets and shoots there aren’t many African Americans.
Our Whistleblower party at the CBS Broadcast Center.
During most screenings I’m the only African American there. The Whistleblower team only has one African American and one Haitian producer both women. It’s not uncomfortable for me to be the only one. It makes me proud and want to stay so that I eventually can create change in the industry. I want more people of color to get inspired to edit, produce, shoot and overall get their foot in the door.
As Whistleblower wraps up I’m ready to work on more projects, grow with CBS News and possibly get back into reporting and editing. I really miss writing and working hard to get my own pieces up. I’m thankful for the amazing team that I got to work with and all their words of wisdom and great journalism and production skills. They’ve all inspired me and made me believe that I can do anything I put my mind to…. even to blow the whistle ;).
It’s been almost a month since I touched down in New York.
I packed up three suitcases and a backpack and said peace out Cali. It still feels surreal. As a little girl I always dreamed of moving to New York, even though I had never even been. My first time in the Big Apple was last year when I took the bus from D.C. I had absolutely no idea that I would be starting my career here.
My best friends and mom before I headed out to the airport. Check out my suitcases… from the airport through the subways and all the way to Harlem.
It hasn’t been easy.
Applying for jobs was exhausting but I never lost hope. I was applying for jobs in LA, Atlanta, New York, and D.C. I was nonchalant about the positions, they ranged from full-time to part-time and I was open to being a producer, MMJ, editor, social media producer, intern, administrative assistant and even a receptionist. I wanted experience with a network whether it was news or entertainment. One after another the cover letters filled my laptop’s storage, but I wasn’t having any luck.
Finally I got an email from CBS about the Page position I applied for. I was excited finally I got a result from all the applications I was putting in the past few weeks. It was an online interview and a few days after that I got another email asking to schedule my next interview. I assumed it would also be online, but when I confirmed the date for the following week the location said New York. My heart sank! How could I possibly get to New York in week? I’ve never even flown to New York in my life, let alone from LAX. I didn’t sleep for at least three days overthinking it all and worrying about money. I reached out to ask if the company would help me get there and asked my professor what he knew but it was all a dead end. It was all up to me.
I couldn’t pass up the opportunity and I did have the funds saved up so I took the risk. I got the plane ticket at the last minute only because I couldn’t tell you how many times these questions roamed through my mind:
What if I don’t get it?
Am I going to leave my family?
How am I going to pay for it?
Who is going to interview me?
What are they going to ask me?
Do I really want to be a journalist?
How is the snow going to be?
Where would I live?
How would I do this?
Can I survive out there?
Is this for me?
When I finally made it to the interview I felt great but I can’t lie. Of course I was nervous. I thought what if I said this different or did my hair different… the what ifs were never ending but I “let go and let God”.
After my interview at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York. It was a group interview with three other people. I had one of the other ladies who also interviewed take this picture (we both got hired).
I kept applying for jobs in the meantime and figured I should go to NABJ to secure something just in case. I heard back the week of NABJ and was ecstatic and scared. They wanted me to get there in three weeks, but I had absolutely no money after NABJ.
At NABJ in Detroit
I had no idea what to do but I figured I could take out a loan like everyone else but the banks and quick loan businesses rejected me faster than a girl getting cat called on the street by a not so handsome dude. Can you imagine how fast that is? Well if not I don’t know what else to compare it to. I thought about the trolls who made Kylie Jenner a GoFundMe like she actually needed it and how she still got money. So at this point it wouldn’t hurt. I created it and couldn’t believe I actually made more than $1200. I still cannot thank my family and friends enough for supporting me and my dream.
I flew out the next week and thank god this dude helped me pick up two of my suitcases to take up the stairs of the subway. Welcome to New York where the subway is blazing hot in the summer, the streets are gross and the bare minimum is just enough. I had found a perfect furnished little place in with roommates in Brooklyn. It didn’t have a washer or dryer but one of the roommates seemed cool via FaceTime and text. Also the $700 rent fit my budget perfectly. I started work Aug. 20th and was set to see the place on the 24th and move in on Sept. 1st. In the meantime I was at an Airbnb and sleeping on my friend’s couch I was a transient couch potato for about two weeks until my move-in date.
My first week of work was great. I was just so happy to be here and start my new life, but soon I learned that my position as a Page wouldn’t be enough to enjoy life. I was determined to get a second job in order to afford the costs of New York City living. I applied every night and got interviews quick! I set a goal to have a second job by the time of my birthday. Everything was going great, then the day before I was supposed to go see my new place the roommate text me saying her other roommates found someone else to take the room I was going to move into and that she already put the deposit down.
Earlier in the day, before I got the text from the potential roommate…
I was heartbroken. Back to square one looking for a place.
My friend was ready for me to get off of her couch but now I had absolutely nowhere to go. I planned to get an Airbnb, until I figured it out. Then I saw my friend had just moved into an apartment in Harlem on Instagram so I asked her about her place and she invited me to check the place out. They had an extra room for $875. I felt comfortable because I knew her, the deposit was only $500, the owner furnished the room and my commute would be 30 mins away to work.
I looked at a few more places but couldn’t afford them and didn’t feel comfortable so I moved into this four bedroom, one bathroom Harlem apartment. The owner was also nice to let me sleep on the couch until my lease started and room furniture arrived. The search for my second job continued from one couch to the next and the interviews kept coming. It’s been about a week since I’ve been in my room and although it is very small it’s very comfortable and it’s all my own. (Wouldn’t be possible without my loving community.)
As my birthday approaches, I’m excited to have both of my college best friends here in the city starting their journeys too. Also I met my goal of getting a second job before my birthday and I’m pleased to say I start work at Trader Joe’s on Monday. I’m so excited to meet new people, learn the culture of NY and get that discount on my groceries.
I know this was a long blog post but I really wanted to update you all on my life and thank everyone again so much for supporting me and believing in me. I am so blessed to turn 22 and live this amazing life. I’m extremely grateful for everyone’s kind words and wishes. My future’s so bright, it makes me so happy but I know it’s not going to be easy and that I still have so much more to learn and experience.
Lauren Turner Dunn — Portfolio 