Claire Lawrence is a PhD Student in the School of Journalism and Media at UT Austin. Born and raised in Texas, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication at St. Edward's University and her Master of Arts in Journalism and Media at UT Austin. As a master's student, her research focused on the intersections of media consumption and the psychological effects of news use in young adults. Her master's thesis, "Accommodating avoidance: The role of fear in topical news consumption among conflict-avoidant young adults" explored how individual-level dispositions shapes use of conflict-ridden news coverage. As a doctoral student, Claire is interested in exploring newsroom hierarchies in student media to discuss the implications of journalism education on the future of media production. Before starting graduate school, Claire was a student journalist and Editor-in-Chief of the student paper, Hilltop Views, at St. Edward's. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with friends in the city.
Email: cel3434@my.utexas.edu