Standard-Times editor receives statewide honor from MHSFCA

Laurie Los Lee is well accustomed to writing stories.

Being the center of a story, well, that's an unfamiliar spot for the veteran sports editor of The Standard-Times in New Bedford.

On Sunday, Lee earned this headline as she was awarded the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association's Media Award. She's the 48th recipient of the award and just the third woman to garner the honor.

"Being a female sports journalist hasn’t always been easy, especially covering a male-dominated sport like football," said Lee. "Early on, I always felt like I had to prove myself and my knowledge of the sport, but through hard work and dedication I’ve been able to build trust with so many coaches and athletes over the years."

"Laurie is the standard for what any reporter should strive to be," said Chris McDaniel, the New England Center for Community Journalism regional sports editor. "Her dedication to her community, her knowledge of the area and rigorous reporting make her one of the best journalists covering Massachusetts high school football, and any sport for that matter. Her excellence as a reporter is matched by her tireless work ethic. Laurie is someone I look up to and enjoy working with."

Lee spent the fall covering the Fairhaven High football team's road to a Division 6 state title. She had all angles of the run covered from weekly scoreboards updated the moment she got home from a Friday night game to running back Justin Marques' multiple record-setting days and stories that go well beyond the box score.

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"I'm incredibly proud of Laurie for the work she does day in and day out covering Greater New Bedford high school sports," said The Standard-Times editor Linda Murphy. "Her commitment to the students is clearly evident, and the coaches' Media Award is well deserved." 

Lee has been covering high school football for nearly 30 years and was introduced to sports by her two older brothers, Paul and Mark Los. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2001 and has been at the The Standard Times for the last 15 years. She's been the sports editor for the last seven.

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Lee covers nine high schools (Apponequet, Bishop Stang, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, GNB Voc-Tech, New Bedford, Old Colony, Old Rochester and Wareham) as a one-person sports staff.

"It shows what kind of impact you can have on your own communities and beyond," said Lee of receiving the statewide honor. "Even though I cover just nine schools out of the entire state, I’ve been told countless times from opposing coaches and fans that they turn to my in-depth coverage for insight." 

"No one knows the SouthCoast better than Laurie," said McDaniel.

Lee lives in New Bedford with her husband, Robert, and daughters, Mackenzie, 9, and Makayla, 5.

She's previously worked as a sports editor at the Taunton Daily Gazette and as a sports reporter in Rhode Island (Kent County Daily Times) and Maryland (The Gazette in Gaithersburg). During her time at URI, she worked at The Washington Post as a copy aide during the summers.