Lauren Collins, Paris-based staff writer for The New Yorker, specializes in cultural and political stories with transatlantic resonance. Since joining the publication in 2008, she has developed a signature approach that combines historical excavation with contemporary analysis, particularly focused on European identity formation and diaspora experiences.
Recent recognitions include shortlisting for the European Press Prize and a National Magazine Award nomination, affirming her status as a leading voice in international reporting. Follow her ongoing work through The New Yorker and her Substack Lettre Recommandée, where she explores Franco-American cultural intersections.
We’ve followed Lauren Collins’s work for over a decade, observing her evolution from a sharp-eyed chronicler of transatlantic cultural nuances to a leading voice on historical reckoning and global political narratives. Based in Paris since 2010, Collins has mastered the art of weaving personal observation with rigorous investigative journalism, creating pieces that resonate with both intellectual depth and human warmth.
Collins began her career at The New Yorker in 2008, where she quickly distinguished herself through profiles that blended anthropological insight with literary flair. Her early pieces explored Franco-American cultural intersections, laying groundwork for her acclaimed 2016 memoir When in French: Love in a Second Language. Since relocating to Europe, she’s expanded her scope to examine:
“History isn’t just what we remember—it’s what we choose to commemorate,” Collins wrote in her 2023 Substack essay on Marseille’s contested colonial statues.
This 2025 investigation into election security revealed how Canada’s intelligence community contained Chinese-language misinformation campaigns on WeChat. Collins combined technical analysis of platform algorithms with interviews from diaspora community leaders, creating a nuanced portrait of digital-age sovereignty challenges. Her reporting highlighted the particular vulnerability of linguistic minority groups to targeted disinformation while arguing against simplistic “foreign interference” narratives.
In this ongoing Substack series, Collins excavates the only successful coup d’état in U.S. history—an 1898 white supremacist takeover of Wilmington, North Carolina’s government. Through archival research and contemporary interviews, she traces how the massacre’s legacy shapes modern voting rights battles. The project exemplifies her method: pairing historical rigor with present-day political relevance.
This cultural analysis piece mapped how EU expansion and migration patterns are reshaping continental identity. Collins spent months attending citizenship ceremonies from Copenhagen to Lisbon, crafting a mosaic of personal stories that challenged both Euroskeptic and federalist orthodoxies.
Collins increasingly seeks projects that connect contemporary issues to their historical roots. A successful pitch might examine how current EU agricultural policies echo colonial trade frameworks, or trace the 19th-century origins of modern language politics in Quebec. Avoid standalone historical pieces without clear present-day stakes.
Her recent work on Marseille’s Creole communities demonstrates interest in identity formation at Europe’s margins. Pitches could explore topics like the revival of Occitan language in tech startups or Sámi influencer networks reshaping Nordic social media landscapes.
Collins prioritizes stories about changing power structures over personality-driven pieces. Rather than profiling individual politicians, she’s more likely to investigate how consular services adapt to diaspora needs or analyze museum repatriation policies as diplomatic tools.
With fluency in French and working knowledge of Danish, Collins often incorporates non-English perspectives. Successful pitches should identify interview subjects comfortable speaking in their native languages, particularly from immigrant and second-generation communities.
While occasionally reporting on North American affairs, Collins primarily seeks stories that center European experiences or examine global issues through non-American lenses. Pitches about US cultural trends should demonstrate clear relevance to international audiences.
2017 National Magazine Award Finalist: Recognized for feature writing on Belgium’s counterterrorism policies, this nomination cemented Collins’s reputation for blending geopolitical analysis with intimate human stories. The judging committee particularly noted her ability to explain complex security frameworks through the experiences of Moroccan-Belgian community organizers.
2022 European Press Prize Shortlist: Her investigation into Catalonia’s memory laws—legislation governing how historical events are taught—showcased Collins’s skill at navigating contested historical narratives. The series influenced Spain’s parliamentary debate on educational reform.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Culture, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
