Laura Ling Speaker Biography
Award-Winning Journalist, Documentary Producer, Author, and Vice President of Programming for Hearst Television’s Very Local
Laura Ling is an award-winning journalist, media executive, speaker, and author whose reporting has illuminated some of the world’s most pressing social and human rights issues. Throughout her career, she has covered stories ranging from slave labor in the Amazon and energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa to the challenges facing military families in the United States. Through compelling storytelling and firsthand reporting, Ling brings audiences a unique perspective on resilience, freedom, and the human condition.
Hearst Television’s Very Local
Today, Ling serves as Vice President of Programming for Hearst Television’s Very Local streaming platform, where she oversees the development and production of original programming that highlights compelling stories and communities across America. Prior to Hearst Television, she served as Head of Development for Discovery Communications’ Seeker Network, where she focused on creating engaging content for digital audiences. Her acclaimed web series, Rituals, explored the daily practices of extraordinary individuals and the habits that drive success, purpose, and achievement. Ling’s work has been recognized with numerous honors, including a national Gracie Award celebrating exceptional programming created by women and for women.
Documentary Series Host
Ling has hosted multiple documentary series and specials throughout her career. She hosted two documentary series for the E! Network, including E! Investigates and Society X with Laura Ling, which explored topics ranging from bullying and addiction to synthetic drugs and other pressing social issues. Her ability to examine complex subjects through a human lens has made her one of television’s most respected documentary journalists.
Investigative Journalist and Producer
Before her work with Discovery and Hearst Television, Ling served as Vice President of Current TV’s journalism department and as a correspondent for the network. There, she helped create and oversee Vanguard, the critically acclaimed investigative documentary series that earned numerous prestigious honors, including the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award and multiple Emmy nominations. Her leadership in investigative journalism demonstrated her commitment to uncovering important truths and bringing underreported stories to light.
Captivity in North Korea and Bestselling Memoir
In March 2009, while reporting on the trafficking of North Korean women along the Chinese-North Korean border, Ling and fellow journalist Euna Lee were captured by North Korean soldiers and held captive for 140 days. Following intense international efforts, the two journalists received a special pardon and returned home to the United States. Ling chronicled this life-changing experience in the New York Times bestselling memoir, Somewhere Inside: One Sister’s Captivity in North Korea and the Other’s Fight to Bring Her Home, co-authored with her sister, Lisa Ling. Her remarkable story offers a powerful perspective on freedom, hope, perseverance, and the importance of defending human rights around the world.
Television and Journalism Career
Ling’s distinguished journalism career includes serving as a correspondent for KCET’s award-winning news magazine series SoCal Connected, where her reporting earned both an Emmy Award and a national Edward R. Murrow Award. She has also worked as a producer for Channel One News and co-created Breaking It Down, a documentary series that aired on MTV. Her reporting has appeared on ABC’s Nightline, NBC, PBS, Discovery, and numerous other major media outlets. In addition, Ling has contributed editorials to the Los Angeles Times, CNN.com, and other national publications.
Honors and Service
Among her many honors, Ling was named one of Glamour magazine’s Women of the Year in 2009. Her work has also earned Emmy Awards, an Edward R. Murrow Award, a Gracie Award, and recognition for journalistic courage and excellence. Beyond journalism, she serves as a Service Ambassador for Points of Light, the nonpartisan organization dedicated to solving social challenges through volunteer service and civic engagement. Through her reporting, speaking, and advocacy, Laura Ling continues to inspire audiences to better understand the world, embrace empathy, and recognize freedom as both a right and a responsibility.
Laura Ling Speaking Topics
Journey of Hope
Laura Ling captivates audiences with a raw and candid look inside the life of an international journalist, including the importance of exposing critical global issues, the challenges faced in various parts of the world, and what she learned in one of the world's most reclusive countries. Her story provides a rare and unique window into the so-called "Hermit Nation", and what happens when people from "enemy" nations get a chance to interact and communicate face-to-face. She recounts her time in captivity, from her violent capture, to fears that she might never see her family again, to the glimmers of compassion directed towards her by her captors. Laura talks about what sustained her throughout that terrifying period of isolation and the ways in which she fought to win back her freedom. Ling inspires others not only to find hope and strength within ourselves, but to work towards a common humanity in an increasingly divisive world.
Freedom as a Responsibility
Ling sheds light on critical human rights issues and the struggle for freedom taking place around the world and in the U.S. Her story also provides a rare and unique window into the so-called "Hermit Nation," and what happens when people from "enemy" nations get a chance to interact and communicate face-to-face. She inspires audiences to view freedom, not just as a right, but as a responsibility.
Rituals That Heal the Human Spirit
Ling talks about the power of rituals to overcome our biggest obstacles and how these practices can help us reach our greatest successes. She recounts her time in captivity in North Korea and the lessons she learned about adversity. While Ling shares her ritual of gratitude that that helped sustain her throughout that terrifying period of isolation, she inspires audiences to discover their own daily practices that can lead to new perspectives on life.
A Joint Presentation with Lisa Ling!
Laura Ling Books
Somewhere Inside: One Sister’s Captivity in North Korea and the Other’s Fight to Bring Her Home
Purchase BookLaura Ling Videos
Laura Ling Articles
Laura Ling Speaker Testimonials
"Laura was an incredible delight. We had a standing room only crowd; students and community members said it was the best lecture event they've ever attended at MCLA. One class was even inspired to write music based on her book. Her lecture was endearing and touching, and she was so gracious!"
- | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
"Laura Ling is an outstanding advocate for service and change. We were honored to have her share her energy and optimism at our National Conference on Volunteering and Service. Laura's compelling story of losing her freedom while she was imprisoned in North Korea captured the imagination of the 5,000 civic leaders in audience. She offered a great reminder to us all of the importance of feeling grateful for the freedom we experience every day."
- Points of Light | Michelle Nunn, CEO
"EXCELLENT!!! She was amazing!! It was so interesting listening to her story after hearing about it in the news. She was great afterwards...many of our members wanted to take pictures with her and she was very gracious and took pictures until there was no one left. Again, she was absolutely wonderful!!!"
- | Women's Transportation Seminar
What a compelling speaker! Laura Ling is articulate, warm, connected with the audience and shared her story in a way that showed her strength and tenacity. I highly recommend Laura Ling.
- | Voices, Inc.
