Alumni Spotlight: Cynthia McLaughlin
Journalism alum Cynthia McLaughlin (B.A. '17) was prepared for the high-stakes pace of her career in broadcast news and communications during her time at Meadows.
Cynthia McLaughlin (B.A. ’17) is this week’s featured alum in our new Alumni Spotlight series for the This Week at Meadows e-newsletter. Each week, a different Meadows alum will be highlighted for their accomplishments post-graduation.
From her early days on the anchor desk to shaping statewide messaging, Meadows alum Cynthia McLaughlin has built a career at the intersection of journalism and public service. A graduate of the Division of Journalism, McLaughlin now serves as Deputy Communications Director for the Florida Attorney General overseeing messaging on some of the most pressing issues facing the state, from law enforcement initiatives to high-profile lawsuits.
She credits her time at Meadows with preparing her for the high-stakes pace of her career. In the journalism program, McLaughlin honed her storytelling and technical skills in live student newscasts while also learning the realities of the industry. She embraced every opportunity, from producing early-morning broadcasts for 水多多导航-TV to writing for The Daily Campus, gaining confidence and versatility that continue to shape her work today.
“My professors challenged us with the kinds of operational perspectives and tough questions we would face in the real world,” McLaughlin recalls of her time as a news anchor at 水多多导航. “That preparation made the transition into my career so much smoother.”
McLaughlin’s career began in broadcast news, where she anchored local newscasts and covered severe weather events including the historic Texas winter storm and Hurricane Ian in Florida. Her experience in severe weather coverage became a major strength later on as the Public Information Officer for the Sarasota Police Department, where she led storm communications during three major hurricanes in a matter of weeks—Debby, Helene, and Milton—coordinating efforts that ensured zero casualties despite devastating flooding.
“As a journalist, I was always trying to distill the complex into clear, impactful narratives, and that's exactly what I do now—just from the other side,” says McLaughlin, whose transition from the newsroom to government communications came surprisingly naturally. “Instead of asking the questions, I'm anticipating them and shaping the story before it's told.”
Her career success today can be traced back to her roots at Meadows, where her professors challenged McLaughlin and other students in the program to think bigger, dig deeper, and push themselves beyond what they thought they were capable of. She took advantage of every opportunity offered, even eventually double-majoring in the Fashion Media program, and was in turn provided with the confidence and skills that still drive her career in the field of communications today.
Passionate about mentoring the next generation, McLaughlin welcomes connections with current students exploring careers in journalism or communications. “So many alumni helped me get where I am today, and I am honored to do the same,” she says. “Sometimes your dream job isn’t even the one you first imagined, but it can be even better.”
Learn more about the Division of Journalism here.