The LCB Institute
— playing it forward —
A Washington, DC-based fellowship for veteran, mid-career & rookie journalists looking to break out on their own as independent journalists in today’s ever-evolving AI era.
Veteran journalists
Recently laid off?
Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.
Regional, nonprofit & independent journalist hub
LCB founder Matt Laslo is passionate about training small, startup & nonprofit news outlets on outsmarting Silicon Valley algorithms in today’s post-social media era
Real-time rewiring: Coach reporters, editors & publishers on collaborating wth their traditional, now-former competitors
Power in numbers: The LCB’ operates as an informal co-op for a rotating cast of journalists who share sources, videos, edits, interviews, gear, etc.
The LCB’s credentialed and served as an oasis for alumni of:
Associated Press, Business Insider, CBS, NPR, Buzzfeed, CJR, CNN, Daily Beast, Daily Caller, The Guardian, Kaiser Health News, Kyiv Independent, LA Times, Meidas Touch, New York Post, New Republic, Politico, VICE News, Raw Story, Vanity Fair, VICE News Tonight w/ HBO and the Washington Post
Mid-career redirection
Your bridge to independence
Frustrated with the constraints of corporate media? As you break out on your own, The LCB Institute is here to be your bridge as you establish yourself your new brand as a trusted independent journalist.
LCB abroad
The LCB’s proudly sponsored two Ukraine war correspondents, a Canadian editor’s green card, a Russian journalist’s asylum claim & a work visa for an Indian journalist
Sponsored permanent residency applications for fmr. Thai (2022), Dutch (2019) & Chinese (2017) interns
AI Show n’ Tell — AISNT (est. March 2026)
Monthly artificial intelligence meetup founded and led by The LCB’s founder
Real-time AI training for independent journalists (mostly) in Washington, DC
LCB founder Matt Laslo does a standup outside the US Capitol for Raw Story.
New media, AI, branding & marketing
LCB fellowships equip journalists with strategic new media know-how, marketing skills, smart branding tips and an in-depth understanding of the AI tools of tomorrow, so they can thrive as independent journalists even as artificial intelligence continues replacing traditional journalists in newsrooms, small and large.
While most are three months, some have stretched on for years.
Beginners
LCB alumni — 50+ interns have gone on to:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CBS, CNN, Columbus Business First, Columbus Dispatch, Face the Nation, Fox News, Hearst Television, Marketplace, McClatchy, NPR, New York Post, Reuters, Sunlight Foundation, US World & News Report, Virginia Public Radio, Washington Post, WAMU, WCVE (Richmond, Va.), Weekly Standard, WSKG (Binghampton, NY), etc.
Columbia Graduate School of Journalism (2!), Headliners Foundation Scholar & the US State Department
Prison to pulpit: Michael J. Moore (writer published by Prison Journalism Project, HuffPost, The Nation, The News Station, The Marshall Project, Bloomberg, Business Insider, etc.)
Sentence reduction for good (journalism) behavior:
After editing and mentoring Michael (2020-21), Laslo endorsed Michael’s successful re-sentencing request in a letter to King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg (2021)
Seattle Pacific Seminary (Master of Divinity, 2025)
As a former pastor-in-training who’s given sermons — including to juvenile prisoners incarcerated in Chicago’s Audy Home — LCB founder Matt Laslo was a proud reference for Michael’s applications
Calvin Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity, 2026)
After studying reformed theology, Michael transferred
Plug into The LCB’s expansive network
While The LCB Institute’s fellowships are unpaid, fellows are plugged into our expansive network of alumni. Fellows are also provided special access to The LCB’s wire service clients, including regional newspapers, nonprofit newsrooms, award-winning alt-weeklies, NPR member stations and national magazines. Washington, DC-based fellowships are tailored to each individual journalist.
The LCB — or Laslo Congressional Bureau — was founded by veteran congressional correspondent and new media Lecturer Matt Laslo. Since 2009, Matt’s served on the board of the Regional Reporters Association, where he helps represent the dwindling numbers of local reporters based in Washington.
