Hi there. I’m an independent journalist based between Greece and the US. My work has appeared in The New York Times, NPR, BBC, Deutsche Welle, PBS, CBC, Monocle Radio, Al Jazeera and other outlets.

Over the past decade, I have worked as a reporter, producer, editor, and director for leading US public radio newsrooms—covering higher education, technology, migration, and various other topics.

I began my career at NPR’s Investigative Unit, where I contributed reporting and research to a Peabody-award-winning series on mustard gas testing experiments conducted on American servicemen during World War II and an award-winning series on the debilitating injuries nurses endure on the job.

Most recently I was a staff reporter for The World, a daily international news program and BBC co-production that airs on 300+ public radio stations across the US. I was the show’s technology reporter and later the program’s foreign correspondent in Athens.

In 2021, I was awarded the National Edward R. Murrow Award for “Excellence in Sound” for my report on the conditions for refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos—a story I sound-designed and mixed entirely on my own, partly from my car in the field.

I’m fluent in Greek (my native language) and in English; almost fluent in Spanish; and currently learning Arabic.

I’m HEFAT-certified.

My last name is pronounced “ee-manu-LEE-doo.”

Click here to email me at lydia [dot] emman [at] gmail [dot] com.

Click here to download my resume.

I’m available for:

→ LIVE radio hits & breaking news coverage
→ Feature & spot reporting
→ Fixing
→ Tape syncs
→ Audio gathering & production
→ Sound design consultation

Work samples

RADIO & BYLINES
Greek shipwreck: hi-tech investigation suggests coastguard responsible for sinking (The Guardian)
EU details violations at Greece’s ‘model’ refugee camps (Al Jazeera)
After Greece's worst train crash, young Greeks rally for change ahead of elections (NPR)
How Free is the Press in the Birthplace of Democracy? (The New York Times)
With drones and thermal cameras, Greek officials monitor refugees (Al Jazeera)
Migrants displaced by fire at Moria camp on Lesbos: ‘Nobody’s life is safe here’ (The World)
Athens’ first-ever chief heat officer says historic heat wave feels ominous, like a ‘prequel’ of the city’s future (The World)
'People are being abandoned in the middle of the sea': Claims that Greece pushes back migrants to Turkey are rising (The World)
In Greece, a clergyman’s death and a pandemic reignite shared communion spoon debate (The World)
On Evia island, locals are on the frontlines of the wildfire battles (The World)
Amid pandemic, Animal Crossing gamers create dreamy ‘islands,’ travel and mingle with friendly (and really cute) animal neighbors (The World)
Greece finally has its #MeToo moment (The World)
Facebook content moderators sue over psychological trauma (BBC x The World)
Content moderators worldwide organize to demand better work conditions (The World)
What Western media got wrong about China’s social credit system (WIRED x The World)
Earning a 2-year degree while serving a 6-year sentence (NPR)
Chinese science fiction gets global recognition (The World x The World in Words podcast)
Gyro is the ‘holy grail’ of Greek fast food. An Athens restaurant offers a vegan alternative (The World)
As the 2020 US election nears, voters still vulnerable (BBC)

AWARDS

Edward R. Murrow Award for “Excellence in Sound” (2021) for Lesbos refugees report (WGBH)

Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award (2016) and NIHCM 9th Annual Television and Radio Journalism Award (2016) for Injured Nurses series (NPR)

FAQs

For the sake of transparency, clarity, and safety, here are some of the most frequently asked questions I get from people who are gracious enough to speak with me for stories. The purpose of this is not to discourage sources from asking these questions but to provide some visibility into my process and thinking.

We’re about to do an interview. Are we going on LIVE radio?

No! I never go LIVE on air with a source/ interviewee. If I’m pointing a microphone in your face, it’s because I’m recording our conversation to either 1) use the sound in a radio piece later or 2) to have an accurate record of our conversation. I will have a discussion with you about how the sound will be used before hitting the Record button.

Are you going to cut down/ edit the interview recording?

Almost definitely. I’ve never aired/ published an interview completely unedited. If speaking with you for a radio story I will select a few soundbites (00:05-00:45 second clips) from our conversation and weave them between my own narration. If the interview is airing in a Q&A format I will cut down your answers for clarity and length. If the interview is for a print/digital story I will select a few quotes to include in the piece.

Where is this being published/airing?

As a freelancer, I can’t always be certain where a story may end up until I have finished all the interviews and research. If I know where a story is airing/being published I will let you know as soon as I reach out to you for an interview, or as soon as I find out. Publication plans can change for a variety of reasons but I will do my best to keep you up-to-date.

What does “on the record” and “off the record” mean?

There are no across-the-board definitions of “off the record,” “on background,” and “on the record.” These terms can mean different things depending on the journalist or news organization you speak with. I always try to have a clarifying discussion before an interview to make sure everyone is on the same page about the terms of the interview. Generally I go into interviews with this understanding of the terms:

ON THE RECORD: Everything stated and materials shared could be used in a news story and attributed to the source, by name, unless otherwise agreed upon. In some situations a source may want to share something off the record during an on the record interview. That is fine, as long as we’ve discussed it beforehand.

ON BACKGROUND: Information shared may be used in a news story without quoting or naming a source directly. I often receive tips on background and chase to get statements and information on the record, without revealing details about the initial source. Alternatively, a source may want to share information and have it attributed to them, without being directly quoted.

OFF THE RECORD: No part of what is said during an interview will be used in a news story or referenced or shared with a third party in any way. I will not, for example, mention information shared off-the-record to another source to get them to verify it on-the-record. I try to limit off-the-record interviews to very sensitive situations and generally do not agree to off the record interviews with public officials. Everyone involved, including myself, must first agree that something is off the record.

Please do not send materials or information that you wish to keep off the record or on background before we have a discussion about whether I am able to honor your request!

Can I remain anonymous or use a pseudonym?

I often interview people in precarious and dangerous situations and understand that some people can only speak with me if they remain anonymous (fully or partly) or use a pseudonym. I try to grant requests for anonymity whenever possible. However, policies on this vary newsroom by newsroom and it’s important to have a conversation early on about expectations and what’s possible.

What are you doing to ensure source security and privacy?

I take the privacy, security, and well-being of people who speak with me for stories extremely seriously. I take every step possible to safeguard sensitive materials sent to me as well as to protect the identity of sources who wish to remain anonymous. I prefer using encrypted communication platforms, such as Signal, to communicate for stories and regularly delete or take other steps to anonymize interactions. If you want a more secure way to get in touch or to find out more details about my security protocols, please email lydia.emman@protonmail.com.