Lauren Mayk - WFLA-TV Newschannel 8

Lauren Mayk joined WFLA as a reporter in late 2010, covering news and consumer issues in the Tampa Bay area.

Her coverage here has included an investigation into an explosion of tax fraud in the Tampa area by criminals who were stealing other people's identities to file tax returns and obtain big refunds from the government. The 8 On Your Side investigation revealed the widespread fraud and the impact on taxpayer victims, and caught the attention of legislators who have pushed for changes at the IRS.

Prior to joining the News Channel 8 team, Lauren had already been on Florida's west coast for nine years, working as an anchor and reporter in Sarasota.

She started her journalism career in newspapers, working at The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Sarasota Herald-Tribune, The Detroit Free Press and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Lauren was born in Philadelphia and grew up in metro Detroit. She attended the University of Michigan, where she started out studying classical voice performance and considered a career in opera. She ended up as a political science major and was editor-in-chief of The Michigan Daily newspaper.