As an intern, I covered dailies and enterprise stories across a variety of beats, culminating in 65 bylines over the course of three semesters.
Here are some highlights:
WORLD
Iranians are exposing their regime’s abuses online — and the world is watching
Sept. 30, 2022
Diaspora Iranians who take a public stance on anti-government protests sparked by Mahsa Amini’s death forfeit ever returning to Iran, where they’d face arrest. Those uploading footage from the ground know they are risking their lives daily. But Iranians see hope now, they say, and that makes it all worth it.
The Twitter account giving a window into China’s internet
April 24, 2022
A translation project is exposing pro-Russian sentiment on Chinese social media to the outside world, challenging Beijing’s image of neutrality in the Ukraine conflict.
‘My heart is numb’: Chinese students stranded in U.S. by coronavirus
Feb. 16, 2022
Lack of flights, strict quarantine requirements and their own Covid-19 infections are making it difficult for Chinese students abroad to travel home.
BUSINESS
How NYC’s pay transparency law sets the stage for the next big shift in work culture
Nov. 4, 2022
Talking about salary is no longer taboo, but rapidly becoming the new norm. What’s happening now with pay transparency will most likely mirror what has happened with remote work in recent years, experts said.
HEALTH
What’s in the ‘magic spray’ World Cup players use, and does it really work?
Dec. 2, 2022
The World Cup has brought renewed attention to the mysterious aerosol that appears to heal all.
Common treatment for joint pain may be linked to faster arthritis progression, research suggests
Nov. 29, 2022
One of the most common pain relief treatments for arthritis, corticosteroid injections, may actually be associated with faster progression of the disease, according to new research.
Expect more fungal infections as their geographic ranges expand, experts warn
Nov. 21, 2022
Many fungal infections are found outside areas where the pathogens are thought to be endemic, a new paper says. Climate change may be to blame.
CULTURE
Three TikTok users go viral for their prank trolling Truth Social app
March 24, 2023
Their goal? To get Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is widely considered to be Trump’s biggest opponent in the 2024 presidential race, trending on Trump’s own platform.
March 3, 2023
No need for polished copy or fancy shoots in today’s social media marketing landscape. When it comes to attracting Gen Z’s attention, anything goes — including a giant cat filter and a plea for help.
San Antonio Zoo goes viral for cockroach Valentine offering
Feb. 6, 2023
Anyone going through a tough breakup this Valentine’s Day may find some solace in feeding their ex to a zoo animal. Symbolically, of course.
Despite the collective rampage against spotted lanternflies, the pests are here to stay
Nov. 17, 2022
Killing spotted lanternflies became part of U.S. culture this summer, and TikTok users spurred a flurry of bug hunting. Did it make a difference?
Black Mormons turn to TikTok to hold majority-white school accountable on race
April 21, 2022
The Black Menaces have gone viral for their man-on-the-street interviews showcasing campus culture at Brigham Young University, a Mormon school with a Black population of less than 1%. The group puts fellow students on the spot with questions about race, identity and politics.
Elaine Hsieh Chou channels her ‘unspoken rage’ in debut novel ‘Disorientation’
April 13, 2022
“Not having a reflection back of your experiences is a form of gaslighting because you’re like, ‘Well, I guess all these things I feel are invented,’” Chou said.
Lana Condor says rom-coms have too long been about ‘women that do not look like me’
March 29, 2022
Lana Condor spoke with NBC Asian America before the “Moonshot” premiere about lessons viewers can take from the film and how she learned to embrace her identity as a Vietnamese American transnational adoptee.
‘I was in it for the memes’: How Subtle Asian Dating sparked unexpected lasting relationships
March 7, 2022
“I would always see other people posting their friends,” one group member said. “And I’d be like, ‘Wow, I wonder if anything happens.’”
IDENTITY
Asian Americans are over just being included — they’re defining mainstream culture
May 12, 2022
A proliferation of movies and television shows in recent years has made it clear Asian Americans are no longer chasing the opportunity to merely be included. Instead, diaspora storytellers are increasingly creating their own spaces on their own terms — without feeling the need to contextualize their stories for the masses.
AAPI Heritage Month: 100 ways Asian Americans and allies are fighting hate crimes, violence
May 2, 2022
From local fundraisers to rallies to national legislation to systemic changes in schools, AAPIs and others are developing solutions to increase visibility and fight racism.
Burned and vandalized: A history of cherry blossoms bearing the brunt of xenophobia
April 26, 2022
From Pearl Harbor to Covid-19 scapegoating, Japanese cherry blossom trees have been destroyed during times of heightened anti-Asian sentiment.
As Chinatowns face rapid change, America’s oldest Chinese restaurants are bent on surviving
March 23, 2022
Traditional Chinese mom-and-pop eateries are facing multiple challenges of gentrification, shifting trends and increased bias attacks.
From crime victims to politicians, misidentifying Asians is part of America’s racist history
March 1, 2022
“I think people misunderstand the term ‘microaggression’ in a lot of ways, because the ‘micro’ doesn’t apply to the impact,” said one person who has been mistaken for others in their field.
Artist’s makeup mirror exhibit symbolizes Asians looking over shoulder in subway
Feb. 7, 2022
Artist Kelly Wang was 6 years old when two of her schoolmates told her they “want to kill all the Chinese people.” Today, the 29-year-old carries a mirrored makeup compact when out in New York City, where she lives and works — not to touch up her appearance, but to subtly check behind her shoulder on a subway platform at night.
Dailies
New Florida bill aims to limit legal protections for news media
Feb. 28, 2022
A Florida bill introduced last week would make it easier to successfully sue news media for defamation, with several provisions that defy landmark Supreme Court rulings on First Amendment rights.
Judge dismisses suit alleging TikTok ‘blackout challenge’ caused girl’s death
Oct. 26, 2022
The ruling illustrates a failed attempt by parents to bypass the protections historically afforded by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects internet platforms like TikTok from being held liable for content posted by third-party users.
Oct. 21, 2022
“I’m not gonna allow their desperation to lead to their harm because people want to dump stuff like that in our community,” said Shirley Raines, who distributed about 200 plain black T-shirts on skid row in hopes of offsetting the influx of “White Lives Matter” shirts.
Dunkin’ changed its rewards program. Devotees of the coffee brand are expressing their outrage.
Oct. 12, 2022
The reactions? Spite, resentment, anger. Some are switching to other coffee chains despite years of loyalty to Dunkin’.
‘We got weights in fish’: A cheating controversy goes viral on TikTok
Oct. 3, 2022
The world of competitive fishing is up in arms over a scandal that saw two fishermen accused of weighing down their catch with lead balls to win a fishing tournament in Cleveland. What nobody at the competition expected, however, was for the incident to also blow up online.
Cities across U.S. hold rallies to commemorate Atlanta-area spa shootings
March 17, 2022
“Why are we tying ourselves in knots trying to solve a problem that we did not create?” author Min Jin Lee said at a rally in New York City.
LGBTQ book ban advocate faces felony child molestation charge in Missouri
Feb. 3, 2022
He sought to ban LGBTQ books from schools for depicting sexual content. Now, he’s facing charges of child molestation and furnishing porn to a minor.
Miss. bill would block incarcerated people, minors from legally changing their name
Jan. 21, 2022
Critics say certain provisions of the “Real You Act of 2022” are “particularly cruel.”