Commitment to diversity
Identity is central to human existence: it gives us a sense of self and distinctiveness. Whether race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status, identity has been the basis for oppression throughout history. As a journalist, I hope to remedy these disparities by being accurate and thoughtful about representation in my work.
Creating room for equity
- Choosing topics thoughtfully
- Intentionally selecting sources
As a first-generation Japanese and Taiwanese American, female, and queer journalist, representation means everything to me. I feel indescribable joy seeing Asians and Asian Americans succeed in creative spaces — especially given the systemic barriers they often face — and a small thrill when a major character in a film reflects even one of my identities. With that understanding, I aim to create more spaces for representation in my work, so individuals in other marginalized communities can feel seen and included.
Choosing topics thoughtfully
Highlander
The Highlander’s mission statement says that “With each issue, we aim to be an insightful and engaging news source, blending reporting, analysis, and commentary at the convergence of cultural, social, and political relevance,” and that we are “committed to embracing a range of voices and viewpoints to capture nuance and complexity.” I take these lines seriously in my role as editor-in-chief.
At the beginning of the year, while brainstorming with my managing editors, Kiana and Isabelle, we knew we wanted one issue to center on the Bay Area’s unique diversity—particularly the rich ethnic communities rooted in San Francisco. Rather than framing the story around assimilation or the traditional “melting pot” narrative, we chose to explore the idea of a “salad bowl,” where cultures maintain their individuality while coexisting. Issue 2 became one of my favorite editions because of that intentionality: we explored ethnic enclaves in San Francisco, spotlighted popular cultural eats among students, examined dragon boat racing, and analyzed the rise of fusion food.
Issue 3 stemmed from a concept I had been thinking about for months: how marginalized communities often build spaces of belonging in places that don’t explicitly center their identities. That idea shaped our center spread on found families, where we explored how the LGBTQ+ community finds refuge in theater and the performing arts, and how Vietnamese Americans have historically built community through nail salons. From there, the broader theme naturally came about: community, or what AI can’t replace.
In both issues, topic selection wasn’t random. It was intentional and led by our mission to raise underrepresented voices and ensure our coverage reflects the multidimensional communities around us.
News and culture beats
While Highlander magazine is published six times a year, I previously wrote around five stories per semester, which gave me far more flexibility in selecting topics that intentionally created space for representation.
For example, in my article “Boichik Bagels founder Emily Winston builds a minority-owned enterprise,” I explored not only the rise of a beloved local bagel company, but also how Winston’s identity influenced her journey as an entrepreneur. As an LGBTQ+, Jewish woman, she spoke openly about how her lived experiences informed her values and mission behind her work. While some may argue that highlighting identity risks diminishing achievement, I was intentional about centering it because that was how Winston wanted her story told. To exclude that dimension would have been to deny her agency in defining her own success.
As she told me, “Everyone can build successful businesses. You can be in any minority group, and you, too, can build an awesome business.”
As another example of intentionally selecting topics to broaden representation, I wrote about the latest The Boy and the Heron in my article, “‘The Boy and the Heron’ U.S. debut takes flight.” At the time, much of our online media outlet’s film coverage centered on domestic releases, and I wanted to make space for foreign cinema in our repertoire.
Covering a Studio Ghibli film allowed me to explore how its storytelling deviates from Western conventions, particularly the absence of a clearly defined villain and the nonlinear pacing. By emphasizing these differences, I was able to introduce our audience to alternative narrative structures and expand the cultural scope of our coverage.
Boichik Bagels founder Emily Winston builds a minority-owned enterprise
Intentionally selecting sources
To me, it’s a no-brainer that when covering topics about marginalized groups, representation should exist not only in the topic itself but also in the informed sources selected.
One example of being intentional about who I interviewed was when I was reporting on the election of Gabriel Attal, the youngest and first openly gay prime minister of France. I spoke not only with French individuals who could comment on his politics, but also with sources who could contextualize what his appointment meant for LGBTQ+ representation. While the presence of queer political leaders may be increasingly less surprising, the push for representation remains crucial, especially within more traditional institutions.
I wanted to frame his appointment as a symbol of progress, particularly because he faced less serious political repercussions for being openly gay, a reality that would not have been possible decades ago. Reporting within that historical context required thoughtful sourcing, which is why I turned to Wenter Shyu, the queer Taiwanese American owner of Third Culture Bakery, whose perspective helped ground the story in lived experience.
To emphasize the significance of the moment, I included a timeline of major LGBTQ+ rights milestones in the United States alongside reporting on Gabriel Attal’s appointment.
Including that timeline helped solidify the broader historical framework and made the relevance of his election — especially as a prime minister of another country — clearer to my audience. By showing the long and ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S., I was able to draw parallels and emphasize how representation in political leadership, whether in France or elsewhere, does not exist alone but is part of a larger, global progression led by decades of advocacy and resistance.
