This summer I worked on the business and technology unit at NBC News in New York as a reporting intern. Following up from my research last summer on bias in reporting in and about East Asia, particularly China, and the Pacific, during my LiA project I had the chance to report on US business relations with East Asia. In this reflection, I want to spotlight a few articles I wrote during my work at NBC and how my time there through Laidlaw taught me how to be a stronger journalist and leader. Although my academic and professional interests focus on East Asia, my beat at NBC focused on business news more broadly—making complex topics more digestible for articles focused not on stockbrokers but average readers. My first article covered the US covered a subset of the housing crisis: across major metro areas, even traditional white-picket-fence suburban neighborhoods are seeing major increases in rentals simply because prices and mortgage rates are so high that people can’t afford to buy. The topic was sensitive—I interviewed a number of renters struggling to access housing in their city, and they shared their stories emotionally. To convey their stories appropriately and ensure they felt comfortable discussing with me, I had to be sensitive and respectful. The final story is here—I hope I could do their stories justice: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/real-estate/renters-are-flooding-suburbs-cant-afford-buy-homes-rcna211928.

Another story worth noting was a piece I did on a Korean firm’s major investment in a Philadelphia shipyard.orth noting was a piece I did on a Korean firm’s major investment in a Philadelphia shipyard. This story was particularly fascinating because it goes against the political zeitgeist that many of our stories on East Asia-US relations fit into: typically, our stories bemoaned the administration’s new tariffs and spotlighted business owners in the US or elsewhere impacted by them. This story, in contrast, showed a place where an East Asian company is investing in US manufacturing — a story that fits within the Trump administration’s agenda rather than criticizing it. To write that kind of story felt brave — journalism is about writing up the truth, whether or not it agrees with my political sensibilities. I felt I did that here. Besides that, I was delighted to work on a story so focused on my area of interest in East Asia and to work with an experienced reporter to handle it and write up interviews. The story’s available here: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/flagging-us-industry-looks-new-life-philadelphia-ship yard-rcna219059.

One final story I want to share is the last story I wrote for NBC, focused on buskers’ experience using payment apps to take in tips. This was a creative pitch that I took all the way from an ideas stage to a final story, and I was very pleased to be able to interview performers from around the country in a variety of fields about the way technology has changed live music, magic and stunt performing. I thought this piece was a great example of what good journalism should do: take a storyline that’s ongoing and widely discussed—technology’s transformation of business and society—and find a creative angle to spotlight underdiscussed and unique stories. It required innovative thinking, building trust and sensitive interviewing, and I was grateful for the performers I spoke with for giving me a chance to share their stories. The story can be read here: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/street-performers-rely-apps-venmo-cash-fades-rcna223138.

I’m very grateful to the Laidlaw Scholars Foundation, the Georgetown University Laidlaw Scholars Programme and Center for Research and Fellowships stafr, and all the mentors—academic, research and professional—who have supported me during the Laidlaw Programme and during my time at NBC. Thank you!