Cecilia Lee
(She/Her)
As seen in:
LinkedIn,
Yahoo Life,
Aol,
Los Angeles Times,
VICE,
Serious Eats,
Thrillist,
Eater,
Simply Recipes,
Yahoo Lifestyle Australia
and
Covers:
food, travel, culture, lifestyle, arts, film
Doesn't Cover:
hard news
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I wrote about kimchi in the Los Angeles Times food section.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
When I away to college, I showed up with one set of sheets, a towel, a suitcase full of clothes and an electric typewriter.
How is social media changing news?
Everything happens so fast, you can find out about breaking news on social media even before you hear about it in traditional news outlets.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To write the truth with integrity
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
email
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
MS Word, Excel, G-Suite, Photoshop, InDesign, etc.
What's your favorite social network?
I don't love any of them, frankly.
Who do you wish followed you?
I don't know. My first follower on Twitter was Yoko Ono. And I don't know who can beat that?
Why did you become a journalist?
I love writing about all aspects of food, places to share with others and being able to express myself through words and pictures.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
What high school newspaper?
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Hard to say, but I really loved writing my first cookbook, Eating Korean, which was a memoir cookbook.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Today is the best day to start. And start by pitching your dream publication and work your way down. This way, you'll be closer to the top.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime! I'm always open.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
to go eat at 63 restaurants in 2 weeks. No wait. That may also have been my worst assignment.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Any one where they ask you to write for free.
What's your favorite drink?
a well made cappuccino
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In the garden, at a museum or a movie. Or maybe eating at any of the above.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The New Yorker
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That food and travel writing is easy and glamorous
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.