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Elise Hu on Muck Rack

Elise Hu

Verified
Los Angeles
As seen in: Built for Change, NPR, TED Talks Daily, Medium, MSN Canada, Yahoo Entertainment, Scribd, Code Switch, Here & Now Anytime, Los Angeles Times, News.com.au, The Atlantic, WIRED Magazine and
Covers:  culture, politics, state government, technology, innovation
Doesn't Cover: finance, gadget reviews
Journo & host @TEDTalks Daily | 🎧@NPR Vet | Author FLAWLESS📖 | Co-founder @reasonablevol | Don't hang around here much anymore.

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Elise Hu’s Biography

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Elise Hu is currently an international correspondent for NPR and serving as the network's first Seoul, South Korea bureau chief. She joined the public media company in 2011 to lead the digital launch of NPR's StateImpact network. A Texas native, she was previously a founding reporter at The Texas Tribune, a non-profit online news startup devoted to government and politics. While at the Tribune, Elise oversaw television partnerships and multimedia projects; contributed to The New York Times' exp…

Elise Hu’s Journalist Portfolio

Pop-Up Politics: GOP Stump Speeches With A Twist : NPR

Pop-Up Politics: GOP Stump Speeches With A Twist : NPR

Just in time for the South Carolina primary, we've given the stump speeches of Republican presidential conten…

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Minority Rules: Who Gets To Claim Status As A Person Of Color? : NPR

Minority Rules: Who Gets To Claim Status As A Person Of Color? : NPR

Massachusetts Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren isn't backing down from her claim of Native Americ…

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Korea's Air Is Dirty, But It's Not All Close-Neighbor China's Fault

Korea's Air Is Dirty, But It's Not All Close-Neighbor China's Fault

On this day - and on most days this spring - the measures of the most dangerous kind of pollution in Seoul ex…

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As A Japanese Mountain Village Shrinks, So Do Its Prospects For Kabuki

As A Japanese Mountain Village Shrinks, So Do Its Prospects For Kabuki

In the central Japanese mountain village of Damine, children have kept up an unbroken tradition of performing…

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Articles

Beyond the Talk: Ann Patchett on reading, writing and the books she can’t put down

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By Ann Patchett, Elise Hu Verified
| TED Talks Art
Novelist Ann Patchett joins Elise Hu, host of "TED Talks Daily," to discuss her enduring love affair with books (and the absurdity of book bans). Patchett reflects on her evolving relationship with reading and writing, how her independent bookstore cultivates community — and why 2026 might be the best year for novels she's seen yet.
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How to escape the smartphone doom loop

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By Larissa S. May, Elise Hu Verified
| TED Talks Art
Larissa May has spent a decade building digital wellness programs for young people, and she's discovered something quietly radical: the smartphone doom loop of screen dependence and anxiety isn't inevitable, and joy (not restriction) is the way out. She makes the case for a different relationship with technology — starting with swapping screens for some analog fun.
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Downtime With: Manoush Zomorodi

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By Elise Hu Verified, Manoush Minutes
| Downtime Newsletter
The longtime tech and culture journalist on small changes that can make us feel like ourselves again. And why she won't tell you to stay away from screens. Note: Alisha is currently on maternity leave until the summer. In the meantime, Downtime is edited by Elise Hu. Our full weekly posts during this time are exclusively for paid subscribers. Upgrade here for full access and get 20% off your subscription.
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Interview

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Have you ever used a typewriter?

My parents had a Brother brand typewriter when I was in elementary school. I thought it was pretty cool except I am a mess with whiteout.

What's your favorite social network?

Twitter.

Why did you become a journalist?

Because I'm a junkie for new experiences.

Awards

National Edward R. Murrow Award

2010 - Best Use of Video

In recognition of what the Association terms "outstanding achievements in electronic journalism."

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Gannett Foundation Award for Innovation in Watchdog Journalism

2010 - Watchdog Journalism

The Gannett Foundation Award for Innovation in Watchdog Journalism recognizes groundbreaking journalists in their quest to help communities understand and address important issues through creativity and the use of digital tools.

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