What was your first job as a journalist?
Documenting the UCLA experience
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes
How is social media changing news?
I think social media has made news faster, louder, and more emotionally reactive, but not necessarily better. The speed is useful, but it has trained people to consume headlines, vibes, and clips instead of context. Literacy and comprehension feel like they have dropped, and with that, the appetite for facts, nuance, and objective truth has weakened too. A lot of people do not want to understand a story. They want to feel instantly confirmed by it.
At the same time, I do think it creates an opening for journalists who can still read deeply, think clearly, verify information, and communicate it well. As more people get pulled toward noise, those skills become more valuable, not less. The edge now belongs to people who can slow the chaos down, explain what is actually happening, and earn trust through clarity. So I am pessimistic about the trend, but hopeful that real rigor will stand out more because of it.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Peter Parker
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To me, being a journalist means being a bridge between creators and audiences. It is about taking information, stories, and perspectives from the people making the work and translating them in a way that informs, excites, and respects the audience. It requires curiosity, responsibility, and a commitment to accuracy.
It also means understanding the power of context. A journalist does not just repeat announcements or headlines. We explain why something matters, how it fits into a larger cultural moment, and what it means for the communities who care about it.
In entertainment journalism especially, it is about honoring the craft behind storytelling while also respecting the fans who invest their time, emotion, and imagination into these worlds. Good journalism builds trust, asks thoughtful questions, and creates a space where stories can be understood more deeply.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
e-mail, direct to the point, and can make sense with being likened to something else
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Adobe Creative Suite, Capcut, Zapier, Da Vinci, Canon M50, Samsung S24-S26 Ultra, Insta360 cameras, Coman Monopod, Tribex Tripod, Ulanzi
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter when it was Twitter. Now maybe Instagram
Who do you wish followed you?
Honestly, I want the most ridiculously elite, creatively affirming follow list possible. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, the full casts of Parks and Rec, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Wire, The Newsroom, and Warrior, plus everyone associated with TMNT and Dragon Ball.
But if I am really being selfish, I also want the tastemakers. Give me Anna Wintour, Law Roach, and Zendaya in fashion. Give me David Chang, Matty Matheson, and Roy Choi in food. Give me Marques Brownlee, Joanna Stern, and maybe even Tim Cook lurking for tech. At that point it stops being a follower list and becomes a handpicked council of cultural validation designed specifically to make me feel chosen, correct, and extremely cool.
Why did you become a journalist?
I became a journalist because I wanted to tell stories and be a voice for people who were rarely seen clearly, let alone centered. Growing up as a 6'3" Asian kid in Stockton, California, during that long stretch where the city was constantly labeled the worst in America, Hollywood did not feel like a real path. It felt like something people mocked you for even wanting.
I did not see many people who looked like me, came from where I came from, or carried themselves the way I did being treated like they belonged in entertainment, especially not in front of or around the industry in a meaningful way. Journalism became my way in. It let me get close to the stories, the creators, and the culture I cared about, while also creating space for people like me who were usually left out of the picture.
At its best, journalism is not just access. It is advocacy through attention. It is deciding what gets taken seriously, what gets remembered, and who gets heard. I got into it because I love storytelling, but I stayed because I know what it feels like to grow up thinking those worlds were not built for you. If I can help make that door feel more real for someone else, then the work matters.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Anything where I get to highlight the art and dedication of creators
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Have the skills and ability to make a living outside of journalism.
When's the best time to pitch you?
The morning or the last few hours of the workday
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Do you want to make toy content for a living?
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Rewriting breaking news from other websites
What's your favorite drink?
Old Fashioned, Sprite, Dr. Pepper Zero, cold but not iced water
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Couch, Gym, Pickleball Court, AYCE Restaurant, friends' places, escape room, but most likely working, so movie theater, red carpet, studio
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Time
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That I make a significant amount of money
