Mae Cornes
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A young woman sits on the floor of a modest apartment in the United States, hands moving as she describes fleeing China during the COVID lockdowns. Her words carry both urgency and vulnerability. On the other side of the world, Yi-Jo Shen, the documentary’s director, watches the footage unfold, directing the shoot remotely from Washington. She coordinated with a videographer in Switzerland, personally conducted the interview, and managed the editing to guarantee that the story was conveyed with both clarity and emotional depth.
That film, Young Chinese Are Running: But Are Their Dreams Coming True?, went on to win an Online Journalism Award. Judges selected it based on submissions from major U.S. outlets, including The Washington Post.
Reporting Across Cultures With Purpose
Yi-Jo Shen, born in Taipei and now based in Washington, produces documentary stories for Radio Free Asia. Her work centers on human rights, press freedom, and the lived experiences of diaspora communities across East Asia and the United States — with a particular emphasis on storytelling that uplifts marginalized and minority voices.
At every stage of production, Shen amplifies perspectives that are often left out of mainstream media coverage. This commitment takes on added significance in light of the ongoing disparities in U.S. broadcast journalism. A 2024 analysis by the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) Broadcast Snapshot Project revealed that no Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) women appeared on-air in 25 of 94 surveyed stations, and AANHPI men were absent from 67 of 94 stations. Overall, only 1 percent of 3,297 broadcasters identified were AANHPI men.
Professor Lori Kido Lopez, a media scholar at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, highlights the importance of representation in journalism as a cornerstone for responsible reporting and deeper cultural understanding. In her book Asian American Media Activism: Fighting for Cultural Citizenship, she explores how Asian American communities engage with media to reshape narratives and challenge reductive portrayals.
Yi-Jo Shen’s commitment to nuance and complexity is evident in her documentary Reflections: To Search the Unseen Threads, which examines Chinese American adoption through the perspectives of both adoptees and adoptive parents. Rejecting one-dimensional portrayals, Shen created space for deeper dialogue around identity, belonging, and emotional continuity.
“I tell stories for communities who often go unheard,” Shen says. “Every interview and every published piece plants a seed. Over time, that seed helps change take root.”
Recognition for Work That Resonates
Yi-Jo Shen has earned honors from the Asian American Journalists Association, Women Photojournalists of Washington, and the Online Journalism Awards. Her stories consistently draw praise for their thoughtful pacing, personal depth, and well-grounded reporting.
Her 2023 film about Chinese youth who left their country after COVID lockdowns connected deeply with audiences. Rather than focus solely on policy, Shen followed the emotional currents of migration, capturing what it means to search for freedom while leaving everything familiar behind.
Everyday Culture as a Lens for Storytelling
In addition to covering migration and dissent, Yi-Jo Shen also tells stories grounded in daily life. Her documentary The Melting Wok: Chinese Food’s American Dream explores how Chinese cuisine evolves in the U.S. and how food bridges generations, identities, and cultures. The series earned the AAJA Excellence in Arts & Culture/Entertainment Reporting award for its impactful storytelling and its exploration of the transformative journey of Chinese cuisine in America.
While working at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Shen directed short films on traditional arts and collaborated with AAPI groups to create a visual history of Washington’s Chinatown. These projects documented local stories that might otherwise fade under rapid development and gentrification. Shen illuminated the everyday experiences of minority communities whose histories frequently remain untold in national narratives media.
A Full-Cycle Visual Journalist
Before relocating to the United States, Yi-Jo Shen reported for Mandarin Daily News in Taiwan. She covered rural education, interviewed teachers and students, produced feature stories, and taught media literacy to thousands of junior high school students. Those early years in the field sharpened her focus on clarity, accessibility, and lasting public impact.
With a strong foundation in both education and journalism, Shen fosters trust within communities and transforms intricate social issues into engaging visual narratives. This approach enhances the emotional foundation of her documentaries while maintaining editorial integrity precision..
Shen directs every part of the storytelling process—pitching ideas, writing scripts, filming, and editing—ensuring consistency in tone and structure from start to finish.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in learning and materials design from the University of Taipei and a master’s in new media photojournalism from George Washington University. That academic training deepens the technical discipline and narrative control seen throughout her work.
New Projects Centered on Food and Connection
Shen and her team is developing Cooking for America, a documentary series with chef Peter Chang and the James Beard Foundation. The series will feature Chang preparing meals for American families while sharing the cultural roots behind each dish.
“This is about more than food,” Shen notes. “It is a chance to connect with people on a deeper level—to share stories that resonate through everyday rituals like cooking and eating.”
Yi-Jo Shen continues to focus on stories rooted in personal rituals that reveal broader social truths. Whether documenting family meals, migration journeys, or everyday interactions, she gives people the space to share experiences that rarely make it into mainstream narratives. Her work highlights how cultural identity lives in the details—how a recipe passed down, a meal prepared, or a heartfelt conversation at the table, each element carries with it memory, meaning, and pride.
A Career Built on Trust and Perspective
Yi-Jo Shen believes that meaningful journalism requires long-term relationships and careful listening. She builds trust with the people she interviews and carefully tells their stories with consideration.
“What matters most is how people feel when they see their stories told,” she adds. “If they feel understood, I have done my job right.”
Aspiring journalists often ask how to approach cross-cultural reporting. Shen offers a model rooted in listening, precision, and strong personal awareness.
Through her body of work, Yi-Jo Shen offers more than documentation. She provides context, emotional texture, and an opportunity for audiences to engage with experiences they might not otherwise encounter.