Journalism
Sharing the story behind everyone and everything
JENNA'S BEST JOTS
This page encompasses some of my favorite clips organized by coverage area. What ties all these sections together is my love for finding what matters to the human interest at the heart of every story. My beats lie in online culture, business entertainment , and technology with a passion for capturing nuance among marginalized communities. I also enjoy covering general assignment, breaking news, and anything, since learning about new industries and covering what’s trending sets my heart on fire! Please also scroll to view a special video package I put together and am proud of.
Jenna's Creator to Creator
After experiencing my own crisis with social media creation, I realized that many people are unaware of the less glamorous side of being an “influencer,” which includes issues such as burnout and the constant need to adapt to change. The negative effects can be even more harmful toward minorities and people of color. As a Chinese American creator with Iowan roots, I want to shed light on what it’s like to create in these fast-changing industries — to cast a spotlight on trailblazing talent while also highlighting the unknown challenges, in my series called “Creator to Creator.”
Communication junior Ashley Xu forges videography career as TikTok and YouTube creator
Published on April 20, 2023 for The Daily Northwestern
In 2021, college freshman Ashley Xu went viral on TikTok with a Sprite commercial she made right in her dorm room. Since then, she’s earned more than 1M+ TikTok followers for her innovative product commercials and food “thirst traps.” I knew I always wanted to write a profile about her, and that’s exactly what I pitched.
Communication alum Bryan Eng makes his debut on Broadway with ‘Plaza Suite’
Published on June 12, 2022 for The Daily Northwestern
As an Asian American performer, Bryan Eng had always been an inspiration to me. When I heard about his Broadway debut, I knew I had to pitch his story as a profile right away. My first pitch ended up turning into one of my favorite stories, where I got to cover his journey as a performer.
Communication alum Ashlee Mitchell forges career as music writer and TikToker
Published on Oct. 6, 2022 for The Daily Northwestern
When I learned about Ashlee’s career as a music writer for some of the biggest K-pop groups in the world such as BTS, I knew I had to write about her story. I personally learned so much from her journey and felt inspired after writing.
Published on July 2022 for AAJA.org
In honor of AAJA’s 40th anniversary, I wrote a profile about journalist Henry Fuhrmann for the AAJA Oral History Project as a J-Camp 2021 member. As a member of the association for nearly 33 years, he credits its network for the many connections and memories he has built. He also spearheaded the charge for the removal of the hyphen between ‘Asian Americans’ for the AP Stylebook.
Film
Northwestern becomes set of coming-of-age, alum-directed feature film ‘Year One’
Published on July 6, 2022 for The Daily Northwestern
At my first summer spent away from home, I learned about how an indie film would be shot on campus featuring a cast of notable actors! I decided to pitch this story and it became a very rewarding experience where I got to be on set and gain a closer understanding of the film.
Alum couple explores intercultural relationships in web series ‘Converting’
Published on July 21, 2022 for The Daily Northwestern
This piece features a filmmaker couple exploring intercultural relationships in a South Asian context for their web series. I chose to explore a nuance often left out of the conversation — that there can be cultural differences within couples of the same race.
Multimedia & Video
BLACKPINK is Back In Your Area
With the release of Pink Venom, Blackpink has come back from its two-year hiatus and has still managed to shatter records and sell out tickets on their ‘Born Pink’ world tour. How has the K-Pop girl group maintained its popularity and shattered all expectations? Let’s take a deeper dive and see what Northwestern’s Blackpink fans have to say.
I fully created this video for my Social Media Reporting Class. I had so much fun using Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, and Illustrator to bring this package to life. I’m very proud of this one! 🙂
Magic at the Great Star Theater
Published on Feb. 20, 2022 for Asian American Storytelling
In my Asian American Storytelling class, I had the pleasure of traveling to San Francisco. I chose to cover the Great Star Theater (the oldest theater in Chinatown) and its revival with The Lunar New Year Cabaret. This story changed my life and combines a mix of reporting, audio, and video in one multimedia package.
Arts & Culture
Chicago Chinatown Summer Fair entertains local residents and NU students
Published on August 2, 2022 for The Daily Northwestern
Ever heard of 9-man volleyball? I had no idea what it was either, until I saw it being played on the streets of Chinatown. This self-pitched story set in one of my favorite places was a joy to write.
Published on July 1, 2022 for The Daily Northwestern
I attended this online event and wrote and published the story in the same night. My big challenge was to not only listen to the interview, but to also follow along with the audience response. It was so much fun!
Liner Notes: BLACKPINK is back in your area with “Born Pink”
Published on Sept. 20, 2022 for The Daily Northwestern
I’ve been a major fan of the K-pop girl group BLACKPINK for years. When their most recent album came out after a two year hiatus, I knew I had to write my first-ever review. It was so fun to analyze each song and reflect on the album as a whole!
News & Investigation
Bienen concert ‘The Last Message Received’ becomes a superspreader event
Published on May 13, 2022 for The Daily Northwestern
How did one choir concert become a COVID-19 superspreader event literally overnight? This was the question I pondered as I launched into my first investigative story with The Daily NU. I made sure to not only do research, but to ensure that both sides of the issue had a voice at the table.
Evanston small businesses unite in raffle fundraiser supporting Everytown for Gun Safety
Published on August 11, 2022 for The Daily Northwestern
After the tragic Highland Park shooting on the Fourth of July, I wanted to capture how the Evanston small business community came to rally in support of their neighbors through their raffle. I interviewed leaders and members that were present at the parade.
Politics & Technology
Too Afraid To Ask: Why did Twitter suspend Trump?
Published on Jan. 28, 2021 for North by Northwestern
This article de-mystifies the controversy surrounding Twitter’s decision to ban former President Donald Trump from the popular social media platform.
Slipping margins: key takeaways from the Nov. 2 elections
Published on Nov. 15, 2021 for North by Northwestern
All eyes focused on the gubernatorial and mayoral races which took place only one year after the 2020 presidential election. The results provided a national consensus on the political environment heading into the 2022 midterms.