Hi, I’m Stefanie.

Stefanie, a multiracial Asian American woman with short wavy hair, looks directly at the camera with a small smile. She is wearing a long, teal button-down linen dress. She stands in front of a lush grassy background.

I’m a multimedia journalist, always looking out for creative ways to invite new voices into the conversation.

For more than 15 years, I’ve explored the intersection of media and civic engagement. As a producer for LAist’s early childhood coverage, I work to find creative ways for parents, caregivers, and educators’ real questions and concerns to drive our coverage. Some days I answer questions about pregnancy by text message and others I distribute cameras to parents and child care providers.

I started my career in documentary filmmaking and then moved into long-form podcast audio and multimedia storytelling. My graduate research in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology focused on how digital media tools have (and haven’t) transformed how people can participate in their communities. 

Over the years, I’ve had the great privilege to bear witness to people telling their stories. I have seen first hand what it takes for information to travel and for people to get involved. It’s my goal to break down barriers so that people can engage with newsrooms and local civic institutions.

I spend most of my free time eating food with one hand while chasing after two kids.

Awards

Ambie Award for Best Indie Podcast
The Podcast Academy, March 2023
For the podcast Blind Landing

Gather Award in Community-Centered Journalism, Overall Excellence
Online News Association, September 2022
For work covering caring for children during the pandemic

Excellence in Online/Digital Journalism, Engagement
Asian American Journalists Association, July 2022
For the multimedia project "Child Care, Unfiltered"

Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Excellence in Innovation
Regional Television Digital News Association, May 2022
For the multimedia project "Child Care, Unfiltered"

Gather Award in Engaged Journalism, Overall Excellence
Online News Association, September 2020

Gracies Award, Outstanding Biography/Portrait
Alliance for Women in Media, June 2015
For Re:Work Radio podcast episode "Baby's Bodyguard"

Excellence in Public Service Award
Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, May 2012

Service

Co-chair, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Action Group, LAist, 2021 - present

Co-chair, Students of Color Committee, MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning, 2010 - 2011