AWARDS
2017 Pacific Northwest EMMY Nomination: General Assignment Reporter 2017
2015 Pacific Southwest EMMY Award: On-Camera Talent – Reporter "LiLi Tan: Reporter on the Go"
2015 Pacific Southwest EMMY Award: Team Award for Newscast “Refugio Oil Spill.”
2015 APTRA Award: Best Live Coverage of a News Event “Refugio Oil Spill.”
key strengths
*Storytelling: 1,700+ video and digital stories in 8 years at major media outlets across the United States.
*Digital brand development, influencer marketing and social media content strategy.
*Expert at analyzing data and extracting interesting, relevant tidbits for target audiences.
*Strategic thinker and detailed-oriented taskmaster.
*Demonstrated ability to inspire and manage teams of writers, videographers, photographers, makeup artists and talent to get the job done.
*Optimally repurposing stories and information on all social media platforms.
*Proficient in CMS, Adobe Premiere, Photoshop, InDesign and InCopy; Microsoft Word and Excel.
*Thorough knowledge of SEO and Google Analytics.
*Public speaking and targeted speechwriting.
WORK EXPERIENCE
LEVEL STUDIOS, San Francisco, Calif.
Associate Creative Director, August 2018-present. Enhance product offerings by writing creative copy for customer-facing direct marketing campaigns for firm’s main client and one of the world’s largest technology companies. Propel clients’ messages forward by consistently producing high-quality, SEO-optimized content. Mentor and train a growing team of copy writers. Promoted from Senior Writer (contract) to Associate Creative Director in 2021.
KAILU, San Francisco, Calif.
Founder, June 2019-present. Operating a lifestyle brand that translates products rooted in Chinese heritage to create goods for supreme living: Heritage Duvets and Open Road Portable Throws — filled with fluffy, hand-stretched mulberry silk — to help you achieve your best sleep. Awarded “Best Duvet” by Women’s Health, 2021 Healthy Sleep Awards.
FREELANCE REPORTER + PRODUCER, San Francisco, Calif.
Multimedia Strategist + Freelancer, December 2017-present. On-air reporter with NBC Bay Area covering major news events such as Gilroy Garlic Festival Shooting. Field produce, coach talent, write scripts and shoot video for multiple production agencies whose clients include San Jose Sharks Captain Joe Pavelski, UCSF Health, UC Santa Cruz and UCLA Health. Produce, shoot and edit written and video multi-platform marketing content for startups & established companies. Ghostwriter represented by Gotham Ghostwriters.
AIRBNB, San Francisco, Calif.
Marking Communications Specialist, Nov. 2018 to June 2019. Strategize, curate, and create compelling copy and video assets, increasing product adoption rates by 2-3% and engaging 2 million+ Airbnb hosts globally. Develop product-education assets and toolkits tailored towards various audience segments. Identify opportunities to deepen host loyalty through various communications channels including email, blog, newsletters, and community center forums. Build relationships with hosts and form strong partnerships with other content creators.
KING-TV (NBC), Seattle-Tacoma, Wash.
Reporter/Multimedia Journalist, November 2016-2017. Researched, sourced, field produced, reported, shot, wrote, edited and presented daily general-assignment stories live on-air and online. Repurposed content for social media platforms and company-wide marketing collateral. Reported live from the field during large-scale breaking news events such as Trump Travel Ban protests, securing exclusive interview with first SEATAC detainee; embedded in May Day protests; created ‘Timber Town 911’ series, covering innovations to revive struggling mill towns.
KNTV NBC BAY AREA, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif.
Multimedia Journalist, November 2015-2016. Researched, sourced, field produced, reported, shot, wrote and edited daily general assignment stories for 6 p.m. newscast, online and social media. Report live from the field, filling in during breaking news events and weekends. Live reporter for Fremont Police Officers’ shooting and manhunt, and Make-A-Wish “Scooter-Gate” burglary.
KSBY 6 NEWS (NBC), San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Multimedia Journalist/Investigative Reporter/Fill-in Anchor and Weather Forecaster, March 2014-October 2015. Researched, sourced, field produced, reported, shot, wrote and edited general assignment, investigative and breaking news stories for DMA’s No. 1 station. Report live from the field daily for 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts. Covered Santa Barbara oil spill, wildfires, and mass shooting in Isla Vista, Calif. Investigated homeless college students issue; three-part series led to students finding stable housing. Publish video and print stories on multiple platforms, including online and social media sites.
WKOW 27 NEWS (ABC), Madison, Wis.
Multimedia Journalist, February 2013-2014. Researched, sourced, field produced, reported, shot, wrote and edited general assignment and local enterprise stories for 10 p.m. newscast (No. 1 in DMA) and Wake Up Wisconsin (Wisconsin Broadcast Association's best morning show). Presented stories live from the field, writing and producing demonstrative, engaging and informative live shots. Developed sources to find and tell unique, original stories. Published video and print stories on multiple platforms, including online and social media sites. Produced one-hour weekend morning show Wake Up Wisconsin Weekend.
MEDILL NEWS SERVICE, Chicago, Ill/Washington D.C.
Multimedia Journalist, March 2012-December 2012. Produced, reported, and edited national and Chicago-centric video and print stories on environment, public health, and general news for The McClatchy Company, The Daily Caller, UPI.com, Austin Weekly News, and MedillDC.net. Interned for WJLA/News Channel 8 during election night 2012. Produced iPad videos for National Geographic’s April 2013 issue. Wrote investigative feature on Congressional appropriations for Bloomberg. Produced two 30-minute live-to-tape nightly news shows for Evanston Cable Network. Wrote five investigative business stories on foreclosures, non-profits, banks, campaign finance, and CEO compensation.
FREELANCE REPORTER, Hong Kong/New York, N.Y.
Content Producer, September 2011-February 2012. Wrote lifestyle, fashion, travel, food, dining, and technology stories for Wall Street Journal Asia, South China Morning Post, Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Monocle, and My Place.
TATLER, Hong Kong
Features Editor, December 2009-August 2011. Managed close of 808-page September 2010 issue. Wrote and produced cover stories; profiled international business people, shipping magnates, and members of Hong Kong society; previewed art and culture, restaurant reviews. Interviewed subjects on camera for AsiaTatler.com’s behind-the-scenes videos.
FREELANCE, Beijing/Hong Kong
Freelance Editor/Writer, June 2008-November 2009. Based out of Beijing through the 2008 Olympics, writing for the Huffington Post and top editing Time Out’s Olympic guidebook. Wrote art and culture pieces for South China Morning Post, Monocle’s My Place, Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, and InStyle China.
ELLE, New York, N.Y.
Associate Features Editor, June 2005-May 2008. Spearheaded annual survey with MSNBC.com. Assigned and edited feature stories. Wrote pop-culture items, health features, and personal essays. Re-purposed print stories for ELLE.com. Conducted research for freelance writers on general news, politics, and finance. Appeared on MSNBC and NBC’s “Today in New York” to promote feature stories. Assisted executive editor with large marketing projects and anniversary and theme issues.
PEOPLE, New York, N.Y.
Editorial Assistant to the Style Director, October 2004-May 2005. Wrote and fact checked for “StyleWatch” section, and reported on celebrity nightlife for “Scoop.” Cultivated relationships with celebrity contacts to negotiate exclusives.
HALLMARK MAGAZINE, New York, N.Y.
Editorial Assistant to the Editor of Time Inc. joint venture, August 2003-October 2004. Edited and assigned features and edited front-of-book articles; wrote display copy and developed articles on crafts, cooking, and lifestyle.
SKILLS
Languages: English (native), Mandarin Chinese (fluent spoken).
Video: Panasonic 270 and 170 HD P2, Sony Nxcam and Z150, Theta 360, GoPro.
Computer: Edius, Avid, Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premiere Pro, Sony Xpri, iNEWS, ENPS, Dalet, After Effects, Photoshop, InDesign, InCopy; OS X, Microsoft Office, CMS, HTML, Blogger, Wordpress, Ustream, and SQLite.
Social Media: SnapChat, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Periscope, Banjo, and Google+.
Other: Hostile Environment and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT) certification by Centurion, November 2012.
EDUCATION
Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill./Washington D.C.
Master of Science, December 2012. Concentration: Broadcast journalism and investigative reporting. Awards: Medill Scholarship for Experienced Professionals.
Columbia Publishing Course, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.
Summer 2003. Editor-in-chief during magazine workshop. Attended intensive six-week course on magazine publishing.
University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Calif.
Bachelor of Arts, June 2003, Cum Laude and College Honors. Major: Communications. Studied film and television at City University in London, Fall 2001. Awards: Newfield Scholarship.