Crystal Chow

Born to cultured and liberal-minded parents, I grew up nerdy, starry-eyed and fascinated by the power of words and storytelling to effect change and give voice to the voiceless. After getting involved in social activism during my student years, I broke into a career in journalism in my early 20s, tirelessly writing about politics, cultures, and later, climate change on my travels.

Having been blessed with many opportunities throughout my career, I now work with ICFJ to give back and drive its mission to support journalists — aspiring and experienced alike — around the world. As the IJNet Chinese Editor, I hope to build bridges across cultures and provide Chinese-speaking journalists with access to opportunities and resources that can help improve their craft and expand their horizons in the same way I was able to.

My background: I am a bilingual freelance journalist and feature writer from Hong Kong, primarily reporting on environmental and development issues in Asia and beyond. A recipient of two regional media awards as well as various international story grants and media fellowships, I have covered stories ranging from the indigenous movement against the now-scrapped Baram Dam project in Malaysian Borneo and the illicit trade of South African abalone in Chinese markets, to post-disaster displacement and sex trafficking in the Philippines.

I am also a communications specialist for non-profits, having led brand awareness campaigns, strategic content development and press outreach for environmental advocacy across Asia Pacific. A cultural studies major, I hold a master's degree in global energy and climate policy from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.

Ask me about: The Philippines/Southeast Asia, reporting on climate change, world cinema, British whodunnits and comedy series

My pronouns: She/her

Contact me: Linkedin and Instagram