Journalist. teacher. artist.

For the past two decades, Marian Liu has worked as a journalist, working across local, national and global platforms, from the San Jose Mercury News and The Seattle Times to CNN in Hong Kong and currently The Washington Post. Currently, she’s the operations editor at the Post, managing the digital operations of the Metro news section. Previously, she helped launch a new travel section. She also writes for the Post’s race and identity newsletter, About US, explaining and exposing cultural divides.

Her career has always been about reflecting the communities she represents — Asian, immigrant and female, covering everything from Korean pop to health disparities across communities. She’s interviewed everyone from Britney Spears and Mariah Carey to Jet Li and BTS.

Throughout her career, she’s been teaching the next generation, guest lecturing at various universities. She also taught courses at San Francisco State University and the University of Hong Kong. In addition, she directed a college multimedia program for the Asian American Journalists Association and Unity Journalists.

How does being Taiwanese/Taiwanese American and/or community ally play a role in your life?

My cultural identity is really important to me and not only informs me, but grounds me as a journalist. It’s my personal mission to reflect what I represent, whether it’s fun stories like how to make boba or more serious pieces about the anti-Asian attacks, especially when my own community is affected. Here’s a link to past stories – https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/marian-liu/.

If you could teach future generations 1 thing about being Taiwanese/Taiwanese American or Taiwan, what would it be?

I hope that there will be more understanding of Taiwan and Taiwanese people, with the realization that at the core we’re all human.

What does the future of Taiwanese America look like?

For the near future, I hope that the vaccine will be readily available in Taiwan. I constantly worry about my family there.

Favorite memory of Taiwan/Taiwanese America?

I really miss hanging out with my grandpa. He loves showing me old photos of the family, telling me stories of how they settled in Taiwan and made a life there. This past year, he turned 99 and we were supposed to fly there to celebrate. But with the pandemic, we hope to make it for his 100th birthday next year.

Favorite Taiwanese food?

I love boba with a passion, so much so I toasted with boba at my wedding.