Running an ambitious subscription media publication isn’t just about publishing quality stories and attracting an audience, but finding the right talent to power the operation.

Last year was challenging for us as a global pandemic broke at the very time that we launched launched The Ken Starting All Over Read more The Ken Southeast Asia, but we rose to the challenge, and I’m proud of the work we published. When we sat down to plan our goals for 2021, our focus shifted to building our team. We’re investing where it counts, on the talented reporters that produce the deep, analytical stories that our subscribers pay for.

One month after we welcomed Dita we welcomed Dita The Ken Introducing Dita Read more as a reporter in Indonesia, we are delighted to add another team member. This week, Li Mei Foong joins us as a reporter based in Malaysia.

Hiring Li Mei is a special moment for us because she is trading more than a decade of working as a freelance journalist to work exclusively for The Ken. Her arrival takes our Southeast Asia team to seven.

Li Mei’s work Li Mei’s work Contently Stories by Li Mei Foong Read more has covered diverse topics—from the rising popularity of bubble tea in Southeast Asia to police violence in Malaysia to the complications of fake news and the regulation of social media—for outlets like Channel News Asia, New Naratif and Southeast Asia Globe. Beyond reporting, she’s a certified foodie—having published a book a book GoodReads The Food that Makes Us Read more collecting stories and recipes from Malaysian kitchens—while she has worked with NGOs and in graphic design.

We recruit talent who believe in our vision, and Li Mei is aligned there as well. “I’ve always been impressed that a subscriber-funded news outlet can thrive in Asia and Southeast Asia, not to mention the high-quality storytelling,” she said.

We’re very excited to welcome Li Mei to expand the work of our ambitious and talented Southeast Asia newsroom. Ultimately, that means more quality stories for our subscribers.

You can contact Li Mei with congratulations, story tips or requests for culinary suggestions via [email protected] She’s also on Twitter, @lm_foong.

Though we’re currently not hiring for full-time roles, we are open to stories from freelance journalists in Southeast Asia and India. You can find further details and submit a pitch for our consideration here here The Ken Write For Us Read more .

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