Welcome to Journalists of Colour!

Greetings! I’m Lin Taylor, a journalist based in London.

Well, I was actually born in Australia and come from a family who fled Vietnam after the war as boat refugees. But we’re also ethnically Chinese and had a grandpa who likely descended from Chinese Muslims.

That is to say: I’m complicated and I come with a lot of err, baggage. And I take that baggage with me every day as a journalist. It pervades my reporting and every story idea that I pursue. I can’t help it. It’s part of who I am.

You probably know what I’m talking about because you have a similar thing going on. But that’s what makes us unique and our reporting even more powerful, I dare say, because we often see things others don’t.

But we’re a rare breed.

There aren’t enough journalists, producers and editors like us. And who knows where things will be in the next few years as firms, governments, media orgs and institutions scale back DEI initiatives.

So on that wonderful note, I want to introduce Journalists of Colour - a newsletter that explores what it’s like to be “the only” in journalism. Each month, I will ask a journalist of colour what they wish they knew when they started out, how they navigate newsrooms, and any other pearls of wisdom they have gained along the way.

How did they report on a story that directly affected their community? What does it mean to be impartial and unbiased when they come from a marginalised community? What is the emotional and mental toll of code-switching? How do you move up on the media career ladder? Why did you want to become a journalist, against all odds? 

I have so many questions for so many people!

To keep it as accessible as possible, I never want paid subscribers (you can hold me accountable!!). I just genuinely hope it will inspire you, help demystify the industry, and give our community a glimmer of hope, even when things are looking a bit grim in our sector.

I’ve said this before: If, like me, you’re from a lower socioeconomic class, have a refugee and migrant background, had to translate documents for your relatives, the first generation to get a uni degree, journalism is for you too, even if it doesn’t feel that way at times.

Big love,
Lin

Have pearls of wisdom you want to impart or know someone who does? Hit me up via email or fill out this simple, anonymous form!

Know someone who would love this newsletter? Do forward this to them or share it on LinkedIn 🙏🏽