Ep 167 Lori Matsukawa: A Life in Journalism, Breaking Barriers, and Telling Her Story

Send us Fan MailFor 36 years, Lori Matsukawa was one of the most respected and trusted journalists in the Pacific Northwest, serving as a reporter and anchor at KING 5 News. During her distinguished career, she covered some of the region’s biggest stories and traveled to China when former Washington Governor Gary Locke returned to his ancestral homeland. She also reported from the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City and Vancouver, British Columbia.Since retiring in 2019, Lori has remained deeply involved in the Asian American community through volunteer work while pursuing a new chapter as an author. She wrote the children’s book Brave Mrs. Sato and recently published her memoir, Being There: Memoir of an Asian American Journalist.In this conversation, Lori reflects on her remarkable career, the challenges and opportunities she encountered as an Asian American journalist, and the personal experiences that shaped her life. She also discusses the deeply personal stories she shares in her memoir and the lessons she hopes readers—and listeners—will take away from her journey.Read: https://southseattleemerald.org/voices/2025/07/22/masked-men-are-detaining-people-when-will-washingtons-leaders-protect-usRead: https://nieman.harvard.edu/mark-trahant-wins-the-2025-i-f-stone-medal-for-journalistic-independence/Read: https://www.24thstreet.org/blog/2025/1/17/letting-goRead:https://www.amazon.com/Harbingers-January-Charlottesville-American-Democracy/dp/1586424017Read: https://www.mapresearch.org/2024-dei-report "Dismantling DEI: A Coordinated Attack on American Values"https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/01/07/these-companies-have-rolled-back-dei-policies-mcdonalds-is-latest-to-abandon-diversity-standards/https://www.chronicle.com/package/the-assault-on-dei  Chronicle of Higher Education https://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/supreme/bios/?fa=scbios.display_file&fileID=gonzalezRead: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/obituaries/chinatown-international-district-activist-matt-chan-dead-at-71/Hear Rick Shenkman on the BBC Radio Program Sideways:https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xdg0Read: https://www.thedailybeast.com/i-stuck-with-nixon-heres-why-science-said-i-did-itRead: https://www.washcog.org/in-the-news/your-right-to-knowRead: https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/the-legislatures-sunshine-committee-has-fallen-into-darkness/Read: https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2024/feb/2...