When The Yappie went on hiatus two years ago after the 2024 election, our team was burnt out.
The work had always been important and necessary, but it was difficult to remember the bigger picture in the daily churn of writing, editing, producing, and publishing. At times, it felt like a thankless job, especially when open rates dipped or engagement flopped. What was the point of going through the motions if our work didn’t land the way we wanted?
Taking a step back gave me the perspective I desperately needed. During our hiatus, I learned how to surf, got into building book nooks, helped my beloved 19-year-old family dog cross the rainbow bridge, and challenged myself to go outside my comfort zone as much as I could.
I was lucky enough to be able to travel to Taiwan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Hawai‘i. Everywhere I visited I saw traces of history mapped onto the present—from Taipei air raid drills and Huntrix’s dominance in Seoul to old U.S. military bases in Palawan and the proud flag of the Hawaiian Kingdom at ‘Iolani Palace.
That, I realized, is my reason to keep going—knowing that someday The Yappie might serve as a prism through which future generations see the state of the world.
With community news outlets folding and legacy media sunsetting race and identity verticals, that mission has taken on a newfound urgency.
Never has our work felt more needed. Never has it felt more high-stakes. And never has it felt more crucial to reach people where they’re at.
With the debut of The Yappie 2.0, we’re rolling out a fresh look and refining our reader-first format. Most importantly, we’re committed to sharpening our dissection of the policies and politics that most affect our communities.
Two new writers—William Tong and Hojung Lee—will anchor our flagship newsletter, now titled Power Shift. I will helm AAPI Nation, a weekly recap of the biggest stories shaping our communities.
With so many things competing for our attention these days, it’s easy to tune out the news. It’s a temptation I’ve had to wrestle with even as a journalist myself, especially when so much of it is overwhelming and devastating.
So I ask you to take the path less traveled in staying informed—and to join us in spreading the word so we can empower more people to exercise their civic duty.
Thank you for supporting us through this transition. We hope you’ll stay with us as we embark on our next chapter.
Warmly,
Shawna Chen
About The Yappie: The Yappie is an independent, nonprofit newsroom dedicated to tracking Asian American and Pacific Islander power, politics, and influence. Learn more at theyappie.com/about.
