Julie Zhu

I am a data journalist.

I tell stories with data💹 and graphics📊.

I am also a feminist 👩, a dancer 💃 and a big foodie🍗!

About

I am a data journalist at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

I am committed to journalism because providing reliable information is essential for understanding the world. Data uncovers hidden truths, enabling journalists to inform the public effectively. By using clear charts and interactive designs, I aim to engage audiences and fulfill my journalistic mission more impactfully.

Data Journalist & Quick and Self-motivated Learner

I am proficient in data collecting, cleaning, and analysing; finding stories from data; reporting; creating various data visualizations and interactives.

  • Birthday: June 2001
  • Phone: +1 332-276-9186
  • City: New York, USA
  • MBTI: ENFP
  • Degree: Master of Science in Data Journalism
  • Email: hz2917@columbia.edu
  • Hobby: Dancing, Skiing, Hanging out with Friends, and Sleeping!

Resume

I am an enthusiastic and deadline-driven data journalist with 2+ years of experience (intern included) digging out stories and new insights from data, doing reporting, and creating data visualizations.

Education

M.S. in Data Journalism

2023 - 2024

Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, New York

  • Published a cold case story at Uncovered; family avoided Christmas for a decade due to their daughter's disappearance.
  • Acquired to scrape, collect, clean, analyze, and visualize data with Python, R, Selenium, Pandas, BeautifulSoup, ggplot, SQL, Regex, HTML, CSS, QGIS, Adobe (AI,PR), Linear Regression, JSON, Datawrapper, Excel, etc.
  • Built multiple data-driven projects (shown below) in the beats of education, climate, transportation, and soical issues (I am also interested in other beats!).

B.A. in Communication

2019 - 2022

University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Double minor in Educational Studies and Professional Writing.
  • GPA 3.94/4.0; Highest Honors, Distinction in Major, Dean’s List for all four years.
  • Six months as TA at two local primary schools, skilled in intercultural communication and K-12 education.
  • Published an independent research paper about COVID-19 news framing in URCA.

Professional Experience

News Intern

Global Times (English Edition)
Aug.— Nov. 2022

Beijing, China

  • Wrote and published 60+ news articles, interviewed 200+ sources and experts, and contributed to 100+ news stories; more than 20 stories were reprinted by world-leading media outlets like CNN and AP.
  • Shot and edited a news video for the anniversary on “Sep.3” that marks Imperial Japan ’s surrender at the end of WW2, which received 15,600+ views, 1,085+ likes, 50+ comments, and 15+ retweets on its official website and social media
  • Analyzed foreign media’s citation of news content, including Chinese Military Exercises and the 20th Communist Party of China National Congress, to produce reports highlighting the key topics for future story pitches and angles.

News App User Engagement Operator Intern

TikTok
June - Aug. 2021

Beijing, China

  • Matched Toutiao news articles with TikTok videos, driving six articles over 10M views.
  • Conducted data analysis on TikTok user activity using Excel and PivotTables, tracking user preferences.
  • Detected clickbait and misinformation by collaborating with algorithms and R&D teams to ensure digital news accuracy.

Portfolio

These projects were completed during my time at Columbia University from fall 2023 to summer 2024.

I used Python, R, BeautifulSoup, Pandas, Playwright, ggplot, matplotlib, SQL, Mapbox, DataWrapper, Inky, Adobe Illustrator, and "scorytelling" to tell various stories with data and graphics in beats of education, criminal justice, business, social inequality, culture, environment, transportation, and health.

  • All
  • Data Stories
  • Text Articles

Behind the Numbers: Exploring the Social Drivers of Teen Birth Rates in the U.S.

Poverty rate, 2020 Trump voters, and sex education coverage significantly impact teen birth rates. I used Python, R, multivariable regression (CDC, ACS data), and visualized results with charts, storytelling, and a Mapbox interactive map.

A Decade of Loss

Since Marisha Cheong's disappearance around the 2012 Christmas, her family's Christmas traditions have been altered for a decade. I did this cold case invesgation with public records and interviews.

NYC Rare Bird Alerts

I scraped data and created this auto-updating table on a daily basis showing NYC rare bird alerts with Python, BeautifulSoup, and Datawrapper.

Melting Polar Ice Could Affect Timekeeping, Study Says

A recent study discovered that the loss of ice due to climate change is leading to a redistribution of mass on Earth significant enough to modify its rotational dynamics. I analyzed and visualized the data with Google Earth Pro, R/ggplot, scorytelling, Adobe Illustrator, and ai2html.

Data Shows That Former English Learners are More Resilient in Staying in School than Native English Speakers

Experts explained if they have overcame difficulties, they would stick with schools and do fine. I produced the story with Python, R/ggplot, matplotlib, Adobe Illustrator, and ai2html.

Someone said Julie is an outdated name. Is it?

When I googled my name, I found that it's not used as much nowadays; people prefer "Julia" or "Juliette" for naming babies. I used Excel to clean and analyze data, and used Datawrapper to make responsive charts showing key points.

Foreign Workers Get More Power in U.S. Visa Change

Beneficiaries favor the new change for a fairer selection process, while businesses worry about increased sponsorship costs and hiring uncertainties. I wrote this business/immigration story by interviewing various parties.

From Data: What Factors Affect the Delivery Speed of Takeout Food?

You are hungry and waiting for your food to be delivered. What is your delivery driver doing at this moment? I created this project with Excel for data cleaning and Datawrapper for making charts.

Company Sold Safety Training Cards to Construction Workers With No Actual Training

Over 17,000 Workers with cards issued by Valor Consulting can no longer work at large job sites. And this is not a first-time problem. I wrote this business story with public records and interviews.

How much would you spend to get your kid educated in the U.S. as a Chinese international student?

Sending your kids for education to the U.S. costs A LOT. This is a news game I created with Inky.

Contact

PLEASE feel free to drop me a message! I LOVE making new friends and learning about everything!!

Location:

531 West 112th Street, New York, NY 10025

Call:

(+1)332-276-9186

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