About ME
My name is Matthew Yoshimoto, and I’m an undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley, studying history, public policy, and journalism with a focus on business and economic policy. I’m passionate about telling stories that amplify marginalized voices, make complex issues accessible, and inspire meaningful change.
I’m a freelance reporter for the Silicon Valley Business Journal, covering real estate, technology, market trends, and local economic development, with a focus on minority-owned businesses. Working in Silicon Valley has shown me that business is more than numbers—it’s the engine that drives innovation, shapes policy, and defines opportunity. In summer 2025, I was an American City Business Journals/Dow Jones News Fund intern with the Business Journal. Read my reflection.
As a reporter for AsAmNews, I’ve highlighted AANHPI trailblazers across industries—from Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua and journalist Mina Kimes to NASA astronauts Leroy Chiao and Suni Williams—showing how representation shapes public imagination. My reporting has also received national recognition: in May 2024, my story was featured in a Department of Labor news brief, while another was recognized by Senator Alex Padilla’s communications team.
At The Daily Californian, Berkeley's newspaper of record, I serve as Lead Business & Economy Reporter, covering the intersection of business policy, economic development, and community impact. I analyze city planning documents and economic reports to inform coverage on workforce trends and local business issues. As Special Issues Deputy Editor, I helped lead the production of a themed issue, mentoring junior reporters and collaborating across departments to deliver high-impact journalism.
Beyond the newsroom, I work with Professor Jerome Karabel through UC Berkeley’s Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program, contributing to a long-term project on elite consolidation and wealth inequality in the United States. I’ve also collaborated with Dr. Nela Mrchkovska at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, conducting sentiment analysis on sermons addressing inequality, racial justice, and political opposition.
Reflecting on my journey, what ties these experiences together is a belief that journalism can bridge the gap between lived experience and systemic forces. Whether reporting on Silicon Valley’s housing market, spotlighting immigrant entrepreneurs, or tracing the dynamics of wealth inequality, I aim to provide context that informs, empowers, and strengthens the public sphere.
Pictured with fellow ACBJ/Dow Jones News Fund interns on the CBS Evening News set — an incredible behind-the-scenes look during our week of training in New York.
Stopping by The New Yorker offices was a surreal experience — a chance to step inside one of journalism’s most storied institutions.
A hallway lined with decades of New Yorker covers reminded us of the power of visual storytelling in shaping public imagination.
Sitting behind the CBS anchor desk, where we got a firsthand look at the fast-paced coordination and storytelling behind a national news broadcast.
Catching a breath of fresh air with fellow interns on a rooftop in Midtown Manhattan after a packed day of newsroom visits and training sessions.
Inside the legendary Vogue closet at Condé Nast — a fun and unexpected glimpse into the editorial process of one of fashion’s biggest names.
Covering the “Future of Fremont” event in June for the Silicon Valley Business Journal — one of many stories focused on local business trends.
Grateful to Garry D. Howard for leading our training with 24/7 wisdom and warmth.
Touring the New Yorker's podcast recording studio at Condé Nast gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how audio journalism is produced and distributed.
A Story About My Story
One look at Matthew Yoshimoto’s work and its clear representation is at the center of his inspiration. With dozens of articles following his journey from grade school to undergrad, a common theme rests at the forefront–diversity and the inclusion of marginalized voices.
Whether it’s an article about the first Vietnamese American astronaut in space, a lesser-known South Asian American political candidate’s ascent to a congressional seat, or an Asian American, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver’s journey to the NFL, his work highlights those he feels are often left out of the mainstream media conversation.
“A lot of the media that we consume is one or a few narratives, and that doesn’t really capture the overall experience in America,” Yoshimoto said. “There are so many different needs of different people that aren’t represented. I really want to bring that to the mainstream.”
When Yoshimoto (21) was first bitten by the journalism bug during his junior year of high school, he quickly ascended the ranks from writer to managing editor at Monta Vista High School’s award-winning student newspaper, El Estoque, at the start of his senior year by telling stories just like that.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Yoshimoto learned how important the profession could be when he published one of his first articles for the publication where he documented students’ waning mental health, a vital aspect of business policy in educational settings.
“Hearing people’s stories, hearing other people’s reactions to the stories when they read the articles, it was really interesting and something that I didn’t know I could make an impact at this young,” he said.
After matriculating to the University of California, Berkeley in 2022 to study history, public policy, and journalism, Yoshimoto covered topics ranging from Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) visibility, local legislation, campus protests, to small local businesses as the lead business and economy reporter for The Daily Californian, UC Berkeley’s student newspaper, focusing on economic reporting.
Despite his Japanese and Chinese background coupled with his efforts to highlight members of the AANHPI community, he admits that it wasn’t until he interned with Asian American News (AsAmNews) for him to fully understand his culture: “I’m learning about my culture through this publication, through the people I’m talking to.”
This summer, Yoshimoto will intern as a business reporter for the Silicon Valley Business Journal as a Dow Jones News Fund/American City Business Journals intern where he looks forward to gaining experience working in a professional newsroom, forming connections with colleagues and sources, and learning more about his interests.
Yoshimoto’s work ethic has left a lasting impression on his UC-Berkeley research apprenticeship professor, Jerome Karabel. Karabel believes Yoshimoto’s meticulous nature and strong work ethic will allow him to excel within any newsroom he enters.
“He has the desire to get things accurate. He’s very painstaking in gathering information and he has a real talent in explaining complex ideas in a lucid and accessible way,” Karabel said. “Journalism would be lucky to get him.”
Note: I'm grateful for this external look at my experience in the American City Business Journals—Dow Jones News Fund training program in New York City. Full credit to my colleague Christian Thomas for the piece, and thanks to Professor Jerome Karabel for the thoughtful perspective and kind words.