About ME
My name is Matthew Yoshimoto, and I’m a freelance reporter for the Silicon Valley Business Journal and an undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley, studying history with minors in journalism and public policy. My work focuses on business, technology, and economic policy—and how decisions in those arenas shape communities, opportunity, and power. I’m driven by a goal of making complex business and policy issues clear and accessible, while elevating perspectives that are often overlooked in mainstream economic coverage.
At the Silicon Valley Business Journal, I report on real estate, technology, market trends, and local economic development, frequently centering minority-owned businesses and first-time founders. Covering Silicon Valley has sharpened my understanding of how business and policy intersect—and how clear, audience-focused storytelling can illuminate the pressures and possibilities defining the region. I previously worked as an American City Business Journals/Dow Jones News Fund intern before continuing as a freelance reporter. Read my reflection here.
At AsAmNews, I have broadened my my work to a national audience, profiling AANHPI leaders and trailblazers across industries—from professional sports and journalism to science and public service. My reporting has also received national recognition: in May 2024, one story was featured in a U.S. Department of Labor news brief, and another was highlighted by Senator Alex Padilla’s communications team, reinforcing the role of journalism in shaping public-facing conversations around policy and representation.
At The Daily Californian, Berkeley's paper of record, I served as Lead Business & Economy Reporter, covering the intersection of business policy, economic development, and community impact. I analyzed 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 cohesive, high-impact coverage.
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 have 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—research designed to inform legislative and policy decision-making.
Across all of my work, I’m motivated by the belief that effective communication sits at the intersection of data, narrative, and human experience. Whether covering Silicon Valley’s housing market, tracing venture capital trends, or spotlighting immigrant entrepreneurs, I aim to produce clear, responsible storytelling that helps audiences better understand the forces shaping their lives.
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.