Who We Are
ChineseinUS is a Chinese-language civic information platform based in Philadelphia that helps Chinese-speaking communities better understand American public institutions, elections, and public policy.
Operating at the intersection of ethnic media, civic education, and institutional accessibility, ChineseinUS works to expand access to reliable civic information and strengthen communication between Chinese-speaking communities and public institutions.
While the platform produces journalism, its role extends beyond traditional media. ChineseinUS functions as a civic information bridge that supports greater public understanding, community participation, and institutional accessibility.
The Information Gap
Across the United States, many immigrant communities face persistent barriers to accessing reliable civic information.
Chinese-speaking audiences often rely on translated news, overseas media coverage, or commentary-driven platforms to interpret U.S. public affairs. While these sources provide valuable perspectives, they often lack the local civic context needed to understand how American institutions and policies function.
These structural information gaps can contribute to several long-term challenges:
- Fragmented and siloed information ecosystems
- Limited access to culturally and linguistically relevant civic education
- Underrepresentation in local public discourse
- Reduced trust between communities and public institutions
- Increased vulnerability to misinformation
ChineseinUS was created to help address these systemic gaps by providing clear, locally grounded civic information in Chinese.
Our Approach
Civic Information Infrastructure
ChineseinUS approaches civic communication as a form of community infrastructure.
Rather than focusing solely on news coverage, the platform works to strengthen civic information access and institutional communication through three interconnected areas.
Information Equity
Providing clear Chinese-language explanations of elections, public policy, public health information, and government programs.
Institutional Bridging
Working with local, state, and federal agencies to improve language accessibility and expand outreach to Chinese-speaking communities.
Community Trust
Building long-term trust through consistent reporting, public forums, and engagement with community organizations.
Together, these efforts help create a more inclusive civic information environment.
Impact
ChineseinUS has played an active role in expanding civic information access for Chinese-speaking communities in Pennsylvania.
Election Engagement
In 2023, ChineseinUS organized what is believed to be the first Chinese–English bilingual candidate meet-and-greet for the Chinese community in the United States, enabling Chinese-speaking voters to engage directly with candidates on the Philadelphia ballot.
ChineseinUS is also the only Asian media outlet in Pennsylvania that has consistently interviewed all major candidates on the Philadelphia ballot.
Public Health Communication
During the COVID-19 pandemic, ChineseinUS partnered with the City of Philadelphia to support the COVID-19 Community Response Captain Training program, contributing more than 500 Chinese-language participants to a citywide initiative that reached 1,124 residents across five languages.
ChineseinUS also created Pennsylvania’s only Chinese-language COVID-19 information website, providing accessible public health information to Chinese-speaking communities during the pandemic.
Institutional Access
ChineseinUS conducted the first Chinese-language interview with the Internal Revenue Service in the United States, helping Chinese-speaking audiences gain direct access to federal tax policy information.
What Makes ChineseinUS Different
ChineseinUS differs from many traditional ethnic media platforms in several key ways.
Infrastructure-Oriented
The platform focuses on building civic information systems rather than producing isolated media coverage.
Nonpartisan and Institutionally Engaged
Our work emphasizes access to information and public understanding rather than political advocacy.
Capacity-Building
ChineseinUS seeks to strengthen long-term civic participation and institutional communication within immigrant communities.
Vision
Chinese-language information about American public life remains fragmented across translation-based media, overseas coverage, and commentary-driven platforms.
ChineseinUS seeks to contribute to a more reliable Chinese-language civic information ecosystem that helps Chinese-speaking audiences better understand American institutions, public policy, and democratic processes.
While the platform began in Philadelphia, its long-term vision is to help build trusted channels through which Chinese-speaking communities in the United States—and globally—can access clear, nonpartisan information about American public life.