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Carren Jao

A woman sitting down with a floral skirt

Born and raised in the Philippines, Carren is a storyteller at heart, working to uplift diverse voices. She is a skilled digital storyteller with more than a decade of experience working on engaging content that lives on multiple platforms. Her arts and culture stories have won recognition from the LA Press Club and the Asian American Journalists Association.

As arts and culture editor for KCET, a public television station and online destination in Southern California, she leads editorial strategy and content development for arts, culture, food, travel and history content. Working with collaborators across 11 Southern California counties, she tells award-winning stories that matter.

Previously, Carren has worked as a full-time freelance journalist. Her work has been published around the world, including the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Wired UK, Surface, Dwell and many others.

A woman sitting down with a floral skirt
Noriko Kamei enjoying sake | Still from "The Migrant Kitchen" Sequoia Sake
Where to Find Namazake in Los Angeles
Unlike wine, sake is best consumed fresh. The freshest sake you could arguably get your hands on is namazake or unpasteurized sake. Here's where to find it in Los Angeles.
Griffith Observatory | Nancy Dushkin/Creative Commons
10 Things We Learned About L.A. That Made Us Love It More
Ask a hundred passers-by on the street what their Los Angeles is to them and you'll likely get as many answers. Here are a few more reasons we've found to love L.A.
A Peking Duck dish at Mr. Jiu's | Antonio Diaz for hotspot
Anatomy of Peking Duck
A dish with a royal lineage and a history spanning more than 400 years, Peking duck has inspired chefs, movie stars and poets. Learn more about this distinctively Chinese delicacy.
Pozole Rojo featured
Interactive: Anatomy of Pozole
Pozoles are a serving of warm comfort for many Mexican hearts. It comes in many forms and everyone has their own special way of preparing this dish. Learn more about pozole by clicking below.
Sequoia Sake featured MKs3
Interactive: Anatomy of Sake
Like wine, sake is full of variety, nuance and history. Learn more about sake by clicking around below.
Anatomy of Pastrami featured MKs3
Interactive: Anatomy of a Pastrami
One cannot have a Jewish deli without serving pastrami. This iconic dish has traveled far and its history belies its seeming simplicity. Learn more about the fascinating history of pastrami on this interactive feature.
Roy Choi | Travis Jensen
Roy Choi to Star in a New Socially-Minded Food Program
Bringing more eyes and ears to the issues around food has become Roy Choi’s mission, which is why he is the new host of a new social-minded original food series produced by KCETLink and Tastemade called “Broken Bread.”
Cahuilla Basket Tray with interactive dots | Carren Jao
Interactive: Anatomy of Native Californian Baskets
Learn more about Native Californian baskets. Click through and find a deeper appreciation for the art of basketry.
Artist Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle with her son, Johari | Still from KCET Artbound's "Artist and Mother" Mother AB s9
Artist-Mothers: Where to Find Them and Who Supports Them
It can sometimes feel like motherhood is invisible in the art world. Here are some resources for artist-mothers, including additional reading, grants and networks available to them.
CSRC_LaRaza_B15F10C1_Staff_025 Protesters at Franklin D. Roosevelt Park rally | Maria Marquez Sanchez, La Raza photograph collection. Courtesy of UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center
Narrated Photo Essay: The Two Sides of Maria's Activism
As part of La Raza magazine, photographer Maria Marquez Sanchez had to choose between being part of the action and ensuring that history wouldn't forget their deeds.
CSRC_LaRaza_B17F22S6_N007 Children carrying signs in support of Ricardo Chavez Ortiz in downtown Los Angeles | Pedro Arias, La Raza photograph collection. Courtesy of UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center
Narrated Photo Essay: La Raza's Enduring Importance
La Raza, the community newspaper-turned-magazine, may have played an important role during the 60s and 70s, but it's legacy is even more important today, for a young generation that have to learn their personal histories.
CSRC_LaRaza_B15F2C1_DZ_016 Protesters in la Marcha por los Tres in front of L.A. City Hall | Daniel Zapata, La Raza photograph collection. Courtesy of UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center
Narrated Photo Essay: A Time of Many Revolutions
The 60s and 70s was a time of many changes and upheavals. Amid all this, the Chicanos saw a way to make a difference. Hear Moctesuma Esparza's thoughts on the turbulent time.
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