Career Trajectory: From Magazine Editor to Cultural Critic
We've followed Stacy Lee Kong's evolution from traditional magazine editor to founder of one of Canada's most insightful pop culture newsletters. Her career spans:
- Legacy Media Roots: 10+ years at Canada's top lifestyle magazines including Chatelaine, Flare, and Canadian Living, where she developed her signature blend of entertainment and social analysis
- Digital Pivot: Launching Friday Things in 2020 as a direct response to gaps in traditional entertainment coverage
- Academic Influence: Shaping future journalists as an instructor at Centennial College's School of Communications
Defining Works: Three Articles That Capture Her Approach
- The New Future of Journalism (It's Not What You Think) In this LiisBeth feature, Kong dissects the media industry's failure to serve diverse audiences through her experience in the Fifth Wave feminist accelerator program. She argues compellingly for context-driven reporting, using her own transition from mainstream magazines to independent media as a case study. The piece reveals how traditional metrics of journalistic success often exclude marginalized voices while offering concrete solutions for equitable media ecosystems.
- How Western Media Framed Ukraine Like a TV Drama This incisive critique examines entertainment media's tendency to flatten complex geopolitical conflicts into digestible narratives. Kong analyzes everything from CNN's "hero vs. villain" tropes to TikTok's viral war memes, demonstrating how these frameworks distort public understanding. Her interviews with Ukrainian-Canadian journalists add crucial nuance missing from mainstream coverage.
- Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, and the Media's Blind Spot on Domestic Violence Kong reframes celebrity gossip as a lens for examining societal attitudes toward abuse. Through meticulous analysis of 150+ entertainment articles about the West-Kardashian divorce, she reveals how outlets minimized coercive control while maximizing clickbait. The piece includes interviews with domestic violence experts who explain why such coverage matters for public perception of abuse survivors.
Pitch Perfect: Aligning With Kong's Editorial Vision
1. Contextualize Celebrity News
Kong seeks stories that use pop culture moments to explore systemic issues. A successful pitch might connect Taylor Swift's tour logistics to climate change impacts on live events, similar to her analysis of celebrity pandemic travel. Avoid surface-level celebrity updates without cultural analysis.
2. Center Marginalized Perspectives
Her Fifth Wave Initiative participation informs her preference for stories challenging media's white gaze. Pitches should highlight how BIPOC creators are reshaping entertainment, akin to her coverage of Black Canadian filmmakers redefining rom-com tropes.
3. Interrogate Media Ethics
Kong prioritizes meta-commentary about journalism itself. Successful pitches might examine TikTok's impact on music criticism or the ethics of true crime monetization, mirroring her critique of war coverage sensationalism.
4. Bridge Generational Divides
With Friday Things' focus on millennial/Gen Z audiences, pitches should address intergenerational cultural shifts. Her analysis of Gen Z's "nostalgia for the 2000s" demonstrates how to frame trends within economic and technological contexts.
5. Localize Global Phenomena
While discussing international trends, Kong emphasizes Canadian perspectives. A strong pitch might explore how Toronto's drag scene influences global reality TV casting, reflecting her approach to analyzing Canada's Drag Race through immigration policies.
Awards and Industry Recognition
- Fifth Wave Initiative Alumna Selected for Canada's premier feminist media accelerator, Kong joined a cohort reshaping digital storytelling. This competitive program accepts only 10% of applicants, emphasizing her standing in next-generation journalism.
- Canadian Media Guild Honoree Recognized for advancing equitable media practices, this award highlights Kong's work developing inclusive editorial guidelines adopted by three major Canadian outlets.
"Pop culture isn't the appetizer to news' main courseβit's the kitchen where we prepare society's values."
