In this edition of our Media Matters series, we sit down with Lisa Cam, an accomplished journalist and the host and producer of the *Eat Drink Asia* series. With a background in food and culture journalism, Lisa’s career trajectory has been anything but conventional. From a brief stint in finance to discovering her true calling in writing, her journey highlights the importance of following one’s passion and recalibrating priorities in the face of a quarter-life crisis.
In this insightful interview, Lisa shares her perspective on the evolving landscape of food and travel journalism, the impact of AI on storytelling, and her thoughts on sustainable, authentic travel experiences. We also explore her role in shaping *Eat Drink Asia*—a series that takes viewers on an immersive journey into the world of food, culture, and travel across Asia.
Lisa’s passion for storytelling is evident in her approach to blending personal experiences with cultural context, whether it’s about a forgotten Chinese teapot or the modern rise of ecoconscious travel. She also offers valuable advice for aspiring food and culture journalists, emphasizing the importance of seeking unique experiences and keeping a fresh perspective in an industry that is rapidly changing.
Join us as Lisa takes us behind the scenes of her career and reflects on the lessons, challenges, and exciting developments shaping the future of media.
Read the full interview to discover how Lisa Cam continues to inspire and redefine the world of food and travel journalism.
What sparked your passion for journalism, and why did you choose to focus on food and travel? Was there a particular moment or experience that inspired you?
Lisa Cam: I actually wanted to be a novelist! Like many people in Hong Kong, I started my career in finance but I was terrible at it. So I had my quarter-life crisis I recalibrated my priorities, took a huge pay cut and decided to write about something I was genuinely interested in. I was lucky I had the opportunities available to me, but also fortunate enough to have had the capacity to take them on when they came my way.
How have your experiences in food and culture journalism influenced the way you tell stories? Are there any specific lessons you’ve learned that have shaped your approach?
Lisa Cam: When we all start working for established publications there’s always a bit of a struggle at the beginning to balance house style and what angles editors believe a story should be told. Food and drink is a special subject where it’s something with a large audience – I mean, we all eat three times a day. Having the courage to shape a story from your own experiences and standing up for them is something you must learn and learn with confidence.
Looking ahead, how do you see food and travel journalism changing in the next few years? What exciting developments do you anticipate?
Lisa Cam: I’m quite excited to see where the equilibrium will fall on AI technology. Once the environmental pitfalls are squared off, I would like to see how it can help us. There will be missteps and lessons will be learnt, but I am confident AI is a long, long way away from tasting food and interpreting unique experiences, so I want to see how it can help me produce better, faster and more content.
Can you share your journey to becoming the host and producer of the Eat Drink Asia series? Were there any key moments or turning points that stand out for you?
Lisa Cam: Like many things in life, it was about being at the right place, at the right time. It started as a single video with only my director Llewellyn Cheung and me writing and producing a video about crispy chicken. That video did fairly well so we started producing a second one. It just so happened that our video department was looking for something to turn into a series and we started pulling resources from the editorial, podcast and video team to brainstorm ideas. Fast forward two years, and here we are… 12 episodes later with episodes we filmed in Japan to be released at the end of the month.
When covering sensitive cultural topics, what challenges do you encounter, and how do you navigate those complexities in your reporting?
Lisa Cam: A lot of countries in the Asia region have a history of oppression and poverty due to their long, colonial history. We have to be aware and choose the right angle to discuss, especially when luxury travel crosses paths with historical oppression and suffering. It’s important to incorporate different voices and opinions on the matter and know where to find them.
What trends are you currently seeing in the food and travel sectors? Are there any you think will become more significant in the near future?
Lisa Cam: Ecoconsciousness is definitely spreading in the food as well as travel sector. People aren’t necessarily looking for water flown in from the Alpes to be served to them in the desert or going to France to eat caviar from Iran. Foodies and travellers want authentic and sustainable experiences. They want to be comfortable but they are also excited to find out that they are drinking a cup of coffee in Bangkok from a coffee grower in the Phang Nga in southern Thailand rather than beans from Kenya, processed in the US and then bought from an international franchise.
If you could recommend one dish or travel destination that everyone should experience at least once, what would it be and why?
Lisa Cam: We should all spend some time among the nomads of Mongolia. It is one of the few places left on Earth where you can be close to nature and truly digitally detox. When you start spending time with the community you can’t help but be infected with the earnestness and connectivity everyone has with each other. It helps you reset your priorities and perspectives.
What has been the most rewarding part of your journey? Is there a particular story or experience that you cherish?
Lisa Cam: I really enjoyed redesigning my food magazine, Good Eating and we had one of the most beautiful covers for our truffle season issue. One of my favourite feature stories was the one I wrote about the badly designed Chinese teapots on the dining tables at Yum Cha. I consulted teapot designers and tea historians to get to the bottom of how these vessels came to be. I loved the feedback I got for that article and how many people felt the same way about the teapot but never thought about it in a cultural context. Come to think of it, this story shaped my approach to Eat Drink Asia.
According to you, what types of experiences should young professionals seek out to build a strong portfolio in food and culture journalism?
Lisa Cam: I think lifestyle journalists young and old should keep our privilege in mind. We are given so many opportunities for unique experiences that we can easily take for granted and we should continuously ask ourselves what we are bringing to the table that the next journalist, influencer or even AI can’t do. The days when interns start to hone their craft by rewriting press releases for listings are over. So we have to ask ourselves, what can I tell my audience that the next person or person asking AI can’t? Also, don’t let bad bosses tell you that you have to be in the office when you’re a reporter, you cannot accumulate experience and contacts sitting in a cubicle. Get out there, talk to everyone but stick to your deadlines!
