From a young age, Ipoh-born Amanda Yeap knew she was drawn to writing. She would get lost in words and worlds, at first in story books, then later on in novels. In time, this blossomed into ambitions of being not only a writer, but a reporter who makes a difference through highlighting stories that matter.
Today, this dream has brought her to the metropolitan city state of Singapore, where she has now resided for nearly six years.
Early beginnings & eventual move
After finishing her studies in KL, Amanda decided to return to Ipoh and work as a reporter for The Star. It proved to be the ideal fresh grad job as she was not only able to further her career at a well-established company but do so within the comfort of home. During this time, she saw firsthand how reporting can play a significant role in resolving community issues. “I could give a voice to the voiceless and uncover issues that plague residents who don’t know where to turn to.”
Four years after that, Amanda decided it was time to expand her horizons. With that, she set her sights on Singapore. “The journey (to Singapore) wasn’t very smooth because it was hard for me to get the first step in, even by applying for jobs that are related to my field.” In fact, it took her six months of sending out applications before she finally scored her first interview. Furthermore, it was only upon her second interview that she secured a job and thus a way into the next chapter of her career trajectory.
Solidifying a career in the Lion City
In Singapore, Amanda kickstarted her media career as a writer at alternative news outlet Must Share News, the news publishing arm of media company The Smart Local. Here, Amanda spearheaded some of its most viral news stories, such as a comprehensive report on alleged staff mistreatment at a leading YouTube channel and an insightful interview with a full-time cosplayer.
Inspired by the growing emphasis on mental health awareness and how to provide adequate support in the wake of Covid-19, she also delivered company-wide talks on mental health at the workplace, playing a substantial role in reshaping office culture.
Advantages & challenges as a Malaysian reporter in Singapore
In many ways, Amanda’s experience in Malaysia has given her a leg up abroad. For one, Malaysia’s multiculturalism fostered in her an innate understanding and empathy of different viewpoints and cultures. Additionally, her trilingual education helps her overcome language barriers much more easily.
That is not to say that she has not encountered challenges transitioning to a familiar industry in a new country. One of the top ones was understanding the issues that resonate with Singaporeans. Specialising in social media news at Must Share News became the perfect crash course, as it helped her gauge Singaporeans’ topics of interests and the sentiments surrounding them through the intense discourse that usually surrounds this type of news. The knowledge and insights she gained from this job would later serve as a launchpad for her current role as a Senior Journalist at TODAY, a news website under the Mediacorp banner.
Staying connected to home through connections
Despite coming such a long way, Amanda still finds ways to connect with fellow countrymen, whether it be through friendships with Malaysian expatriates in Singapore like herself or through the MyHeart Stories. She hopes that the portal can continue to find ways to spread awareness among Malaysians living abroad all around the world, so that others like her can reap its benefits.
Are you a Malaysian living abroad who hopes to connect with others like yourself? Register yourself on MyHeart to register and begin your search!
