Politics, Journalism, And All Things Global: An Interview with Founder and CEO Katie Ong

The internet is a fast flowing fountain of information, and we as a collective society have used it as a tool for consuming media. Access to information has never been easier! But then considering algorithms that trap us into safe spaces of trends and the vastness of the internet, it is also safe to say that staying informed on global issues has also never been harder.

And that's where initiatives such as Foreign Focus come in. Foreign Focus is a youth-led organization focused on informing youth on global issues and encouraging them to get involved in civil engagement through submitting their own works. They have published their literary magazine issue 1, Halfway to 30 which is all about our world in the last 5 years and the upcoming years (2020-2030) and now are on their way to publish another one titled, Ethnography which is on culture and how it affects us all. Foreign Focus is a space for teens interested in global issues, international relations and those who dream of creating meaningful changes beyond borders!

For this series, we had the honor of interviewing its Founder and CEO, Katie Ong.

What inspired you to start Foreign Focus, and how has starting it shaped your worldview?

As an avid Model UN delegate and global politics enthusiast, the development of international issues always interested me. However, I quickly realized many teenagers do not understand the importance of reading the news or researching global issues. As a result, I started Foreign Focus to bring news to the platforms teenagers are on the most, social media. This initiative soon intersected with my passion for writing, which is why Foreign Focus also doubles as a literary journal with a focus on global politics. Through this program, I have realized that teenagers across the globe do want to take part in advocacy, journalism, and civic engagement.

Foreign Focus not only showed me that many students share a passion in international politics but also revealed that writing can bridge cultural barriers to connect people of different nations and backgrounds. 

What has surprised you the most since starting Foreign Focus?

The global effect Foreign Focus has brought most definitely surprised me. When I first began this initiative, I imagined it would only reach students in California or the United States. To my surprise, teenagers from Italy to Malaysia submitted their work, highlighting how far Foreign Focus has reached. 

How do you see Foreign Focus evolving in the next coming years? Are there any upcoming projects that you are excited to establish?

My goal for Foreign Focus is to continue publishing seasonal literary magazine issues. I hope each issue can focus more and more on global politics while including a wider range of content including poetry, articles, photography, and more. Additionally, I hope to reach 1,000 followers by the end of the year. With over 600 followers already, this goal aligns well with the ongoing projects and growth of Foreign Focus. For example, we are currently working towards producing more contents, such as Instagram reels, that explain recent news and global issues. We hope such projects become a key aspect of our organization and strengthen teenagers’ understanding of international problems. 

Now that submissions for your literary magazine issue, Ethnography, have closed, in what ways do you think literature can help us in understanding different parts of the world?

Beautiful writing transcends cultures, languages, and times. This is why literature holds the power in helping people, especially youth, understand different parts of the world.

This concept is really encapsulated in our recent issue, Ethnography, where we feature a wide range of poetry that incorporate different languages, writing styles, and cultures. We used this literary issue to be a gateway for others to understand the beauty of culture and what makes each one unique. 

How do you define “civic engagement” in the context of Foreign Focus and why do you think it’s important for youth to be involved?

Commonly requiring direct involvement in governments or political organizations, civic engagement is often thought to be a difficult task only achieved by politicians or policy makers.

However, through Foreign Focus, our goal is to help teenagers realize that civic engagement stems beyond direct participation in government. Everything from writing articles to creating political artwork are all symbols of civic engagement and can be used to amplify one’s voice and strengthen political causes. 

What global issues do you think deserve more attention from today’s youth, and why?

In a world with growing authoritarian governments and stricter regimes, a backsliding of democracy and infringement on human rights has become evident. However, many teenagers fail to realize the nuances within this issue. From the mistreatment of Uyghurs by the Chinese government to the Myanmar Civil War, there are a variety of specific issues that youth are not aware of. Still, these issues all hold the same level of importance as more widely known situations such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Russo-Ukrainian war do.

Therefore, as youth understand the intricacies of democracy and human rights, lesser known issues must be amplified to bring justice for the many victims of oppression and authoritarian rule.

The world is a box full of chaos and noise that distracts us from issues that need to be solved, issues that matter. Youth organizations such as Foreign Focus help us distracted individuals focus on issues that need our immediate attention. Katie and her amazing team have created something exceptionally special with Foreign Focus, we can not wait to see just how far they will grow and how many more of our fellow youths they will continue to inspire next!