Annie Jieping Zhang is a media entrepreneur, award-winning journalist, and thought leader at the intersection of technology, freedom of expression, and civic engagement in the Chinese-speaking world. A 2024 Nieman–Berkman Fellow at Harvard University, she explores the future of digital public space and civic trust in increasingly authoritarian contexts. Zhang is the founder and CEO of Matters Lab, an independent media platform that fosters decentralised publishing and dialogue among Chinese-speaking communities through innovative use of Web3 technologies. She also founded Nowhere Bookstore in Taipei, a space for free thinking and critical exchange. With over a decade of experience in journalism, Zhang previously served as editorial director at Initium Media and held positions at Asia Weekly and Apple Daily. Her work has consistently focused on press freedom, digital rights, and reimagining the future of journalism in politically restricted environments. Named a Yale Poynter Fellow in Journalism, Zhang’s work bridges media innovation and social impact, challenging censorship while empowering grassroots storytelling.