'Asia isn’t just part of the story—it is the story': WSJ’s Deborah Ball on why global news attention is shifting east

When Deborah Ball was appointed Asia Editor of The Wall Street Journal in April last year, her move signalled more than a routine editorial reshuffle. Ball, a seasoned veteran of the Journal with decades of reporting and leadership experience across Europe and the US, assumed the role amid escalating geopolitical tensions and mounting economic uncertainty. Her appointment also coincided with a concerted expansion of the Journal’s editorial operations across Asia, including increased presence through their flagship Journal House event in November and global marketing campaign.

Recognised for its focus on business, finance, and politics, The Wall Street Journal is renowned for its rigorous journalism. In recent months, the publication has adjusted its strategy, reaffirming its investment in Asia with a focus on both scope and substance, reflected in the arrival of senior journalists with expertise from across regions.

Notable among these appointments is Josh Chin, former deputy China bureau chief, who now leads as senior global correspondent from Seoul, focusing on the evolving intersections of power, politics, and technology. In Singapore, Niharika Mandhana has taken on the mantle of chief correspondent following her tenure as Southeast Asia bureau chief. Meanwhile, Peter Landers, previously Tokyo bureau chief, now spearheads the Journal’s Asia coverage in business, finance and economics. Accompanying them are reporters such as Patricia Kowsmann and Gabriele Steinhauser, whose relocations to Singapore further strengthen the Journal’s editorial bench across the region.

Under Ball’s leadership, the Journal is also redefining its approach to digital-first journalism, placing emphasis on platform-agnostic storytelling—from immersive podcasts and long-form videos to investigative data visualisations. Whether unpacking the implications of TikTok’s algorithms or decoding America’s Indo-Pacific defence strategy, the Journal continues to evolve its methods without compromising its editorial DNA.

As the WSJ broadens its regional footprint and adapts to shifting audience behaviours, Campaign sat down with Deborah Ball to unpack her vision for its Asia operations, the evolving role of AI in investigative journalism, and what's keeping the C-suite of our region up at night.

Below are the edited excerpts.

One year into your role, how has Asia’s relevance evolved on the global stage—politically, economically, and editorially?

Asia is absolutely central to everything that’s changing globally. It’s not just one part of the story—it is the story. This region is where so many of the big global shifts are playing out—whether it’s the intensifying US-China relationship, the restructuring of supply chains, or regional security dynamics. With things like tariffs or US foreign policy changes, the ripple effects across Asia are enormous. What we try to do is not only track those changes in real-time but also connect the dots for our readers, whether they’re in New York, London, Tokyo, or Singapore. Times like these really play to our strengths—analytical, fast, globally coordinated journalism.

What does editorial excellence look like in your Asia newsroom today, and how are you setting the tone for what’s next?

High-quality journalism always comes first—rigorous, insightful reporting that adds value. We invest heavily in reporters and editors here to ensure that we can move quickly when news breaks while also developing longer-term investigative and analytical stories. One of the great strengths of the Journal is the way our bureaus around the world—Washington, London, New York and across Asia—work together. Asia is deeply integrated into that network. We’re not a standalone unit; we’re part of a broader global reporting effort that responds cohesively to global events.

You’ve brought in heavyweight talent across the region. What’s the long game behind this expansion?

This wasn’t a response to any immediate crisis but part of a longer-term strategy. We’re reinforcing areas where we already have strength, like business, finance and geopolitics. Some of our new arrivals bring outstanding experiences from the US and Europe. They’re now applying that expertise to Asian contexts. The idea is to provide more analytical firepower and fresh reporting angles—whether it's on China’s economy, Southeast Asia’s shifting political alliances, or financial developments across the region. This is about investing, where we see the biggest stories unfolding.

What, to you, defines a story with the DNA of The Wall Street Journal in today’s crowded media landscape?

A great WSJ story has to be smart, relevant and analytical, yes—but we also want it to have character. It’s not just about data or developments. We like to tell stories through people. That human angle—whether it’s a CEO navigating a crisis or a factory worker adapting to a new trade regime—adds dimension. And our reporters are encouraged to bring original ideas forward. There are more good pitches than we can commission sometimes, which is a great position to be in.

WSJ is trusted for its speed and precision. How do you uphold both in an era where misinformation spreads fast and AI blurs lines?

We have a deeply embedded culture of accuracy and verification. Reporters are trained to look for inconsistencies, corroborate facts and question assumptions. Editors play a critical role in checking sources and angles. We also have dedicated teams—including lawyers and our Standards & Ethics unit—who review sensitive material. If something doesn’t check out, we pause. We don’t race to be first. We race to be right.

AI is transforming newsrooms. How are you integrating it into reporting workflows without diluting human judgment?

We talk a lot internally about producing "irreplaceable journalism"—that is, journalism AI can’t replicate. There’s no algorithm that can replace a journalist on the ground in Kabul or an investigative reporter digging through government records. That said, we do use AI to help scale certain types of work. For example, we used AI in our investigation into TikTok’s algorithms and to analyse financial disclosures from thousands of federal officials. In business reporting, AI can help rapidly parse earnings data or generate quick alerts, which allows our reporters to focus on context, analysis and deeper reporting.

Has sourcing and investigative reporting fundamentally changed in the past five years—or is it still about good instincts and deep access?

Sourcing has become more layered. We now have more tools to corroborate and cross-reference data. But access and trust are still at the heart of investigative reporting. Our biggest exclusives still come from developing deep sources and putting in the time. Technology helps, but it doesn’t replace that human layer. We’re still making the calls, knocking on doors, verifying documents, and connecting the pieces manually.

How do you navigate tightening press freedoms in key markets while maintaining editorial integrity?

We operate with full awareness of the legal and cultural frameworks in every country we report from. That doesn’t mean we compromise our standards. We follow the law, but we also maintain the highest editorial integrity. Our journalists are given regular training by our Standards & Ethics team. We also support them throughout the reporting process—especially in markets where the press environment is challenging. And we’re consistent advocates for press freedom, even in difficult contexts.

How does your APAC operation shape—not just support—WSJ’s global coverage across formats and languages?

Our Asia team is integral to the Journal’s broader strategy. We're not just contributing English-language content—we also publish in Japanese and both Traditional and Simplified Chinese. Our China newsletter, led by Lingling Wei, is a great example of content that has regional and global appeal. Asia isn’t an appendage—it’s part of our core output, and that includes everything from fast-breaking news to deep-dive features and platform-specific content like podcasts and explainers.

Long-form storytelling remains core to WSJ’s identity. How do you keep that alive in an increasingly distracted, scroll-first world?

It depends on the story. We’re deliberate in choosing formats. Some stories work best in 800 words; others deserve a podcast series or a video documentary. For instance, our podcast on the disappearance of China’s foreign minister was told through the reporter’s lens. It gave the story a human weight that a traditional write-up wouldn’t. Our digital team is excellent at helping us find the right way to tell each story—and our audience responds well when we get that mix right.

What’s top of mind for Asia’s business leaders right now—and how does WSJ help them decode the noise?

Trade disruptions, geopolitical instability, technology policy, and demographics—these are recurring themes. For multinationals, the shifts in supply chains and regulatory uncertainty are enormous. For regional businesses, the concerns might be different—labour, inflation, political risk. What we aim to provide is context and clarity. Our readers want to understand what these shifts mean and how they connect to broader trends, and that’s the lens we try to apply in all our reporting.

Why should CMOs or non-finance executives be reading the Journal with as much intent as CFOs or policymakers?

Because business today doesn’t exist in a silo. Understanding trade, regulation, global economic forces, and even culture is part of the modern executive’s remit. We may not cover advertising as a standalone beat, but we cover how global brands are navigating everything from China’s slowdown to consumer shifts in Southeast Asia. If you're running a brand or thinking about markets, there’s a lot in the Journal that helps you stay informed at a strategic level.

What compelled you to lead the Journal’s editorial vision in Asia—and why now?

Asia is the most dynamic region in the world right now. The pace of change here is electrifying. Whether it’s political developments, economic transformation or the cultural shifts playing out across the region—it’s all happening here. There’s an energy, a momentum. It felt like a natural move to come here at this moment.

And if you had to distill the essence of the Asian WSJ reader into one word?

Ambitious!