For three years, William Wan ran the Washington Post’s Beijing bureau and managed the work of seven Chinese journalists & news researchers. He created a pathway for them — under an authoritarian government — to report and write stories of their own and coached them through everything from inverted pyramids to advanced investigative techniques. He led the China team to award-winning work chronicling human rights abuses and corruption and secrecy in the Chinese government.

Wan has served as weekend shift editor for the Post’s metro desk, overseeing its front-page stories and entire print section. His most recent edits include a front-page feature that was among the best-read stories on the anniversary of Jan. 6.

In 2025, Wan received a six-month fellowship to teach investigative journalism and run the independent student newspaper at University of Montana. He oversaw a newsroom of 50 journalists and pushed them to produce the best work of their young careers. “To put it simply, he inspires,” said Claire Bernard, editor of the Montana Kaimin student newspaper. “He sat down with reporters and editors one-on-one to discuss story pitches, writing structure and sourcing. Most importantly, William inspired many in the newsroom to view themselves as true journalists, not just students, who could achieve greatness in the field.”  

In the past two decades, he has mentored scores of reporters, correspondents, producers and editors at the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Seattle Times and other outlets. One mentee, who went on to become an NPR host, reached out 15 years later to say: “That you took my dreams seriously and didn’t laugh in my face. You did an incredibly kind thing at an uncertain moment in my life,” she said. “Thank you with all my heart.”

Read some of his recently edited stories below: