Ruixin ZhangVisual journalist
SELECTED WORK / VIDEO

Video

NU-Q Emergency Response to Iranian Strikes (Video Explainer)

An explainer about how Northwestern’s Qatar campus responded to Iranian strikes across Gulf Arab states, from shelter-in-place orders to evacuations. Drawing on my experience living in the Middle East, I pitched this coverage and co-reported with Summer Hu, the journalist featured here; our shelter-in-place article was also named a 2026 ACP Story of the Year finalist in Breaking News.

Skills: Production · Premiere Pro · Motion Graphics · Reporting · Pitching

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Daily Northwestern Spring 2026 Campus Poll (Video Explainer)

Produced a video explainer analyzing student sentiment from The Daily Northwestern’s Spring 2026 campus poll , focusing on key issues like the federal funding deal and views on the interim president. Also contributed web development to build the interactive web feature contextualizing the deal.

Skills: Data Visualization & Analysis · Web Development · Production · Premiere Pro · Motion Graphics · Reporting

Watch on InstagramExplore the interactive feature

Hydroponics ∩ Soil (Documentary Feature)

In progress — Under Northwestern’s China-American Reel Ecology Program, I am co-producing a 20-minute film examining Chicago’s food systems. Set against high-tech hydroponic farms and South Side urban agricultural communities, the film explores the tension between technological utopias and ground-level realities. Premiering at the Shanghai Youth Film Festival and Northwestern in 2027.

Skills: Cinematography · Sound Engineering · Production · DaVinci Resolve

Rows of plants seen through a windowSmall plant in dramatic lightClose-up of leaf veinsWorker inside a hydroponic farmPurple grow lights in a hydroponic farmHydroponic growing structuresGroup visiting an indoor farmA person between rows of indoor growing racksClose-up of leafy greens

Northwestern News Network (Broadcast journalism)

A suite of news packages pitched and produced for Northwestern News Network (NNN), covering community stories across Evanston and Chicago. Stories include a feature on student photographer Joss Broward, coverage of Chicago’s Green City Market, and a small-business spotlight on Lao Tian Dumpling House.

Skills: Production · Premiere Pro · Motion Graphics · Field Reporting · Pitching

Student photographer Joss Broward

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Green City Market

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Lao Tian Dumpling House

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Litowitz Center & Schoolhouse: Civic Dialogue Module

An educational video module developed for Northwestern’s Litowitz Center for Enlightened Disagreement and Schoolhouse’s “Dialogue” sessions. Modeled on improv techniques, “Could’ve said” demonstrates constructive ways for participants to respond to politically polarizing statements.

Skills: Motion Graphics · Production · CapCut · Acting