Karena Phan

Karena Phan is an Editorial Assistant at Time for Kids. Before joining TFK, she was an intern at the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting in Washington, DC. Karena grew up in Sacramento, California, and graduated from the University of California, Irvine, in 2018 with a bachelor's in literary journalism and a minor in digital information systems. In college she was one of the first news interns at her campus radio station news program, KUCI News, where she found her passion working in a newsroom. She is excited about helping bring media literacy into the classroom and contributing her skills to the TIME for Kids team. In her free time she loves to rock climb, read comic books, and explore new food places.

Latest Stories

Time Off

On Planet Earth

April 6, 2021

For our Earth Day special issue, we’re featuring three new books about our planet—and the plants and animals that live here. Hello, Earth! Hello, Earth! Poems to Our Planet explores the extraordinary place we call home. Each poem is dedicated…

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United States

Relief Bill Passed

March 19, 2021

Americans began receiving direct payments from the United States government on March 12. The payments are part of a plan by President Joe Biden. The money will go to people who have been struggling during the pandemic. Biden signed…

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United States

Advancing Equality

March 12, 2021

March 8 was International Women’s Day. President Joe Biden marked the occasion by signing an executive order that promotes gender equity and equal rights for women and girls. The order establishes the White House Gender Policy Council. Its job is…

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Health

A Third COVID-19 Vaccine

March 5, 2021

The United States Food and Drug Administration has authorized another vaccine to prevent COVID-19. This one, made by Johnson & Johnson, is different from previous vaccines. It requires one shot instead of two. This is the third vaccine to be…

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Technology

Everyone Can Play

March 3, 2021

Clinton Lexa loves to play video games. But doing so hasn’t always been easy. Lexa was born with a disability. It affects a person’s hands, which means Lexa usually does tasks and activities, such as playing video games, left-handed. “I…

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Media Literacy

Closer to the Truth

February 17, 2021

Many of the Southeast Iowa Union’s older readers live in rural areas and don’t get their news online. So when they need to know how the coronavirus is affecting their community, they rely on the newspaper. “People appreciated the reporting…

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Science

Little Lizards

February 12, 2021

Scientists have discovered what may be the smallest reptile on Earth. The species is called Brookesia nana, or nano-chameleon. It lives in the rainforest in northern Madagascar. The finding was published in the journal Scientific Reports. Researchers found two of…

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Time Off

Leading the Way

February 9, 2021

February is Black History Month. Here are three new books that honor the contributions of Black Americans. Which one would you like to read first? Sprouting Wings Sprouting Wings, by Louisa Jaggar and Shari Becker, tells the true story of…

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World

Dancing Lions

January 21, 2021

This time of year, you might see lions roaming the streets. They prance, wriggle, and rear up on two legs as drums beat and cymbals clash. Have no fear: These aren’t real lions. They’re dancers in colorful costumes, celebrating a…

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Election 2020

For the Record: Election Edition

November 13, 2020

Kamala Harris has made history. She’s the first woman and the first person of color to be elected vice president of the United States. Harris isn’t the only person breaking barriers in the 2020 election. A diverse group of leaders…

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