January 9, 2025
Newsletter |
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|  | The wildfires near the Pacific Palisades have turned the area into an evacuation zone, as strong winds worsen the situation. As multiple fires grow, about 29,000 acres have burned and nearly 180,000 people have been forced to evacuate.
(Ringo Chiu / Reuters) ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS |
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| | From AAJA-HQ: Sharing mental wellness resources and support during difficult times LA wildfires AAJA is here to support our members affected by and covering the wildfires. Our organization was founded in Los Angeles in 1981, and this city holds a special place in our hearts. The following resources can help members on the ground. These tools include links to a number of crisis hotlines and organizations offering therapy and counseling. |
| AAJA-Los Angeles statement We are heartbroken to hear of some AAJA-LA chapter members being displaced and so many others losing their homes and belongings. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to our members, other friends in newsrooms around Los Angeles and the greater community. At the same time, we are so very thankful for the firefighters putting their lives in danger to battle the blazes as well as journalists working around the clock to ensure the public receives important coverage and information. To our members: We are thinking of you and please keep us updated on how you are doing so that we can come up with ways to best support you during this difficult time. The board is considering several proposals to address how to help folks. – AAJA-LA board |
| | |  | Big ideas deserve big opportunities—this is yours. The JSK Journalism Fellowships at Stanford is here to help you lead with purpose. We provide the time, resources, and network you need to tackle the challenges that matter most. Apply by January 15, 2025. The future won’t wait, and neither should you. Sponsored content |
| | 🗓 AAJA Events Visit our events calendar on AAJA's website for more chapter events. |
|  | AAJA-Hawai'i had a holiday party mixer at Symphony Honolulu on Friday, Dec. 6. |
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 | AAJA-New England had a holiday party at the Boston Public Library on Sunday, Dec. 8. |
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 | AAJA's Photo Affinity Group held a grant writing workshop on Wednesday, Jan. 8. |
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| | 📓 News & Resources resource Journalists covering wildfires face threats, including intense heat and poor visibility. The Committee to Protect Journalists offers essential safety tips for reporters, emphasizing proper equipment, situational awareness, and preparation to stay safe on the front lines. member spotlight Stephen Nelson, announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers and AAJA lifetime member, reflects on his journey as one of the few Asian American broadcasters in Major League Baseball. In an interview with The Japan Times, he emphasizes the importance of representation and staying true to his roots, while navigating a predominantly white industry. guide The Trans Journalist Association's Workplace Guide offers resources for creating inclusive, respectful newsrooms for transgender employees. Covering topics like pronouns, benefits, and allyship, the guide helps foster equity and understanding in media workplaces. member spotlight Melanie Nguyen, business reporter at The Press Democrat, emphasizes the power of business reporting in keeping communities informed. Her work sheds light on local economic trends and challenges, showing how journalism can drive accountability and support regional growth. |
| |  | SciLine Crash Course: Science essentials for local reporters
January 29 (2-3 p.m. ET) - Zoom Join SciLine’s “crash course” for local and general assignment reporters interested in the basic principles about how science works and ways it can be used to strengthen virtually any news story. Freelance science reporter Elena Renken and Ph.D. neuroscientist Dr. Tori Espensen will together lay out key do’s, don’ts, and pitfalls to watch for when including science in your news reporting. Topics include: - Knowing whether and how science can enhance your story;
- Different kinds of studies and what each can—and cannot—reveal;
- Practical tips for identifying credible scientist-sources and interviewing them; and
- How to get the essentials from scientific reports, studies, and press releases.
Q&A to follow presentation. REGISTER SciLine, a philanthropically funded, free service for reporters, also runs a free expert matching service that connects reporters to scientist-sources on deadline. Sponsored content |
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| | |  | Smoke from wildfires hangs in the sky on Wednesday, Jan. 8 in Los Angeles. (Andy Bao / AP Photo) |
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 | Zuhayr Khan cuts down bushes as structures are seen on fire during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, CA on Wednesday, Jan. 8. (Stephen Lam / San Francisco Chronicle) |
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| Covering the Los Angeles wildfires - “Live updates: L.A. Braces for More Destruction as Fires Rage Unchecked” by AAJA members including Corina Knoll, with contributions from Kate Selig and Yan Zhuang
- “‘What I imagined hell would be like.’ Two friends try to save Pacific Palisades home from raging fire” by Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times
- 📺 “‘Completely hazy’: CNN on the scene amid Los Angeles wildfire” by Natasha Chen, CNN
- 📸 “‘It Was Biblical’: Ash and Flame Upend Life in Southern California” by Shawn Hubler, photography by Philip Cheung, The New York Times
- "CNN team describes fleeing Southern California wildfire as flames surrounded their vehicle" by Hannah Park, featuring Natasha Chen, CNN
- "Here's where things stand for several major landmarks in the Los Angeles fires" by Dhanika Pineda, NPR
Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, legends - “Native Hawaiian land project brings hope to families” by Ruichen Ge, AsAmNews
- “Update: Biden honors Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi” by Randall Yip, AsAmNews
- 📺 “Chinatowns across the country struggle to stay afloat post-pandemic” by Vicky Nguyen, NBC News
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| | 👏 AAJA Kudos to... - Actors Ali Wong, Anna Sawai, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, the FX show Shōgun, and the movie Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, who won awards at the 2025 Golden Globes.
- Caiwei Chen, who joined MIT’s Technology Review as their China tech reporter.
- Drake Presto, who joined KUTV 2News/KMYU CBS2 as a photographer.
- Bobby Caina Calvan, who will start at The Dallas Morning News as its deputy editor for government accountability.
- Tracy Jan, who joins Propublica as a senior editor working with the Local Reporting Network.
- Audrey Valbuena, who is now a senior designer at The Washington Post.
- Anjali Huynh, Chloe K. Li, Nicole Ki, and Richard Sima, who were selected to the National Press Foundation’s 2025 Widening the Pipeline Fellowship.
- Juliana Yamada, who joins the Los Angeles Times Fellowship’s 2025 class.
- Ryan Doan-Nguyen, who won the 2025 Marshall Scholarship.
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| | Opportunities
Visit AAJA Careers or follow @AAJACareers on X to post jobs or internships and stay up-to-date on available positions. Check in with your AAJA chapters for more opportunities. |
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| AAJA Opportunities: - AAJA-Los Angeles’ Gregory Yuen Yee Scholarship | Apply to AAJA-Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Times’ Gregory Yuen Yee scholarship by Friday, Jan. 10.
- JCamp 2025 | Apply to AAJA’s flagship high school summer training program by Friday, Jan. 31.
- White House Correspondents’ Association Scholarship | Apply to the AAJA-WHCA scholarship by Friday, Jan. 31.
- Mentor Match 2025 | Apply to AAJA’s year-long mentoring program as a mentor or a mentee by Friday, Feb. 7.
- AAJA’s 2025 Awards | Submit your 2024 work or nominate someone for AAJA’s Awards by Wednesday, Feb. 12.
- ELP 2025 | Apply to AAJA’s Executive Leadership Program for journalism and media professionals by Friday, Feb. 28.
- VOICES 2025 | Apply to AAJA’s multimedia journalism training fellowship for college and graduate students by Friday, March 7.
- Futures Fund | Donate to AAJA’s Futures Fund, an endowment campaign that will ensure that AAJA can pursue its mission as long as necessary
External and Partner Opportunities: Internships, Fellowships, and Trainings Job Opportunities |
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