August 21, 2025
Newsletter

(L-R) Nearly 2,000 National Guard troops and federal agents have been deployed to federal buildings, the National Mall, and Union Station in mid-August, under a "crime emergency" declared by the federal government, despite crime rates remaining near 30-year lows. (Photos by Kent Nishimura / The New York Times and Kaiden Yu / The GW Hatchet)

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS

 

From AAJA-HQ: Recap #AAJA25, fill out our feedback form, meet our newly elected national officers

#AAJA25

  • Save the date! #AAJA26 will take place at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis from June 24-28, 2026. Stay tuned for room block details.
  • Thank you to everyone who made our national convention, #AAJA25, such a success! To help make next year’s convention even better, please take five minutes to fill out our feedback form.
  • #AAJA25 might be over, but check out our recap that features engaging sessions, impactful speakers, and a karaoke night to remember.
  • Our #AAJA25 Leaderboard winners are: Ellen Kuwana, Lori Matsukawa, and Naomi Ishisaka! Thank you to everyone who participated.
  • #AAJAKudos to all of our chapters who provided convention stipends to help their members attend #AAJA25!
    • AAJA-D.C. awarded $6,000 to five chapter members.
    • AAJA-Florida awarded $500 to a chapter member.
    • AAJA-Los Angeles awarded $5,000 to 10 chapter members. 
    • AAJA-New York awarded $6,300 to seven chapter members.
    • AAJA-Philadelphia awarded $800 stipends to chapter members.
    • AAJA-San Francisco Bay Area awarded $500 stipends to chapter members.
    • AAJA-Seattle awarded convention stipends to 20 chapter members.
    • AAJA-Texas awarded $3,000 in convention stipends.

Elections We’re excited to introduce our newly elected national officers for the 2026-2027 term:

  • Senior Vice President: Frank Bi 
  • VP of Communications: Annie Z. Yu
  • VP of Journalism Programs: Beena Raghav

Thank you to our outgoing VP of Communications, Anika Varty, and outgoing VP of Journalism Programs, Leezel Tanglao.

Community Awards Congratulations to our Community Award recipients! We announced our community awardees at #AAJA25’s gala. Read about them in Medill, MarketScreener, and Inquirer.net.

Statement AAJA stands with the Committee to Protect Journalists and others in condemning Israel's targeting of journalists. We join CPJ and many others who have called for the safety and protection of journalists in Gaza. Read more here.

Advisory Board & Membership Meeting Join us for AAJA’s combined Advisory Board and Membership Meeting on Sunday, September 7. This is an opportunity to hear updates, share feedback, and connect with AAJA leadership and members. Zoom info will be coming soon.

Resources AAJA provides resources to journalists affected by recent layoffs. Some of our resources include consideration for waived membership fees and our career center that allows journalists to find job postings and connect with recruiters. Read the full statement here.

 

As an organization that believes deeply in the power of narrative, AAPI Data is proud to be a sponsor of #AAJA25. Subscribe to the AAPI Data newsletter to stay informed and receive timely insights driven by data about our communities.

Sponsored content

 

🗓 AAJA Events

Visit our events calendar on AAJA's website for more chapter events.

August 28 | AAJA-Los Angeles’ Post #AAJA25 Mixer | Join AAJA-Los Angeles for a post convention mixer at Angel City Brewery at 5:30 p.m. PT. 

August 28 | AAJA-Chicago’s Unity Picnic | Join AAJA-Chicago and other affinity organizations for a unity picnic at Promontory Point from 5:30-8 p.m.CT.

 

At Compassion & Choices, we’re here to help you navigate healthcare planning and end-of-life decisions with confidence. Committed to advancing health equity within AAPI communities, we offer free, multilingual resources — from advance care planning to dementia support. Explore tools and get started today.

Sponsored content

 

📓 News & Resources: 

JCamp spotlight Lincoln Miller, JCamp '25, said his mentors helped guide and strengthen his passion for journalism and feel more connected to the community. Read about his experience here.

resource In light of several more National Guard troops being deployed to Washington, D.C., the International Women's Media Foundation compiled a list of safety resources from IWMF and partner organizations for D.C. journalists. 

survey Want to know how journalists can better define impact? Read the Reynolds Journalism Institute's "theory of change" and how it can help journalists clarify their goals, audience, and impact. Share your perspective by completing RJI’s survey on journalism’s role in driving change.

resource The National Association of Hispanic Journalists has released an updated NAHJ Cultural Competence Handbook, the most comprehensive resource for journalists covering immigration and the Latino community. It's available as a searchable PDF and can also be queried using ChatGPT.

 

At this year’s AAJA Summit in Seattle, JPMorganChase joined a powerful gathering of storytellers, changemakers and advocates helping shape the future of media. From hosting panels on leadership and financial wellness to engaging with attendees in our Expo Hall space, we’re proud to continue investing in opportunity and the power of journalism.

Learn more about our work: jpmorganchase.com/impact

Sponsored content

 

👏 AAJA Kudos

 

On Our List 🌟📺📸📰🎧

#AAJA25 through the lens of attendees

  • “Asian American Journalists Association convention replenished our cup in many ways” by Nick Ng and Angelica Relente, My Edmonds News
  • 🎧 “Lanterns Over the Rockies” by Kai Vong, KGNU
  • “Why community matters: lessons from my first AAJA convention” by Winston Szeto, edited by Amy Wang, AAJA-Portland 
  • “Back to the Future, Forward for AAJA” by Chris S. Nishiwaki, Seattle Magazine
  • 📱Post convention experiences by AAJA Photo Affinity Group, Instagram

Reporting across communities and challenges

  • “Two years after landmark affirmative action repeal, San Diegan Asians weigh in” by Joshua Silla, Mac Pham, Lauren Padilla, Nico Magnus, Jenna Ramiscal, Christie Yeung, Arya Karthik, and Petrina Tran
  • "How one scientist used ‘a billion butterflies’ to predict the weather" by Anusha Mathur, The Washington Post
  • "Japanese American groups blast use of Fort Bliss, former internment camp site, as ICE detention center" by Kimmy Yam, NBC News
  • "As Trump Seizes D.C.’s Police, Critics Say He’s Undercut Its Ability to Fight Crime" by Tyler Pager and Devlin Barrett, with photography by Kent Nishimura and Eric Lee, The New York Times
  • “Federal agents conduct operation in Little Tokyo as Newsom announced redistricting plans” by Leo Stallworth, ABC7
  • "What to know as GOP governors plan to send National Guard units to D.C." by Praveena Somasundaram, VOICES '21, Karina Elwood, The Washington Post
  • “After Narrowly Surviving the LA Wildfires, This Recovery Center Has Become a Trans Refuge” by Jireh Deng, VOICES ‘22, In These Times
  • “For D.C.’s Homeless, Strained Lives Become More Unstable” by Anushka Patil and Aishvarya Kavi, The New York Times
  • “AMA president: NIH is wrong to pivot from mRNA vaccines” by Bobby Mukkamala, MD, The Washington Post
 

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. 

AAJA Opportunities:

  • 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:

Job Opportunities:

  • Boston Globe Media seeks a STAT - Branded Content Producer who can execute custom, cross-platform marketing programs for STAT’s advertising clients, reinforce STAT’s editorial style, and has 5+ years of experience brainstorming and executing branded content. | Deadline: Sunday, Sept. 14.
  • FOX 5 DC seeks a Digital Video Producer who can produce breaking news and live event streams, produce and publish video for social media channels, and create promotional assets for streaming shows and special coverage. | Deadline: Monday, Sept. 15.
  • KSBW-TV seeks a Creative Services Writer Producer who can write, shoot, and edit content, use social media to drive engagement, and has experience with Adobe Creative Cloud applications. | Deadline: Wednesday, Sept. 17.
 

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Collectively, we can celebrate 40 years of impact and contribute towards 40 more years of AAJA's mission of supporting and uplifting AAPI journalists. Donate today.

Asian American Journalists Association

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