Interested in serving on the AAJA Seattle chapter board? We have a number of positions we’re looking to fill. If you are interested in running, please fill out this form by end of day Oct. 22. 

Per AAJA bylaws, all chapter officers must be full, dues-paying AAJA members. You must also be a dues-paying AAJA member in order to vote in AAJA Seattle board elections. Click here to register or renew your AAJA membership. 

In addition to the responsibilities listed below, all AAJA Seattle board members are expected to collaborate on chapter efforts including fundraising, events and coordinating stipends and scholarships. The board typically meets once per month, and more often closer to event dates. Please email aajaseattle@gmail.com if you have questions. The following positions are open:

• VPs of Events (2-year term): The VPs of Events lead planning and execution of chapter events, including a Lunar New Year celebration, fundraisers and social events. 
• National Advisory Board Rep (2-year term): The Advisory Board is composed of representatives elected from each chapter. Advisory Board members represent the interests of AAJA chapters in the organization, the organization’s interests in the chapters, and the interests of both in the community. The Advisory Board meets virtually twice each year. The National Advisory Board Rep. is responsible for representing the Seattle Chapter at these meetings.
• Student Representative (1-year term): The student representative is responsible for building and maintaining connections with students at colleges and universities in Washington, and will help the chapter directly support AAJA’s goal of providing encouragement, information, advice and scholarship assistance to AAPI student journalists.

Contact us

Please email aajaseattle@gmail.com or reach out to the 2024 AAJA Seattle board members if you have any questions about the roles and responsibilities: 

Naomi Ishisaka, AAJA Seattle Chapter President

Elise Takahama, Treasurer 

Jenn Smith, Secretary

Tim Pham, National Advisory Board Representative 

Qina Liu, VP of Membership & Communications 

Yihyun Jeong, VP of Programs 

Nathan Hyun, VP of Events

Celia Wu, VP of Events

Thank you for supporting the Seattle chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association. Your time and money matters and your generous donations to our Lunar New Year fundraiser raised $14,000 to support our scholarship and professional development programs for journalists of color including stipends to the #AAJA24 convention and other conferences and professional training opportunities. Because of you, we’re able to continue to offer $1,200 convention stipends to journalists who would have not been able to attend convention because of travel, hotel and registration costs. Your contributions mean we can continue to tell stories such as these: Here’s a highlight reel of some of the work by our membership in the past year.

We’re in awe of your generosity and are thankful to welcome the Year of the Dragon with you. Our Lunar New Year 2024 banquet fundraiser would not be possible without our event sponsors, donors and all of YOU.

Please fill out this short survey to send us a note with feedback on what you thought of our Lunar New Year fundraiser event and how we can improve next year. 

Thank you to AAJA member Ramon Dompor for these photos. See more images here. 

Event Sponsors

Raffle donors

Candace Barron
Eighth Generation 
Jean Kubota Cassill
Kela Designs
King Donuts 
Lori Matsukawa
Lucky Envelope 
Macadons 
Mae Ngai 
Michelle Li, Very Asian Foundation
Naomi Ishisaka 
Saint Bread 
Salish Lodge & Spa 
Snoqualmie Indian Tribe 
Terry’s Kitchen
The Wu Family
Tranche Winery 
Uwajimaya 

Dessert Dash donors

Bakery Nouveau 
Budda Bruddah
CocoPandan
Dochi
Hood Famous
Kat Lieu, Subtle Asian Baking
Macadons 
Miyoko Wolf
Monsoon
Nothing Bundt Cake – Tukwila
Ryan Nguyen 
Sarah Sakurazawa

Special thanks to

Thanks to support from the AAJA Seattle 30th Anniversary Fund for Mid-Career Journalists and chapter fundraising, we are able to offer stipends to support Seattle chapter professional journalists who want to attend the 2024 AAJA Convention in Austin, Texas.

If you are an AAJA Seattle chapter member and a professional journalist, you are eligible to apply for up to $1,200 in support to attend the 2024 AAJA Convention in Austin, from Aug. 7-10, 2024. 

The application deadline is April 1, 2024, and awards will be announced by April 15, 2024. The early bird convention registration deadline is June 19.

Please note, if you receive a stipend and do NOT attend convention, you will need to return the stipend to AAJA Seattle. 

APPLY HERE

DEADLINE APRIL 1, 2024

Come celebrate the Year of the Dragon with us in-person! We invite you to dress up for this sit-down dinner event at the historic Washington Hall Ballroom.

The evening will include dinner, a Dessert Dash, fabulous raffle prizes and more! Our largest fundraiser of the year helps support our scholarship and professional development programs.

Interested in sponsoring a table? Please contact Celia Wu about sponsorship opportunities at celiachongwu@gmail.com.

WHEN: March 9, 2024 (Saturday) 6pm PST

WHERE: Washington Hall Ballroom, 153 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

TICKETS: Get Tickets Here

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Ruby

Seattle Times

InvestigateWest

Jade

Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation

National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences – Northwest Chapter

Washington State University – Murrow School of Communications

Thomas Wu LLC

Special Thanks

Lucky Envelope Brewing

Seattle Shaolin Kungfu Academy

What is Lunar New Year?

Lunar New Year is an important and widely celebrated holiday across many Asian communities and cultures. Celebrations include large community festivities as well as in-home gatherings with extended family. Because the celebration is timed according to the lunar calendar, timing of the holiday varies year to year. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 8 million people in the U.S. celebrate the Lunar New Year.

This Lunar New Year marks the start of the Year of the Dragon.

AAJA Code of Conduct

All attendees of this event are subject to the AAJA Code of Conduct. By reserving tickets to this event, you are agreeing to consent to the code of conduct.

About AAJA Seattle

Founded in 1981, the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) is a non-profit professional and educational organization with more than 1,600 members.

Since 1985, Seattle’s AAJA chapter has provided scholarships for students, professional development for journalists and service to the community in the Pacific Northwest.

The Seattle chapter promotes the association’s three-part mission:

1. To encourage young Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to enter the ranks of journalism.
2. To promote fair and accurate coverage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
3. To increase the number of Asian American and Pacific Islander journalists and news managers in the industry.

AAJA Seattle’s 100-plus members work throughout Washington state in print, television, radio and online media.

AAJA is a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status. Donations are tax-deductible.

Follow AAJA Seattle on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Questions?

Reach out to us via Facebook or aajaseattle@gmail.com if you have any questions about the event.

We’d love to see you on Saturday, Aug. 26, at Marination in Columbia City, 3714 S. Hudson St., Seattle, WA 98118. We’ll be posting up outside at picnic tables from 3-5 pm. Come through, say hello, and let us know what you’ve been up to!

We hope you’re having a great summer. It’s been a minute, and we’re looking forward to reconnecting with you next week at AAJA’s National Convention in Washington, D.C., and also back in Seattle for an August meetup at Marination Columbia City. 

Connect with us
Please fill out this form so we can update you on events, panels and panelists, resources and more. 

Convention resources
Check out the #convention Slack channel if you’re still looking for housing/hotel/roommates. If you aren’t on the AAJA National Slack, you can join here. And join the #chapter-seattle channel, to introduce yourselves and stay in touch with us.

Be sure to check your email for information on how to download the convention app, build your schedule, locate and bookmark panels, booths and speakers. 

Thursday, July 20
Naomi Ishisaka
Seattle Times Assistant Managing Editor / social justice columnist 
“A View From the Frontlines” 
2-3 pm

Friday, July 21
Naomi Ishisaka
Seattle Times Assistant Managing Editor / social justice columnist 
“Confronting the Model Minority Myth” 
10-11:15 am 

Greg Kim
Seattle Times Project Homeless reporter 
“How to Report on the Houseless”
11:30-12:30 pm

Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks
Seattle Times race and equity reporter 
“Navigating the Race and Equity Beat”
2-3 pm

Michelle Li 
NBC St. Louis Morning Anchor + Consumer Reporter and Very Asian Foundation Co-Founder
“A Very Asian Guide to Korean Food” book signing
3-3:45 pm

Saturday, July 22
Tan Vinh
Seattle Times food and drink writer 
“Reclaiming Power Through Food”
10:15-11:15 am

Northwest Journalists of Color Scholarship

Deadline:  Monday, May 1, 2023, 11:59 PM PST

$1,200 Cash Award

Apply if you are an aspiring journalist. Scholarship will include a $1,200 cash award, and a mentor who works as a journalist in the Pacific Northwest. 

For 40 years, the Northwest Journalists of Color have coordinated scholarships for aspiring journalists. The NJC’s members belong to the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), Seattle Association of Black Journalists (SABJ), PeriodistasNW (NAHJ) and the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA). Since 1983, the NJC and AAJA have awarded more than $150,000 in scholarships.

You do not need to identify as a student of color to apply for this scholarship. Strong preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to the importance of diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences in newsrooms. You are eligible for these scholarships if you are EITHER:

• On the path to graduating from or have graduated from a Washington state high school
  OR
• Attending a public or private college in Washington state

Click here to apply

Northwest Journalists of Color Visual Journalism Scholarship

Deadline:  Monday, May 1, 2023, 11:59 PM PST

DSLR camera kit valued between $2,500-$5,000

Apply if you are an aspiring photo and/or video journalist. You will receive a professional DSLR camera kit (average value between $2,500 – $5,000) to help launch their career. (Average value $2,500 – $5,000)

The NJC Visual Journalism Scholarship will be awarded to an aspiring photo and/or video journalist who meets the same eligibility criteria for the NJC Scholarship. One recipient will receive a used professional camera kit, donated by The Seattle Times Photo Department, to help launch their career.

You are eligible for these scholarships if you are EITHER:

• On the path to graduating from or have graduated from a Washington state high school
  OR
• Attending a public or private college in Washington state

Click here to apply

AAJA Seattle Founders’ Scholarship

Deadline:  Monday, May 1, 2023, 11:59 PM PST

$1,500 to attend the AAJA Convention in Washington, D.C.

Apply if you’d like to attend the 2023 national Asian American Journalists Association convention in Washington, D.C. Recipients will receive $1,500 to cover expenses.

The Founders’ Scholarship was established in 2000 to honor Frank Abe, Ron Chew and Lori Matsukawa, founders of the AAJA Seattle chapter in 1985. The Founders’ Scholarship covers fees to attend the 2023 national Asian American Journalists Association convention in Washington, D.C. Recipients receive $1,500 to cover expenses.

You are eligible for these scholarships if you are EITHER:

• On the path to graduating from or have graduated from a Washington state high school
  OR
• Attending a public or private college in Washington state

All NJC winners will be awarded the Founders scholarship.

Click here to apply

NJC-PNW Guild Conference Scholarship

Deadline:  Monday, May 1, 2023, 11:59 PM PST

One recipient will receive a $1,000 scholarship. ($1,000)

You are eligible for these scholarships if you are:

• On the path to graduating from or have graduated from a Washington state high school
  OR
• Attending a public or private college in Washington state

Apply if you would like to attend a convention, seminar, workshop or other event connected to journalism. One recipient will receive, or receive reimbursement for, up to $1,000 for approved costs related to the event. 

These costs can include, but are not limited to: registration, travel, lodging and meals. 

Parents, siblings, direct descendants and dependents of workers represented by the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild are not eligible to apply.

Click here to apply

With inflation rising, a potential recession, journalists being laid off and the growing constraints on local newsroom budgets, it has become increasingly difficult for journalists of color to access much-needed training and professional development opportunities.

To address these challenges, the Seattle Association of Black Journalists, PeriodistasNW and AAJA Seattle are establishing a Northwest Journalists of Color Training Fund that will raise and disperse funds to professional journalists of color to use for training. This fund will be in addition to the NJC Scholarship for students, which is an endowed fund.

Please consider donating to support this important fund for journalists of color to help us get the word out about this new fund by sharing https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-training-for-nw-journalists-of-color widely and please consider donating to support this important fund for journalists of color.