Asian American Journalists Association est. 1981
@aaja
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44 Years of #AAJAFamily & #AAJAKudos | Diversity in news industry & newsroom coverage | Innovation, leadership & training | @AAJACareers | #AAJA25 | https://t.co/xnpGftCUh3
Joined April 2008
In our video pronunciation guide, reporters @JaniceYuNews and @FrancesWangTV state the correct pronunciations of the Chinese- and Korean-language names of the victims in the Atlanta spa shootings. See the full guide:
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Our guidance to newsrooms in the wake of the Atlanta shootings:. 1/ Take caution with language in coverage that could fuel hypersexualization of Asian women. In describing the businesses affected by the shootings, avoid terminology & connotations of prostitution or sexualization.
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Please do not abbreviate the names as middle names. That is inaccurate. Two character / two word first names are common in both the Chinese language and the Korean language.
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"Bamboo ceiling" is a term widely credited to an As-Am to express the glass ceiling for AAPIs in leadership. The fact that it's new to many is a reminder of the lack of visibility of AAPIs & our representation in media coverage. We welcome conversations reevaluating this language.
@THR People losing their minds over “bamboo ceiling”: this is a real term. I’ve never really liked or used it, but it exists, has been around for a while, and is being used correctly here. The Hollywood Reporter didn’t just make this up.
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There has been a torrent of hurtful and racist remarks and actions targeted at Americans of Asian descent amid the coronavirus outbreak. AAJA denounces racism and xenophobia, and stands by our community and our members, including our very own @weijia.
This morning a White House official referred to #Coronavirus as the “Kung-Flu” to my face. Makes me wonder what they’re calling it behind my back.
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STATEMENT: AAJA Encourages Newsrooms to Empower AAPI Journalists and Their Expertise. Since the shootings, we have heard some deeply concerning problems in newsrooms across the country, including in Atlanta: “Are you sure your bias won’t show if you cover the Atlanta shootings?”.
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AAJA is devastated to learn about the mass shooting following a Lunar New Year celebration in Monterey Park, CA, that left 10 individuals dead and at least 10 injured. We send our deepest condolences to the families affected in Monterey Park and the greater LA AAPI community. /1.
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2/ Provide CONTEXT, include the current rise in attacks on Asian Americans. These shootings have come during a time of increasing attacks on the AAPI community, and heightened fear among AAPI communities across the country.
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3/ Understand anti-Asian racism and invisibility. Racism against AAPIs is highly nuanced, complex, and has remained historically invisible, and includes a long history of hypersexualization of Asian women that is rooted in Westernized and colonial perceptions of Asia.
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AAJA is aware of a harmful headline published Tuesday on a Wall Street Journal Opinion piece. The WSJ's decision to change the online headline is a start, but not fully sufficient in addressing a mistake during a very troubling time for Asian American communities. /1.
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📢 Statement: The Asian American Journalists Association stands with Yanqi Xu, the Flatwater Free Press (@flatwaterfreep) journalist who was the target of remarks that attempted to dismiss her reporting because of her country of origin. 🧵
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3a/ This is inextricably linked to harassment and sexualized violence against Asian women. Women of Asian descent have reported 2.3 times more incidents of violence than AAPI men, according to a new Stop AAPI Hate report of nearly 3,800 hate incidents reported since March 2020.
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AAJA stands by our member & CBS WH correspondent @weijia & fellow @whca members in their fearless pursuit of answers, as they have consistently demonstrated in WH coronavirus briefings. Read more: . #AAJAFamily #AAJAKudos #Pressfreedom #thankajourno.
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4/ Diversify your sources by interviewing & quoting AAPI experts. AAJA’s speakers bureau, includes AAPIs with expertise in equal rights, hate crimes, AAPI history, racial justice and community-building work, racial profiling and discrimination.
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We’ve released a joint statement with @nabj @nahj @nlgja @najournalists @womenjournos, denouncing the escalating violence and rhetoric aimed at AAPIs, including journalists, amid the coronavirus outbreak. (1/8).
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4c/ When more information emerges about the victims’ identities, center their stories and those within the community. Please consult members of the AAPI community to ensure accurate spelling and pronunciation of Asian names.
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4a/ A local coalition of AAPI civil rights, advocacy, and direct service organizations have compiled a list of AAPI community contacts for media.
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We’ve issued a guidance for newsrooms to cover coronavirus accurately and factually without further fueling xenophobia and racism towards Asian Americans.
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5/ Empower and support your AAPI journalists and colleagues. Newsrooms must provide AAPI journalists with the necessary mental wellness support as our community faces increased anti-Asian violence and sentiment.
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Many of our journalists are pushing for — many times, quietly and without recognition — increased coverage of AAPI experiences. Many are experiencing compounding trauma while covering the violence. We commend their dedication and resilience.
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5a/ AAPI journalists are underrepresented in newsrooms across the country, especially in leadership positions. AAJA has compiled a list of mental health resources for journalists experiencing grief and trauma.
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4b/ AAJA Studio is not an exhaustive list of experts, and we encourage reaching out to AAPI studies professors and scholars as well. @AAAStudies
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"I would say I'm a feminist. Women deserve equal rights. Is there any question about that?" --@DrJillStein . #powerup #AAJA16.
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AAJA stands with our AAPI journalists, who have been subject to violence and discrimination over the past year and as anti-Asian incidents have risen during the coronavirus pandemic. <3.
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🚨 Nearly a quarter of TV stations in the top 20 U.S. markets–home to nearly half of the AAPI population–has NO AAPI on-air talent. Today, AAJA shares an initial look at our snapshot of the broadcast industry conducted last year 📺 /1 .
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We have heard from broadcast members — and from members across newsrooms who volunteered to cover the Atlanta shooting — who have expertise, language skills, and the cultural competency in the community, but were not assigned.
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We send our sympathies and condolences to the family of Maria Mercader, a longtime and beloved member of our @aaja and @cbsnews communities. Maria, 54, a cancer survivor, died Sunday of complications from COVID-19. #aajafamily
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Dear journalists: Please exercise care in your coverage of coronavirus to ensure accurate and fair portrayals of Asians and Asian Americans and to avoid fueling xenophobia and racism that have emerged since the outbreak. See best practices here:
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Announcing AAJA STUDIO, the inaugural listing of 100+ AAPI journalists and subject matter experts, curated for newsrooms and organizations. #MediaDiversity. VISIT: 1/4
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"Korean-language local media outlets including Atlanta K, the Korea Times Atlanta, and Korea Daily were uniquely positioned to cover the shooting.". Covering the Atlanta massacre from inside the Korean community by @shinheeeee.
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Today marks the one-year commemoration of the tragic Atlanta spa shootings in which eight people, including six Asian American women, were murdered. Our communities have continued to suffer from anti-Asian violence in the year since. 1/.
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AAJA urges newsrooms to offer coverage opportunities to AAPI journalists who are uniquely positioned, sourced and skilled to cover the unfolding news — and who want to be a part of it.
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STATEMENT: AAJA urges newsrooms to not perpetuate xenophobia in coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic as anti-Asian violence increases. + THREAD 👇🧵.
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📢 Statement: ʻAhahui Haku Moʻolelo (Hawaiian Journalists Association) and AAJA-Hawaiʻi (@AajaHawaii) express our condolences and thoughts for the lives lost and homes destroyed by the devastating Lāhainā wildfire. 🧵
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AAJA recommends that newsrooms cover this tragedy w/ empathy, while centering community stories & w/ the awareness of the tremendous stress & anxiety that the AAPI community has undergone over the past three years. Reference our coverage guidance here: /3.
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Journalists rely on access for good reporting. Without leveraging reporters who can deftly navigate the AAPI community affected by the shootings, we risk overlooking & sidelining the perspectives central to the story that need to be represented. This is poor journalism.
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We urge media to be mindful of photos, context and word choice surrounding #coronavirus. We warn against usage of:. -images of people wearing face masks without proper context.-generic images of Chinatown if unrelated to story.-the term “Wuhan virus” .
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AAJA has updated our guidance on covering violence in the Asian American community following the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, California, and the increased death toll of the Monterey Park shooting. Read the full statement:
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ALTERNATE LINK TO GUIDANCE (if first one is down):
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We’re dedicating the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award to Henry Fuhrmann (@hfuhrmann), for his lifelong dedication to excellence in journalism, his leadership through humble service, his generous mentorship of future generations and his commitment to AAJA.
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We commend @CBSNews for producing this timely documentary on COVID-19 related anti-Asian discrimination. #AAJAKudos to all of the on-air reporters & story producers! . Watch here:
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Save the date: Wednesday, March 3 at 3pm ET, @aaja pres Michelle Ye Hee Lee (@myhlee) chats with actor Daniel Dae Kim (@danieldaekim) about the rise in anti-Asian violence. Register:
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PRESENTING: the trailer for “40 Years of AAJA”—and YES, this is why everyone was emotional during our #AAJA21 Opening Ceremony😭. #AAJAFamily, we hope you find strength and inspiration in the oral histories of our founders and key members! WATCH HERE:
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STATEMENT: AAJA Condemns Racist Comments About KPIX-TV Reporter Betty Yu And Asian Americans. 🧵thread below, or READ:.
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While AAPI journalists can be an invaluable resource — and we commend newsrooms who recognize and empower AAPI journalists — the entire newsroom must also do the work of learning more about the communities they cover.
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At the same time, the burden of being “the only one” in the newsroom creates a professional and emotional toll on these journalists who may feel responsible for representing the entire AAPI community, often without the leadership titles to make editorial or staffing decisions.
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.@AAJAla and @AAJA stand in support of our fellow Asian American journalist and AAJA-LA member @josie_huang, who was arrested last night by LA County Sheriff's deputies for allegedly "obstructing justice" while reporting. Our statement:
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We encourage newsrooms & our members to always seek out historical context and expertise from underrepresented communities. The Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association (@AMEJA) has published guidance for contextualized & comprehensive coverage of Israel and Palestine. 🧵.
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"Journalists, be bold. Be brave." was Rep. John Lewis' encouragement at our 2019 convention gala. We were honored to have him spend precious time with us. Thank you for your incomparable leadership. Rest in peace, sir. #goodtrouble
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How to support the AAPI community in a time of hate and violence: A Resource List . by @SarahBelleLin, @aajasf board member #AAJAfamily . Check it out here:
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Advice for young journos?. @seungminkim Work hard AF. @davidnakamura Never turn down a story. @weijia Stop looking for shortcuts. Do the work & speak up for it. Reporting While Asian American: From 1600 Pennsylvania moderated by @IAmAmnaNawaz #AAJA20.
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We defend reporters covering protests in Minnesota -- joint statement with @nahj, @nabj, @najournalists, and @spj_tweets. #pressfreedom #firstamendment
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To our wonderful #AAJAFamily as well as the entire AAPI community, AAJA wishes you a happy start to Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Stay tuned for upcoming events and programming from us and our chapters! 🥰 #APAHM #AAPIHeritageMonth
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Asian American Journalists Association's guidance on responsible media coverage of #coronavirus outbreak (1/3):. Avoid using generic images of Chinatown unless directly related to the story.
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The AAPI community is not a monolith. One journalist does not — cannot — speak on behalf of the entire community. The professional challenges for AAPIs are complicated and rooted in systemic problems.
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Ahead of the Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony, which originally aired at 8 p.m. local time in Japan (8 a.m. EST) and is broadcasting in the U.S. tonight, AAJA reminds media organizations to be mindful not to perpetuate Asian stereotypes in headlines, reporting and coverage. (1/2).
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We have included a pronunciation guide for the Monterey Park victims’ names, which were released by the LA County Dept. of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Special thanks to AAJA members Frances Wang (@FrancesWangTV), Natasha Chen (@NatashaChenCNN), Tiffany Liou (@tliou) and @BenPu_nbc.
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🚨 STATEMENT: @AAJA and Military Veterans in Journalism (@MVJNetwork) urge newsrooms to refrain from use of the Japanese word “kamikaze” to describe the self-detonating Iranian-made drones that Russia is using to conduct attacks in Ukraine. /1 .
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It is with heavy hearts that we extend its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Corky Lee, a longtime and beloved member of our #AAJAFamily. He is cherished and missed. In Memoriam here:
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This assumed responsibility of ensuring fair and accurate community representation is the type of unseen labor that falls on women and minorities in newsrooms, and must be recognized and reconciled by managers and colleagues.
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From @juliachanb, AAJA VP of Civic Engagement & MediaWatch Committee rep:. To those who’ve reached out about visibility for sex workers, we see you and hear you. We’re committed to following how the story develops and updating @aaja guidance accordingly and as often as possible.
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We're proud to be #VeryAsian. Thank you to @MichelleLiTV and @Gia_Vang for setting up this incredible pop-up project bringing awareness to the pervasive nature of anti-AAPI attitudes in this country. Show your support for AAJA and AAPI journalists:.
The response to #VeryAsian has been AMAZING. A lot of you asked for ways to support. Well, @Gia_Vang + I heard you: You can buy a wearable but be quick - up for a limited time. All proceeds go to @aaja after costs to support #AAPI journalists. 1/2
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AAJA condemns arrest of @OmarJimenez & @CNN crew covering #GeorgeFloyd protests in MN. We stand in solidarity & support our fellow journalists of color. It is unacceptable for journalists to be threatened or arrested while doing their jobs under the 1st Amendment. #pressfreedom.
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#AAJAKudos: We’re proud to announce that five AAJA members are honored in @goldhouseco’s #A100 List:. - AAJA national president Michelle Ye Hee Lee @myhlee, @washingtonpost.- Dion Lim @DionLimTV, @abc7newsbayarea . (1/3)
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Thank you to all the fearless journalists reporting from DC yesterday. We want to highlight here some of the work we've seen. Please RT to amplify & shout out other journalists providing vital coverage #AAJAFamily #AAJAKudos.
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While our focus at the moment is on the immediate needs of helping our community heal and ensuring accurate coverage of the California mass shootings, the AAJA board has reached out to the WSJ editorial board for a meeting to discuss this matter. /2.
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We urge newsrooms to empower and support their AAPI journalists and colleagues, while not relying on them completely to be total experts on AAPI communities. Provide AAPI journalists with more mental wellness support as our community faces increased anti-Asian violence. /13.
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We urge journalists to exercise care in their coverage of #coronavirus. Please see our advisory for recent examples of fair, accurate and comprehensive coverage of the outbreak, its impact in East Asian countries and among immigrant communities:
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In a now-deleted tweet that was captured in this screenshot, the Chicago Sun-Times used an image depicting people on a street in Tokyo, Japan, as the preview for the headline: “A new COVID variant is spreading across the U.S.” (2/7)
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Names / Terminology / Coverage. Double-check names, pronunciations and faces, especially when covering communities different from your own. Avoid using graphics or videos of violence without thoughtful consideration of the value it adds, as it may retraumatize AAPIs. /4.
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It results from lack of proper training, hiring and promoting by newsrooms. We urge newsroom managers to also provide the extra support, resources and compensation minority journalists may need and deserve as they shoulder the disproportionate burden of this labor.
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Yes, Corky always saw the bigger picture🥹 Thank you @GoogleDoodles for honoring our friend Corky Lee. We miss him today and every day. We are grateful for his tireless efforts to capture us and remind all that Asian American history is American history.
Corky Lee always saw the bigger picture 📸. Today’s #APAHM #GoogleDoodle celebrates the life of this Chinese American photographer and activist whose work captured Asian Pacific American life. Learn more →
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#AAJAKudos to Ann Curry (@AnnCurry), who will receive the Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism at the 46th Murrow Symposium, held by Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication (@MurrowCollege). Congratulations!
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Today is #FredKorematsuDay. Today, we honor Fred and all that he fought for, including the 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry who were unjustly incarcerated during WWII. Read about his work, the legal battle he sparked--and remember.
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The range of concerns raised by our members are deeply concerning, and we urge newsrooms to listen to, learn from, and advocate for their employees. — AAJA Broadcast Advisory Council . Read in full:
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AAJA is proud to announce our revised Style Guide! This guide is meant for anyone who wants to better understand and more responsibly cover Asian American Pacific Islander communities. Learn more at
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AAJA condemns the harassment of @SabrinaSiddiqui at a White House press conference. Sabrina is a journalist and was asking questions that the public deserved to have answered. The harassment and vitriol that has been directed at her is unacceptable.
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THREAD: We want to take a moment to highlight the work of our AAJA journalists who have been following the events in Minneapolis and covering each day of the ongoing Chauvin trial with quick and accurate live updates on their respective accounts. Follow them to stay updated.
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BREAKING: AAJA is reviewing newsrooms' use of the Japanese word "kamikaze" to describe Russian drone attacks on Ukraine. We expect to provide further guidance as we look into the matter.
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.@aaja is proud to announce Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School #Parkland survivors, student journalists and recent graduates Nikhita Nookala (@nikta04) & Christy Ma (@christywma) as keynotes for the 2018 Gala Scholarship and Awards Banquet at #AAJA18.
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Monterey Park’s Asian American community makes up more than 65% of the city’s population and this shooting occurred as Asian Americans nationwide gathered with loved ones to celebrate Lunar New Year. /2.
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.@AAJA and @SAJAhq have issued guidance on media coverage of Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. @KamalaHarris and her racial identity:
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AAJA stands in solidarity with @AMEJA in their call for news organizations to be mindful of implicit and explicit bias in their coverage of war in Ukraine, including the orientalist and Eurocentric biases seen recently in coverage. Read their statement for coverage guidance:.
NEW: AMEJA’s full statement on the comments about “civilized” countries, people that don’t “look like refugees” and the like in recent coverage of the war in Ukraine.
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"THIS IS CNN." .We love this highlight from @cnn. #AmplifyAAPIs #AAJAFamily. @lisaling @mj_lee @KyungLahCNN @NatashaChenCNN @AmaraCNN @b_fung @selinawangtv @klustout
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🚨Statement: AAJA urges all newsrooms to exercise caution in identifying the race or ethnicity of crime suspects, particularly after the New York Post inaccurately reported that a “Chinese man” was responsible for the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. 🧵
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#AAJAFamily, we are hosting The Space tonight, a facilitated, off-the-record conversation to share your feelings, experiences and thoughts, with two professional therapists. For AAPI journalist members only. Register here:
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AAJA is saddened by the loss of Henry Fuhrmann (@hfuhrmann), a long-time member & a loving friend. He will be so dearly missed, and forever a part of our AAJA Family. Our hearts go out to his loved ones & all whose lives he touched. Rest in peace, Henry ❤️.
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#AAJAKudos to Maria Ressa (@mariaressa), 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate alongside Dmitry Muratov. We applaud her courageous work for press freedom, in combating disinformation, and inspiring AAPI journalists over the years. Read our statement here: .
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🎂 It's AAJA's birthday today! 43 years ago, our founders had their first meeting to form our organization, and we're still going strong 🤩 From our archives, we're sharing this photo of Frank Kwan, one of our founders, speaking at our first-ever scholarship dinner in 1982.
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We’re proud to premiere @_athousandcuts at #AAJA20!. Festival registrants will be invited to screen the film & attend a panel with @mariaressa herself (invited) & director Ramona Diaz @CineDiaz. Details here:
Follow journalist Maria Ressa as she places the tools of the free press—and her freedom — on the line in defense of truth and democracy. #AThousandCuts comes to theaters and virtual cinemas nationwide Aug. 7, from director @cinediaz
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AAJA has released a pronunciation guide for the Half Moon Bay victims' names. We have included it in our guidance, which can be reviewed here: Special thanks to @CAAsanfrancisco, @NiuJinxia, @jinkding and @AlexiaCampbell.
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**ELECTION SAFETY TWITTER THREAD**. #AAJAFamily: On the eve of #ElectionDay during which you may be facing difficult reporting/editing barriers or daunting assignments, here's a list of resources we've compiled to keep you prepared, informed, and vigilant:. #PressFreedom.
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TOMORROW @atlpressclub. Asian American Journalists Speak Out: A conversation about coverage of the spa shootings in Atlanta ft. #AAJAFamily's @NatashaChenCNN @ChenueHer @myhlee @JaniceYuNews mod. by @rahulbali w special guest @BeeForGeorgia . Register:
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HAPPY #AAJA21 CONVENTION OPENING DAY! 🎉 🎊It's time for a roll call - who's here? Introduce yourself and tell us what you're looking forward to! 🙌And don't forget to follow our Twitter list to connect with your fellow AAJAers at convention!
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