The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) is a membership nonprofit that advances the careers of aspiring and practicing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) journalists. Formed in 1981, it has 20 chapters in the United States and Asia with a membership of approximately 1,500. ¹

AAJA offers programs for aspiring journalists that include the opportunity to develop news projects that help develop skills and mentorship relationships with existing journalists. The organization offers an executive leadership program, a speaker’s bureau, and task forces for practicing journalists from “underrepresented” identity groups. ²

Organization and History

Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) was formed in 1981 as a membership nonprofit. It provides support for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) journalists and encourages more AAPI persons to pursue journalism as a career. ¹

AAJA offers trainings, alerts of opportunities in journalism, resources in times of joblessness, networking, and nurturing programs for aspiring journalists. The group researches news media coverage of AAPI issues and illustrates alleged inaccuracies and lack of fairness in the coverage of the community and its issues. ¹

The organization has grown to 20 chapters located in major United States cities and Asian chapters in Tokyo, Japan and Hong Kong, China. ³

Programs

Asian American Journalists Association provides, as part of its executive leadership program, training for mid- and senior-level leaders in journalism to prepare them for senior positions within the industry. ⁴

The organization’s “Voices” program provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to produce a news project that helps them understand the impact of their work, how their audience engages with them, and how various communities view their work. ⁵

Asian American Journalists Association’s “Association’s Catalyst” program is a three-day training for journalism entrepreneurs that provides direction on the creation of a presentation deck, conducting best practice marketing, and sourcing financing. ⁶

The organization’s JCamp brings experienced journalists together with high school students interested in journalism for training in journalistic practices. ⁷

AAJA offers a year-long mentoring program that matches a current professional with a student to aid in their development. ⁸

Initiatives

Asian American Journalists Association’s AAJA Studio is a speaker’s bureau that features members, subject matter experts, community leaders, and graduates of AAJA media trainings in speaking roles. ⁹

AAJA Media Watch holds organizations accountable for accuracy and fairness in coverage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the issues that affect them. ¹⁰

AAJA Task Forces are special activities that highlight underrepresented communities in the journalism world. Activities include the Muslim American and the Pacific Islander Task Forces. ¹¹

Asian American Journalists Association honors members for reporting, thorough coverage and storytelling on AAPI issues. ^{12 2}

Financials

Asian American Journalists Association reported $3,748,765 in 2021 revenue and $1,672,677 in expenses of which $720,254 went to consultants. Net Assets at year-end were $5,965,112. ¹³

Asian American Journalists Association is supported by nonprofit sponsors including Democracy Fund, a foundation created by eBay billionaire Pierre Omidyar that contributes to center-left and left-wing media organizations; William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; AARP; Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; the Knight Foundation, initially funded by the estate of James L. Knight, the founder of Knight Ridder newspaper chain; and the Asian American Foundation (TAAF), a left-of-center Asian American and Pacific Islander grantmaking organization. Corporate sponsors include NBC Universal, Disney, Fox, and Toyota. ^{14 15 16 17}

Leadership

Asian American Journalists Association national president Nicole Dungca is an investigative reporter at the Washington Post and was formerly part of the Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team. ^{18 19}

Naomi Tacuyan Underwood is executive director at AAJA. She was Deputy Campaign Manager for Asian Americans Advancing Justice prior to her promotion. ²⁰

1. “About – Asian American Journalists Association.” Asian American Journalists Association -, January 6, 2022. https://www.aaja.org/about/.
2. “Programs & Initiatives – Asian American Journalists Association.” Asian American Journalists Association -, December 29, 2020. https://www.aaja.org/programs-and-initiatives/.
3. “Learn More about Aaja’s Chapters.” Asian American Journalists Association. Accessed August 18, 2023. http://oldsite.aaja.org/where-you-can-find-aaja/.
4. “Executive Leadership Program (ELP) – Asian American Journalists Association.” Asian American Journalists Association -, April 19, 2023. https://www.aaja.org/programs-and-initiatives/elp/.
5. Voices – Asian American Journalists Association.” Asian American Journalists Association -,April 6, 2023. https://www.aaja.org/programs-and-initiatives/voices/.
6. “Catalyst – Asian American Journalists Association.” Asian American Journalists Association -, December 17, 2021. https://www.aaja.org/programs-and-initiatives/catalyst/.
7. “JCamp – Asian American Journalists Association.” Asian American Journalists Association -April 6, 2023. https://www.aaja.org/programs-and-initiatives/jcamp/.
8. “Mentor Match – Asian American Journalists Association.” Asian American Journalists Association -, March 30, 2023. https://www.aaja.org/programs-and-initiatives/mentor-match/.
9. “Home.” AAJA Studio, March 22, 2022. https://aajastudio.org/.
10. “Media Watch – Asian American Journalists Association.” Asian American Journalists Association -, April 23, 2021. https://www.aaja.org/programs-and-initiatives/media-watch/.
11. “Task Forces – Asian American Journalists Association.” Asian American Journalists Association -, March 16, 2021. https://www.aaja.org/programs-and-initiatives/taskforces/.
12. “Aaja Awards.” AAJA Awards. Accessed August 12, 2023. https://awards.aaja.org/.
13. “Asian American Journalists Association” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2021, Part I lines 12, 18, 22, Part IX, line 24b.
14. ^[1]“Front Page – Asian American Journalists Association.” Asian American Journalists Association -, November 30, 2020. https://www.aaja.org/.
15. “Grants Database.” Democracy Fund, June 15, 2020. https://democracyfund.org/for-partners/grants-database/?fwp_program_areas=elections-and-voting.
16. “About.” Knight Foundation. Accessed August 17, 2023. https://knightfoundation.org/about/.
17. “About Us.” TAAF. Accessed August 17, 2023. https://www.taaf.org/about-us/home.
18. The Washington Post. Accessed August 12, 2023. https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/ndungca/.
19. Nicole Dungca | Linkedin. Accessed August 13, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ndungca.
20. “Naomi Tacuyan Underwood.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 12, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomitacuyanunderwood/.