The Asian American Journalists Association Awards $126,750 in Scholarships in 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Janice Lee
415-346-2051
JaniceL@aaja.org

SAN FRANCISCO (June 19, 2008) --The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) today announced this year's recipients of its national journalism scholarship and internship programs.

AAJA, the nation's largest professional organization for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) journalists, has given a total of $1.5 million to more than 500 students nationally and through its local chapters in an effort to encourage young AAPIs to pursue careers in journalism.

"We're pleased to be able to help these promising young journalists,"said Jeanne Mariani-Belding, AAJA's national president. "Our scholarship, internship and other student programs contribute to the future of our industry by ensuring that there continues to be a stream of skilled young journalists of color in the pipeline. And AAJA is proud to play a role in that."

This year, AAJA is awarding 22 students with a total of $126,750 in print, broadcast and online news scholarships and grants made possible in part by the organization's partnerships with CNN, the S.I. Newhouse Foundation, the Chicago Tribune Foundation, the Cox Foundation and other private donors. In addition, 12 students were selected as AAJA interns with the Associated Press, National Public Radio, NBC, Cox, AZN Television, and the Sports Journalism Institute. Another student was selected to receive a scholarship with the City University of New York.

For a list of students, see http://www.aaja.org/features/articles/2008_06_18_01.

Students will be formally acknowledged at the AAJA Gala Scholarship & Awards Banquet on July 25, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The gala will be held during the UNITY: Journalists of Color Convention, July 23-27.

To learn more about AAJA's scholarship programs and how to support them, or to purchase tickets to the gala, visit www.aaja.org.

About AAJA
The Asian American Journalists Association is a non-profit professional and educational organization with approximately 2,000 members today. Founded in 1981, AAJA has been at the forefront of change in the journalism industry. AAJA's mission is to encourage Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to enter the ranks of journalism, to work for fair and accurate coverage of AAPIs, and to increase the number of AAPI journalists and news managers in the industry. AAJA is an alliance partner in UNITY Journalists of Color, along with the Native American Journalists Association, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and National Association of Black Journalists. For more information, visit www.aaja.org.

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