AAJA: Diversity is Good Business

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(SAN FRANCISCO – Dec. 9, 2008) -- Amid a climate of deep cutbacks and consolidations, the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) stressed the importance of diversity in today's business climate.

Recently announced layoffs, cutbacks, and bankruptcies by major media companies prompted AAJA officials to urge industry leaders not to roll back the progress made in recent decades in diversifying America's newsrooms, which is essential in ensuring fair and accurate coverage.

"Our nation's demographics underscore the changes ahead, as we become more diverse than ever. As news organizations continue to seek relevance and resonance with readers and work to build new audiences, having a diverse newsroom better positions us to achieve these important goals -- it's critical to our industry's success," said Jeanne Mariani-Belding, AAJA's national president.

Mariani-Belding urged industry leaders to consider the value of diversity, adding that the cuts made today will ultimately define the quality and credibility of our content for years to come. “Demand for the news we produce depends on how relevant our coverage is to our audience,” she said.

AAJA issued its statement off the news that several major media companies started laying off thousands of employees and the Tribune Company, which owns several news organizations including the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, and the Chicago Cubs, announced Monday it has filed for bankruptcy. It is estimated that about 14,000 media industry employees will have been laid off or offered buyouts by the end of this year as the recession deepens.

AAJA is a non-profit professional and educational organization with approximately 2,000 members and 20 chapters across the United States and in Asia. Founded in 1981, AAJA works to promote diversity in the media industry and encourage fair and accurate news coverage. Through its training programs, scholarships and partnerships, AAJA continues to develop some of the nation's most prominent journalists, provide training for journalists at every level and encourage promising students to enter the field. AAJA has awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships to journalism students.

AAJA is an alliance partner in UNITY Journalists of Color, along with the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), and National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).  Together, they represent more than 10,000 journalists.

For more information, visit http://www.aaja.org.

Media Contact:
Janice Lee, AAJA Deputy Executive Director
(415) 346-2051
JaniceL@aaja.org