Member News - November, 2004

Mae Cheng, an editor at Newsday and the outgoing president of the Asian American Journalists Association, has been elected president of the UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc.

Cheng, assistant city editor for the newspaper’s New York City edition, was selected Nov. 20 by the UNITY board of directors at its Fall meeting held in New York City.

She succeeds Ernest R. Sotomayor, whose two-year term ends Dec. 31. Sotomayor, Long Island Editor with Newsday.com in Melville, N.Y., who did not seek re-election to the UNITY board of directors.

“Mae has demonstrated tremendous leadership as president of AAJA the last two years by taking her association to record membership, and more programming with more industry partners than ever before, making the strongest possible case for improving journalism through greater diversity,” said Sotomayor. “As UNITY moves beyond its third convention, and prepares to implement long term plans, including its next convention in 2008, the coalition could not have found anyone more qualified than Mae for the top leadership role.”

Said Cheng, "I'm deeply honored to have been elected UNITY president. Our current leadership has raised the energy of the organization as well as the level of discussion throughout the industry on such key issues as diversity in the newsroom, media consolidation, and fair and accurate coverage in the media. I look forward to continuing that work and continuing to make UNITY a preeminent organization of journalists."

Read full release

AAJA mourns the passing of Iris Chang, 1989 AAJA Scholarship recipient, AAJA-San Francisco Bay Area member, dedicated journalist and noted author.

Iris sadly died Wednesday in California at the age of 36. Best known for her books, "The Rape of Nanking" and "The Chinese in America," Iris published her first book at the age of 25, after working at The Associated Press and the Chicago Tribune.

"Through her books, Iris represented an important voice chronicling the history of Asians and Asian-Americans," said Mae Cheng, AAJA president and Assistant City Editor at Newsday. "She was passionate about journeying through her cultural history and uncovering the woes and strengths that made a statement about our society and times. And throughout her success, she remained a true friend to AAJA. She will be greatly missed."

Learn more about Iris Chang and her contributions as a journalist, author, and voice for the AAPI community.