August 6, 2004
Media Contact:
Keith Kamisugi (for AAJA)
415-876-0589
keith@keithpr.com
Washington, D.C. -- The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), the nation's largest organization of Asian Pacific American journalists, today presented its second annual Dr. Suzanne Ahn award for Civil Rights and Justice to two outstanding journalists: David W. Chen of The New York Times and Rinku Sen, publisher of Colorlines.
The award was presented at AAJA's Gala Scholarship & Awards Banquet in Washington, D.C. held during the 2004 UNITY Convention, which attracted an estimated 7,000 journalists and media professionals -- the largest industry gathering of its kind.
The award, named in honor of the late Dr. Suzanne Ahn, recognizes excellence in coverage of civil rights and/or social justice for Asian Americans. Both Chen and Sen demonstrate the essence of this award in their careers.
David Chen was honored for his continuing coverage of the case of David Wong. Wong is an undocumented immigrant from China who is serving 25 years to life in prison for a jailhouse murder. Interviews with prison employees, inmates and the victim's widow suggest Wong's innocence. Mike Hale, assistant editor, Arts & Leisure, of The New York Times lauds, "He [Chen] has provided practically the only mainstream coverage of what is not only a troubling case involving an individual Asian's rights in the American criminal justice system, but also an important example of the Asian American community's taking action in defense of those rights." The award recognizes Chen's tenacity in covering the story for the past five years and ensuring the case's mainstream press coverage in The New York Times.
Rinku Sen was honored for her coverage of racial and social justice issues. Her stories address the loss of civil liberties protections after 9/11, the fight for affirmative action in California and institutionalized racism after the terrorists attacks. Sen was a community organizer for 15 years. Author, William Wong says, "Her [Sen] rich and varied achievements in bringing forth voices of people often unheard or ignored make her one of the leading writers and thinkers in communities that have historically been excluded." Now pursuing a master's degree at the Columbia School of Journalism, she is making the transition from political activist to journalist.
Dr. Ahn was a Korean American who was raised in Arkansas and Texas. Dr. Ahn rose to become a successful physician, neurologist and inventor, all the while staunchly dedicated to promoting civil rights and social justice for all Americans, especially women and Asian Americans. The Suzanne Ahn Award is open to any journalist -- Asian or non-Asian, AAJA member or non-member.