August 1-4, 2007, Miami, Florida
Hyatt Regency Miami

News

Updated July 20: Schedule and workshop changes (Workshops page has content and format modifications), more info on Media Institutes and expanded list of Career Fair recruiters and exhibitors. AAJA members may join our new discussion forum to chat about the convention and anything else.

Bienvenidos

Ivette M. Yee

Paul Cheung

This is the first time that AAJA has been in Florida, a state as diverse as the people and landscapes in it. And Miami is a world all its own.

You know about the celebrities, the beautiful beaches and the glamorous people from around the globe. Best said, our days and nights are hot but our people are hotter. The scene and place to be seen is South Beach, the place to find beautiful people, white-hot clubs and five-star restaurants. You may even see a star or two along Ocean Drive or Collins Avenue.

For a taste of historic Miami, head downtown and to Little Havana, where traditional Cuban culture comes alive in places such as Domino Park and a number of hole in the wall cafeterias that serve cafecitos caliente and savory black beans and rice like it's nobody's business.

Beyond the flavors and festivities, we invite you to experience another side of Miami, the one that works as hard as it plays. For journalists, this is an amazing city for news in an amazing state for national headlines - from Elian Gonzalez to presidential politics, from the Miami Heat to the Florida hurricanes.

During this convention, you will have the opportunity to attend workshops on the latest topics in new media, broadcast news, online reporting, design and more. We're staking out original programming to make sure you can participate in sessions unlike any others you've experienced at past conventions.

You’ll also hear from members of Florida’s exploding Asian community on how they make themselves heard in an area where they’re an up-and-coming minority amid minorities. Together we’ll explore topics such as immigration and politics.

Rediscover your passion for life, diversity, journalism and excellence. At the convention and outside of it, enjoy. Come enjoy yourself in Miami. The spotlight is on you.

Welcome

Welcome to Miami! Get ready. This year’s convention promises just as much energy and excitement as the city itself has to offer. This is the first time AAJA will hold its convention in Miami. And we’re pleased to be in a place so rich in culture, sights and sounds. No doubt many of our members will take the time to enjoy this beautiful city and all that it has to offer.

But before you slip on your sandals and head out to explore Miami, you’ll want to be sure to take advantage of our excellent programming. Our program co-chairs, Doris Truong from The Washington Post and Victoria Lim from WFLA-TV in Florida, are working hard with AAJA members from across the country to pull together more than three dozen workshops.

Our plenary session will put a laser focus on the changes our industry has seen of late: from closures and consolidations to changing newsroom roles and convergence. How we gather and deliver the news has changed. And traditional newsrooms have evolved into Web-focused information centers. How can career journalists best position themselves to make the most of these changes? Top executives from media companies and the Web world will share their views. This is a plenary you won’t want to miss.

Indeed, our jobs and the landscape of our industry have changed dramatically. And more change is clearly on the way. To help you meet these changes and make the most of new opportunities that come along with it, AAJA has adapted its convention programming this year. You’ll find sessions that will teach you how to deliver the news on multiple platforms; workshops that have been refined to cater to all disciplines -- print, online and broadcast alike; and vital skills training on everything from videography, to blogging to maximizing your Web skills.

And in Miami, where Asians and Asian Americans are a small but fast-growing segment of the population, our Town Hall meeting will explore the impact of the emerging immigrant vote.

Better get busy. There’s so much to learn. And let’s not forget time to reconnect with old friends from across the country. So enjoy all that the convention has to offer. And enjoy Miami!

Jeanne Mariani-Belding
President
Asian American Journalists Association