Stanford Chen

STAN’S BACKGROUND
Stanford Chen was a California-born city boy who was introduced to journalism by working on his high school newspaper at Oakland Tech. After graduating with a journalism degree from Indiana University, Stan’s professional career began at The Bellingham, Wash., Herald. From there he moved to the Daily Journal of Commerce, a business publication in Portland, Ore., as its editor before landing at The Oregonian, Oregon’s largest metropolitan daily. Stan could do anything journalistically, and he frequently was ahead of trends: At The Herald he wrote an environmental column, long before the environment became front-page news; he also was the paper’s sports editor, copy editor and photographer. At The Oregonian, he started as a part-time copy editor, soon was hired full time, doing night page makeup, then became deputy editor of the Forum editorial section before returning to his real love, reporting. He remained a reporter even after he was stricken with cancer. He died in 1999 at the age of 51.

HIS AAJA EXPERIENCE
In Portland, Stan helped form the Oregon AAJA chapter in 1985, and he spent many hours doing AAJA work, both at the local and national levels. Thanks to AAJA, he tapped into a part of himself that none of his full-time jobs was able to fulfill. Newsroom diversity was his particular passion.

Stan was a mentor to countless young journalists during his career. He befriended many an intern or a new hire at The Oregonian, offering a hearty welcome and sincere words of support. To those of color, he was candid with answers to questions about diversity in the newsroom and city. He lived his beliefs about diversity and helping the next generation of journalists.

Stan was awarded AAJA’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1998 Chicago convention. Here, in part, is how he was introduced:

“As a longtime newspaper writer, reporter and editor, he’s been a role model, a journalistic lion. His perseverance, achievements and advocacy have stood tall, underscored by a tireless fighter for greater diversity in newsroom and in journalism education. He’s been a tireless supporter of AAJA, performing virtually every function, from stuffing envelopes to serving as national vice president for print. As an instructor and co-director of the reporting program in the (then-)Institute for Journalism Education (based at the University of California, Berkeley), and which later became the Maynard Institute, and AAJA’s own Voices, he has helped others learn to become better at the craft that we all practice. As a voice and conscience in our own industry he’s been an ardent leader in pushing all of us forward. And his book, Counting on Each Other: A History of the Asian American Journalists Association from 1981 to 1996, stands as a testament to his numerous contributions. As a person, he is simply unmatched.”

Accepting the award, Stan said: “AAJA has been like a family to me. The mission of journalism has helped me and, in turn, I feel the need to give back as much as I can to keep the mission going, keeping diversity alive and making sure the industry” does, too.

THE STANFORD CHEN INTERNSHIP FUND GRANT
At the ‘98 Chicago convention Stan also spoke about the internship fund grant that AAJA had just named in his honor: “Establishing a national internship program has been something I and others in AAJA have been advocating for a number of years. This program is needed to fill the gap between scholarships and first jobs. We know internships provide another avenue for our young journalists to gain the hands-on experience of working in a professional newsroom, which may lead to permanent jobs in print, broadcast and new media. I have worked with many young journalists in my more than two decades in the business, and I have found them bright, energetic and enthusiastic. They have paid their dues with long hours and low pay. I have watched them grow, both professionally and personally. I’ve seen them gain experience and confidence. I have watched them succeed. They are our replacements. Our young members are vital to our organization and to the industry, which claims the supply is not meeting the demand. AAJA will do its part to increase the supply of young, top-notch journalists. Along with scholarships and fellowships, internships nurture the next generation of AAJA success stories.”

-- Provided to AAJA by Beth Erickson, April 2008