Each year AAJA announces its top awards for the year recognizing excellence in Journalism in the following categories:
- The National Journalism Award recognizes and encourages excellence among journalists and outstanding coverage of Asian American and Pacific Islander issues in online, photo, print, radio and television categories.
- The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated courage and commitment to the principles of journalism over the course of a life's work, as well as dedication to issues important to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
- The Dr. Suzanne Ahn Award For Civil Rights and Social Justice is named in honor of the late Dr. Ahn, a Korean American who was raised in Arkansas and Texas who devoted her life to promoting civil rights and social justice for all Americans, especially women and Asian Americans.
- Leadership in Diversity Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated courage and commitment to the principles of journalism over the course of a life's work, as well as dedication to issues important to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
- Special Recognition Award honors an individual who has helped advance AAJA's goals.
- Dith Pran Photo Shootout Award was established in 2000. The first place winner of this photography competition has his/her name inscribed on the national Dith Pran Trophy, named in honor of the legendary New York Times photographer.
2009 Awards video
AAJA NATIONAL AWARDS
NATIONAL JOURNALISM AWARDS
AAJA National Journalism Awards, established in 1989, recognize and encourage excellence among journalists and outstanding coverage of Asian American and Pacific Islander issues. The category of Unlimited Subject Matter recognizes professional journalists and AAJA members. The category of Asian American and Pacific Islander Issues recognizes professional journalists covering the AAPI community. These awards demonstrate the ability of journalists - AAPI and otherwise - to cover the news with authority, sensitivity, insight and an eye towards diversity. See list of winners throughout the years.
The National Journalism Awards entry deadline has passed.
The Winners will be announced on the website and at the AAJA Gala Scholarship and Awards Banquet, August 7, 2010 in Los Angeles.
AAJA SPECIAL AWARDS
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Established in 1989, the Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated courage and commitment to the principles of journalism over the course of a life's work. The recipient's achievements in the field of journalism and in the furtherance of AAJA's goals have stood the test of time. It is the highest award AAJA can give to an individual See a list of winners throughout the years.
The deadline for entries has passed.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
The Special Recognition Award, established in 1989, honors a person (Asian or non-Asian, journalist or non-journalist) who has helped to advance the goals of AAJA. See a list of winners throughout the years.
The deadline for entries has passed.
DR. SUZANNE AHN AWARD FOR CIVIL RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS
The award was established in 2003 by the Asian American Journalists Association to recognize excellence in coverage of civil rights of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and/or issues of social justice for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Suzanne Ahn, M.D., was a Korean American who was raised in Arkansas and Texas. Dr. Ahn rose to become a successful physician, neurologist and inventor. Although she achieved a position of wealth and privilege, Dr. Ahn devoted her life to promoting civil rights and social justice for all Americans, especially women and Asian Americans. See a list of winner throughout the years.
The deadline for entries has passed.
LEADERSHIP IN DIVERSITY AWARD
The AAJA Leadership in Diversity Award honors an individual or corporation that has made strides in promoting and demonstrating diversity in the news media industry. See list of winners.
Selection is done by the AAJA National Officers.
DITH PRAN PHOTO SHOOTOUT AWARD
Established in 2000, the first place winner of this photography competition has his/her name inscribed on the national Dith Pran Trophy, named in honor of the legendary New York Times photographer. See list of winners.
The next photo contest will take place at the Los Angeles Convention August 4-7, 2010.
Chapter And Member Awards
Selection for the ELP award is done by the ELP director. Selection for the Chapter and Member awards are done by the AAJA National Officers.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (ELP) OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AWARD
This award celebrates and promotes our own growing ranks of Asian American leaders in the newsroom. See list of winners.
CHAPTER OF THE YEAR
See list of winners.
CHAPTER PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR
See list of winners.
MEMBER OF THE YEAR
See list of winners.
AAJA/Gannett Foundation Award
AAJA/GANNETT FOUNDATION AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN WATCHDOG JOURNALISM
AAJA, in partnership with the Gannett Foundation, is offering an award, for current 2010 AAJA full members, which recognizes groundbreaking work by a journalist or a team that creatively uses digital tools in the role of being a community's watchdog. Special consideration is given to journalism that helps a community understand and address important issues. Criteria for evaluating innovation include interactivity, creation of new tools, innovative adaptation of existing tools, and creative use of any digital medium. An entry will consist of a single story, series or package on a single subject. The entry deadline has passed.
The award prize is $5,000 and will be presented on August 7, 2010 at the Gala Scholarship & Awards Banquet during the AAJA convention in Los Angeles.
Read the FAQ.
Read more news about the Gannett Foundation Award on Gannett's website.
This award is funded by a grant from the Gannett Foundation.