Fellowship to accelerate AAPI journalists’ executive paths & increase ELP accessibility to AAJA leaders
The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) is pleased to announce the Simon and June Li Leadership Transformation Fellowship, a groundbreaking fellowship program that supports the best and the brightest Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) journalists to accelerate their media leadership and entrepreneurial journeys.
The Leadership Transformation Fellowship will eliminate the cost barrier to leading journalism executive and entrepreneurial programs for the most promising AAPI leaders, including graduates of AAJA’s renowned leadership development program, Executive Leadership Program (ELP).
The Fellowship will target rising AAPI journalism leaders and facilitate high-level training that equips and empowers Fellows with the vision to transform newsrooms and journalism. Fellows will join a tight-knit community of ELP alumni nationwide.
As part of their commitment to developing AAPI newsroom leadership, Simon and June Li are also investing in ELP. Their support will allow AAJA to expand the curriculum and recruit additional executive coaches and faculty, and provide stipends to AAJA leaders who do not have access to newsroom training budgets.
“With Simon and June Li’s generous gift, they are investing in leadership, innovation, and transformation in newsrooms. We are so thankful and fully appreciate that Simon’s personal experience as newsroom leader, and the lack of diversity in staffing and coverage that he had observed over the years, has inspired this Fellowship to uplift more AAPI newsroom leaders and entrepreneurs,” said AAJA Executive Director Naomi Tacuyan Underwood.
Applicants to the Fellowship would apply to programs such as Columbia’s Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program, CUNY’s Executive Program in News Innovation and Leadership, and Poynter’s Media Transformation Challenge. Fellowships would be awarded contingent on acceptance to the applicant’s program.
Applications to the 2024-2025 Simon and June Li Fellowship are open and fellows will be accepted on a rolling deadline. In the inaugural year, two fellowships will be awarded. Fellows will be encouraged to give back to the AAJA family by volunteering to serve as mentors, judges, and fill other roles.
AAJA invites anyone who wants to support the development of AAPI newsroom leaders to contribute to the fellowship fund, which will support leadership development across programs.
ABOUT THE ASIAN AMERICAN JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION
The Asian American Journalists Association is a professional membership association founded in 1981. Since its founding, AAJA has been at the forefront of change in the journalism industry, advocating for accurate, comprehensive and fair coverage of the AAPI community. We champion the development of AAPI representation and leadership in journalism through trainings, opportunities and resources for our members as well as through nurturing and maintaining a network and community of AAPI journalists globally. Learn more at www.aaja.org or follow us on Twitter @AAJA.
