AUSTIN, Texas – The Asian American Journalists Association honored network broadcasters Connie Chung and Juju Chang and Sympathizer author Viet Thanh Nguyen with prestigious awards at the 2024 AAJA National Convention.
AAJA’s Community Awards presentation capped the Aug. 7-10 convention in Austin, Texas. The awards honor leadership and civic engagement within AAJA and the broader Asian American Pacific Islander communities.
See all the AAJA community award winners
Constance Yu-Hwa “Connie” Chung was honored with AAJA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Chung was the first Asian and second woman to anchor a major network new broadcast when she became co-anchor of CBS Evening News in 1993. Her new memoir, Connie, chronicles the barrier-breaking, award-winning journalism career.
The AAJA Visibility Award went to author and scholar Viet Thanh Nguyen, whose debut novel The Sympathizer won the Pulitzer Prize and was turned into an HBO min-series. He has written extensively about the Vietnamese diaspora and dissected the impact of colonials and war. A professor at the University of Southern California, he was the first Asian American elected to the Pulitzer Prize Board.
AAJA President Nicole Dungca presented the prestigious President’s Award to ABC News “Nightline” co-anchor Juju Chang, honoring her for both her achievements in journalism and service to AAJA. Chang helped create two memorable, ABC News prime-time specials in 2021 focusing on the rise of violence against Asians and Asian Americans. Within AAJA, she is a model of professionalism, grace and generosity who has mentored many.
Connie Chung/Coco Photo
Viet Thanh Nguyen/vietnguyen.info
Juju Chang/Walt Disney Television
More than a dozen other journalists, news organizations and AAJA chapters were recognized for their leadership and service. Meet the other AAJA Community Award recipients:
Leadership in Diversity & Solidarity Award: Sisi Wei
Sisi Wei, currently the Chief Impact Officer at CalMatters and The Markup, is recognized for her transformative leadership in promoting diversity and solidarity. She has significantly increased the representation of journalists of color at The Markup and has guided the organization’s journalism to challenge technology to serve the public good and historically marginalized communities.
AAPI Community Impact Award: Asian Media Initiative at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY
The Asian Media Initiative at the City University of New York is honored for its pioneering work in creating the first-ever national directory and map of in-language and community-based news media for and by AAPI individuals across the U.S. and its territories. This groundbreaking effort has made AAPI community media more accessible and supportive.
Local Newsroom Community Impact Award: India Currents
India Currents is a digital news organization based in California that serves the Asian Indian community and fosters cross-cultural communication. It amplifies voices from the Indian diaspora in Silicon Valley and beyond, empowering them in local politics, the economy, and cultural life.
Suzanne Ahn Civic Engagement Award: Nimarta Narang
Nimarta Narang has amplified Sikh awareness in the media through her journalism and advocacy work at the Sikh Coalition. Her coverage of civil rights and social justice, including the 2012 mass shooting at a Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, WI, has shed light on crucial if painful truths.
AAJA Medill Innovator Award: Lam Thuy Vo
Lam Thuy Vo has redefined service to the AAPI communities she reports on. Beyond her journalism, Vo used her insights from reporting on misinformation in Vietnamese immigrant communities to create a misinformation workshop tailored to that community.
Member of the Year: Rachel Ramirez
Rachel Ramirez, co-director of Yung AAJA, has made outstanding contributions to the organization, demonstrating leadership, initiative, and commitment to AAJA’s mission. She ensures that early-career members find paths for themselves.
Chapter of the Year: Washington, D.C. Chapter
The AAJA-D.C. chapter has redoubled its efforts to support members during industry hardships, offering support and fellowship regardless of career stage.
Chapter Leadership of the Year: Hawai’i Chapter
Despite facing numerous challenges and a leadership crisis at the start of the year, the Hawaii Chapter of AAJA has shown remarkable resilience and dedication.
Affinity Group of the Year: Yung AAJA
Yung AAJA has consistently supported its constituents, student and early career journalists, who represent the largest portion of AAJA’s membership and often need the most industry acclimation.
Affinity Group Leadership of the Year: Photo Affinity Group
Darrell Miho and Alex Wong’s dedication to AAJA and the Photo Affinity Group is evident in their regular newsletters, which always start with a warm greeting and outline a meticulously planned program for visual journalists.
Changemaker of the Year: Yukari Kane
Yukari Kane, leader of the Prison Journalism Project, has been a changemaker throughout her career. Her team trains incarcerated individuals in journalism, enabling them to document and share their own experiences and events inside prisons.
Mentor of the Year: Yumi Araki
Yumi Araki has been named AAJA’s Mentor of the Year for her outstanding support and guidance to her mentees. She provides invaluable advice, ensures regular meetings, and checks in to ensure that the meetings are shaped around what is most helpful for her mentees.
Emerging Journalist of the Year: Tasha Elizarde
Tasha Elizarde has changed the course of Filipino American coverage in Alaska since joining the KTOO newsroom in June 2022. Initially hired as a community reporting fellow to support KTOO’s efforts to amplify Filipino American voices in Alaska media, Elizarde emerged as a leading voice for Filipino Americans.
Read more about the AAJA Community Award recipients
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 LinkedIn or X @AAJA.
Press contact: Andrew Sherry (305)-954-7571 andrews@aaja.org
