Minneapolis, here we come! Meet us in Mill City, June 24-28, 2026
The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA)’s national convention drew nearly 1,400 attendees this year in Seattle from July 30 to August 3 – marking its first return to the city since 1999.
For five days, AAPI journalists from across the country joined together, and together with 270 speakers across over 60 sessions, discussed the most pressing issues in the field today, from AI to covering the White House and Congress in a polarized climate. The Convention Programming Committee saw a record-breaking number of suggestions this year, as press freedom faces mounting external tensions and building skills and community are more crucial than ever.
During the opening ceremony, AAJA president Nicole Dungca welcomed journalists from near and far as they gathered under the theme “Forging Our Legacies, Navigating the Future.” Seattle chapter president Naomi Ishisaka noted it was a reunion for many, as the host chapter celebrated its 40th anniversary. AAJA also celebrated the launch of its book in partnership with UCLA’s Asian American Studies Center, “Intersections: A Journalistic History of Asian Pacific America.”
Authors and contributors for “Intersections: A Journalistic History of Asian Pacific America” signed and sold books at AAJA25. Photo by Lily Speredelozzi for AAJA.
AAJA25 kicked off with Opening Reception on Wednesday, Aug. 2. Photo by Lily Speredelozzi for AAJA.
The opening reception also kicked off the convention’s Silent Auction, from which AAJA was able to raise almost $6,000. Prizes included two roundtrip tickets with Delta Air Lines, a Spa-tacular Package at Caesars Entertainment, and a Dagne Dover Business Traveler Package.
The marquee event, AAJA’s Gala Scholarship & Awards Banquet, presented by NBCUniversal, hosted award-winning actress, producer, director, and artist Lucy Liu as a fireside chat speaker. About her latest work, ROSEMEAD (柔似蜜), inspired by a true story as told in an award-winning Los Angeles Times article by AAJA member Frank Shyong, she said, “There are other sides to our stories that have not been told – and these are the ones that need to be told. This story is for our families, and our communities.” The icon of Asian American representation also received AAJA’s Visibility Award, which is presented in recognition of efforts that have increased the visibility and meaningful representation of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in popular culture and mass media. Liu said on social media, “I share this award with every AANHPI voice who dares to speak, write, create, and remember. Thank you, AAJA. You don’t just give us visibility – you give us legacy.”
AAJA 2025 Visibility Award recipient, Lucy Liu, discussed her illustrious career in Hollywood and her role in being a trailblazer for Asian Americans in media. Photo by Darrell Miho for AAJA.
(L-R) Nicole Dungca, Lucy Liu, and Frank Shyong. During AAJA’s Gala fireside chat, Lucy Liu and Frank Shyong discussed Liu’s newest project, ROSEMEAD, inspired by a true story in the Los Angeles Times written by Shyong. Photo by Darrell Miho for AAJA.
AAJA celebrated all award winners at the gala, including Journalism Excellence Awards recipients and 2025 Community Awards, which recognize excellence among AAJA leadership such as Member of the Year and Chapter of the Year, as well as key figures in the community.
Amongst those were AAJA’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Ken Mochizuki and Rose Tibayan. Mochizuki, a pioneer in the field, laid the groundwork for future generations of storytellers as one of the few Asian American men in film, on stage, in journalism, and in television news production. Tibayan, who passed away in 2024, was an award-winning broadcast journalist and devoted member of AAJA who always sought to give back to help younger generations thrive.
Lori Matsukawa accepted Ken Mochizuki’s Lifetime Achievement Award on his behalf at AAJA’s Gala on Saturday, Aug. 2. Photo by Darrell Miho for AAJA.
Don Villar accepted AAJA’s Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of his wife, Rose Tibayan, who passed away in 2024. Photo by Darrell Miho for AAJA.
AAJA’s National Officer Election results were also revealed at the Gala. Frank Bi will continue as Senior Vice President for another term. D.C. Chapter President Annie Z. Yu will succeed Anika Varty as Vice President of Communications, while Beena Raghav will follow Leezel Tanglao as Vice President of Journalism Programs for the 2026-2027 term.
(L-R) Nicole Dungca, Frank Bi, Chris Nguyen, Anika Varty, Leezel Tanglao, Marian Chia-Ming Liu, Dian Zhang, Jin Ding, Anh Do, and Aric Johnson currently serve on AAJA’s National and Governing Board. Photo by Darrell Miho for AAJA.
AAJA also announced new ways they are supporting AAPI journalists at every stage of their careers. The Yasutsune “Tony” Hirashiki Scholarship pays tribute to Hirashiki’s passion for mentorship and community, providing funding to two outstanding participants of VOICES and ELP.
The Futures Fund, since launching last year, has reached $3.6 million, with $1.4 more needed to achieve its goal of $5 million to help ensure its legacy lives on through this endowment. During the gala, AAJA supporters and members contributed another $14,000 towards the fund.
The conference theme “Forging our Legacies, Navigating the Future” came to light in sessions across a wide range of topics, including the importance of community media, adapting to a rapidly changing landscape, storytelling across platforms, and leveraging AI while re-imagining legacy media. The fourth annual Nonprofit News Executives Summit, made possible by the MacArthur Foundation, also joined together to create a safe space for leaders to confront current challenges and build a community of support.
The Expo Hall and Career Fair connected attendees with endless opportunities, featuring recruiters from across the country. Back by popular demand, attendees also explored the AAPI Marketplace featuring AAPI-owned businesses, as well as Academia Row’s university and college sponsors.
Outside of the hotel, Team AAJA led the annual morning run around downtown Seattle, with a record number of joggers taking part. And the host chapter organized tours to experience the city firsthand, including experiencing the rich AAPI history of Seattle with a guided tour of the International District.
Team AAJA held their annual morning run around downtown Seattle on Friday, Aug. 1. Photo by Kelyn Soong for AAJA.
AAJA-Seattle organized a guided tour of the International District for convention attendees on Saturday, Aug. 2. Photo by Naomi Ishisaka for AAJA.
Last but never least, Karaoke brought #AAJAFamily together following the Gala to end the convention with a smash hit. With additional prizes including Panda Express merch on the line on top of the coveted George Kiriyama Karaoke Trophy, attendees sang their hearts out. Chris Casquejo, returning champion, took home the trophy again.
Chris Casquejo brought the house down with his Karaoke winning song on Saturday, Aug. 2. Photo by Kaiden Yu for AAJA.
Malcolm Caminero, VOICES ’25, performed “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra, taking fourth place in the Karaoke contest. Photo by Kaiden Yu for AAJA.
The convention was made possible through the generous support of our Presenting Sponsor, NBCUniversal; Diamond Sponsors, ABC and ESPN; and Ruby Sponsors, CBS News and CNN/TNT Sports. AAJA is grateful to all the sponsors who joined us in bringing this event to life and for their active participation in our Expo Hall and Career Fair, where they recruited AAPI journalists and worked to ensure the communities they cover are reflected by the reporters in their newsrooms.
National Board President Nicole Dungca said, “We were so proud to see journalists gather from across the globe to celebrate our AAJA family, learn new skills and build relationships across the industry. At a time that journalism and democracy are increasingly under attack, AAJA’s mission of uplifting AANHPI journalists and the stories from our communities has never been more important. This year’s national convention was a reminder that our community is already hard at work strengthening democracy and shaping the future of journalism with authentic, urgent and impactful storytelling.”
Next year, AAJA’s convention will be held in June in Minneapolis from June 24-28, 2026.
