Get ready for San Francisco! Join us in the Bay Area from July 14-18, 2027
From June 24-28, 2026, AAJA family gathered in Minneapolis, Minnesota for our national convention, bringing together more than 1,200 attendees under the theme “Deep Roots, New Routes” to reflect on journalism, community, and the future of the industry.
Across four days, attendees took part in over 70 sessions led by over 200 speakers, engaging in conversations spanning newsroom innovation, evolving audience trust, reporting on AAPI communities, and the rapidly shifting media landscape. The Expo Hall also served as a hub for connection and opportunity, featuring 50 exhibitors who met with attendees throughout the week.
Attendees meet with recruiters and explore the Expo Hall at #AAJA26. Photos by Darrell Miho for AAJA
#AAJA26 kicked off with an opening session sponsored by ABC and ESPN, featuring Kaohly Her, St. Paul’s first female and first Asian American mayor, who gave welcome remarks. The Opening Talk was moderated by AAJA President and Washington Post investigative reporter Nicole Dungca and included Baltimore Banner reporter Alissa Zhu, New York Times Program and Editorial Director of the Local Investigations Fellowship Sona Patel and Washington Post Managing Editor and former Banner editor-in-chief Kimi Yoshino. The panel focused on the Banner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning project on Baltimore’s overdose crisis that was led by several AAJA members – and highlighted the importance of both investigative and local journalism in today’s media landscape. #AAJA26’s Opening Reception followed the Opening Talk and highlighted local community organizations.
AAJA26’s Opening Talk on Wednesday, June 24. Photos by Darrell Miho for AAJA
Throughout the week, conversations across sessions, receptions and mixers reinforced the spirit of this year’s theme – AAJA’s members and partners are grounded in history and legacy, but focused on the future. From skill-building workshops to intergenerational discussions, our annual convention reflected a community continuing to evolve while remaining rooted in shared purpose.
Among these shared purposes are connecting with the past and honoring legacies. With generosity from Kimmy Tanaka at the Minnesota Historical Society and members Jon Funabiki and Valerie Bush from Renaissance Journalism, AAJA was able to bring attendees on a special tour of Fort Snelling, the site of the U.S. Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS) during World War II. Another outing gathered convention attendees and friends to celebrate longtime broadcast journalists Dianne Fukami, Lonnie Wong and Jan Yanehiro with the Very Asian Foundation, United Talent Agency and The Asian American Foundation, honoring the lasting impact of their careers. The event took place at Diane’s Place by Hmong Chef Diane Moua, which was recently named one of North America’s 50 best restaurants.
(L-R) AAJA26 attendees pose in front of Fort Snelling’s historic MISLS headquarters on Wednesday, June 24. Dianne Fukami, Lonnie Wong, and Jan Yanehiro (center) receive ICON awards from the Very Asian Foundation on Thursday, June 25.
The convention also marked a milestone for JCamp, AAJA’s signature high school journalism program, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. Founders Mark Angeles, Josh Freedom du Lac, and Neal Justin were honored for their pioneering contributions to JCamp.
JCamp students network and meet with AAJA members during the JCamp Reception on Thursday, June 25. Photos by Lily Speredelozzi for AAJA
Another session highlight was the screening of BOMBSHELL, a new documentary narrated by Ann Curry, which examined how the U.S. government shaped public narratives surrounding the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Following the screening, Curry joined director Ben Loeterman, producer Gaia De Simoni, and moderator David Ono for a conversation and audience Q&A, offering space for reflection on historical framing and media responsibility.
(L-R) David Ono invites the audience for Q&A after the AAJA26 screening of BOMBSHELL. Ann Curry meets with attendees after the screening on Saturday, June 27. Photos by Darrell Miho for AAJA
Ann Curry was another highlight at the Gala Scholarship & Awards Banquet on Saturday, June 27, sponsored by NBCUniversal. The iconic broadcast journalist who broke barriers throughout her career was interviewed by MS NOW anchor Richard Lui, and she reflected on her journalism journey, sharing insights on identity, storytelling and the evolving responsibilities of the press. Curry was recognized with AAJA’s 2026 Visibility Award, honoring her contributions to journalism and her commitment to elevating meaningful stories and voices. Curry moved the audience with her insights on fighting for the coverage that matters the most, and being worthy of a profession like journalism, where reporters are entrusted with the responsibility of telling other people’s stories.
Ann Curry in conversation with Richard Lui during the #AAJA26 Gala Scholarship & Awards Banquet on Saturday, June 27. Photos by Darrell Miho for AAJA
The evening also honored AAJA’s award recipients across journalism excellence and community leadership. The President’s Award was presented to Daphne Kwok, the Vice President of the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Asian American & Pacific Audience Strategy at AARP, who has a decades long record of promoting and empowering the AAPI community. Lifetime Achievement Awards went to co-founders of AAJA-Chicago Linda Yu and David Ibata, as well as pioneering photojournalist Corky Lee. Mentor of the Year was awarded to Neal Justin, a co-founder of J-Camp, and Abe Kwok, a former AAJA board member who passed away earlier this year. The honors for Ibata, Lee and Kwok were awarded posthumously after their passing and received by their families.
(L-R) AAJA President Nicole Dungca presents Daphne Kwok with the 2026 AAJA President’s Award, Karen Ibata Larson accepts her father David Ibata’s Lifetime Achievement Award on his behalf, and Linda Yu accepts her Lifetime Achievement Award.
AAJA announced its next slate of national leadership during the convention. Jin Ding will succeed Nicole Dungca as President, Carl Lam will succeed Chris Nguyen as Vice President of Finance, and Marian Chia-Ming Liu will continue serving as Vice President of Civic Engagement.
The generosity of AAJA members and supporters during this convention also raised $10,000 for the organization’s endowment, which will help sustain AAJA far into the future. In 2024, AAJA launched its Futures Fund campaign to increase the endowment to $5 million — today, the organization is just over 80 percent of the way there.
The convention was made possible through the generous support of our Presenting Sponsor NBCUniversal; Diamond Sponsors ABC and ESPN and CNN/TNT Sports; Ruby Sponsor The Asian American Foundation (TAAF); and Sapphire Sponsors AARP, Dreamweavers, and FOX. We are grateful to all the sponsors who joined us in bringing this event to life and for their active participation in the Expo Hall and Career Fair, where they recruited AAPI journalists and worked to ensure the communities they cover are reflected in their newsrooms.
Dungca, the outgoing board president, said this year’s convention was yet another reminder of the power of our AAJA community.
“As the media industry continues to change rapidly, and journalism and democracy around the world are under pressure, AAJA’s role in supporting and connecting AAPI journalists is more necessary than ever,” Dungca said. “Every year, our convention shows the excellence, resilience and creativity of our members, and our ongoing commitment to telling the stories that inform, hold institutions accountable and accurately reflect our communities. We’re grateful to everyone who made this convention in Minneapolis such a success.”
Next year, AAJA is excited to return to the West Coast and hopes to see you all there: Save the date for #AAJA27 in the San Francisco Bay Area from July 14-18, 2027!
