AAJA believes that our events should be open to all members and AAJA guests. We’re committed to providing a friendly, safe and welcoming environment for all, regardless of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity or religion.

This code of conduct outlines our expectations for attendees’ behavior at AAJA national and local events as well as the consequences of unacceptable behavior. We expect all participants (speakers, attendees, staff and other guests) to abide by this code of conduct at all event venues and event-related social functions.

EXPECTED BEHAVIOR

First and foremost, treat everyone with respect. Participate while acknowledging that everyone deserves respectful treatment, and that every participant has the right to enjoy their experience at AAJA without fear of harassment or discrimination.

    • Be considerate, respectful and collaborative.
  •  
    • Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech.
    • Immediately inform AAJA’s executive director or the president in person, by phone or e-mail if you experience a distressful situation.
    • Many AAJA events are shared with members of the public; please be respectful to all patrons of these locations.

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR

Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to: intimidating, threatening, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, demeaning or disorderly conduct, or possession, use, or distribution of any illegal substances. AAJA does not tolerate the use or abuse of illegal substances at any of the venues where AAJA events are held.

Harassing conduct can take many forms and may include, but is not limited to, the following: slurs, offensive jokes, statements, gestures, photographs, drawings, cartoons or pictures, assault, impeding or blocking another’s movement or otherwise physically interfering with activities, conducting unwanted audio or visual recordings, violating someone’s “personal space,” engaging in leering, stalking, staring, intimidating or threatening behavior, or making offensive communications such as in the form of emails, telephone calls, voicemails, text messages or social media. Sexually harassing conduct in particular may include all of these prohibited actions, as well as other unwelcome conduct, such as requests for sexual favors, conversation containing sexual comments, physical contact, lewd or offensive behavior or language, and other unwelcome sexual advances. Sexually harassing conduct can be by a person of either the same or opposite sex. AAJA reserves the right in its sole discretion to determine what constitutes unacceptable behavior.

CONSEQUENCES OF UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR

Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated whether by other attendees, media, speakers, or venue staff. Anyone asked to stop engaging in unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in unacceptable behavior, AAJA may take any action we deem appropriate, up to and including immediate expulsion without warning from the event and without refund of any registration or other fees, and revocation of your membership in AAJA.

LOCAL EVENTS

This code of conduct applies to all participants at all AAJA events, including chapter events. Any concerns should be reported to the local chapter president and/or national staff or president. Please immediately notify security staff and/or AAJA executive director or president as soon as possible, in person, by phone or email.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU WITNESS OR ARE SUBJECT TO UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR

Speak up! Harassment will not be tolerated at AAJA. If you are subject to unacceptable behavior, notice that someone else is being subject to unacceptable behavior, or have any other concerns, please immediately notify security staff and/or AAJA executive director or president as soon as possible, in person, by phone or email. Please also notify appropriate law enforcement if necessary.

AAJA will be available to help participants contact venue security or local law enforcement, to provide escorts, or to otherwise assist those experiencing unacceptable behavior to feel safe for the duration of the event.

________________________________

AAJA Events Liability and Release Waiver

When these Terms use the term “Organizer,” we mean event creators using the Services to create events displayed on the Services for consumers using our Services (a) to consume information about or attend Events (“Consumers”), or (b) for any other reason. Organizers, Consumers and third parties using our Services are all referred to in these Terms collectively as “Users,” “you” or “your.”

When these Terms use the term “AAJA,” “we,” “us,” or “our,” that refers to the Asian American Journalists Association. and its affiliates, subsidiaries, and each of its and their respective officers, directors, agents, partners, employees, and volunteers. 

Photographs, images, and audio of members taken at AAJA events – in-person or virtual – may be captured,  used, edited, and distributed for commercial use with the AAJA member’s consent to any particular liability waiver and release. 

AAJA may hire professional service providers (photo/video/streaming/audio) to document and display the event experience. 

All AAJA event attendees are encouraged to capture their event experience and post to their own social media content, in a manner that upholds AAJA’s Code of Conduct and does not infringe on any rights of an attendee, sponsor, vendor, third party, or AAJA. Such infringement would include, but is not limited to, defamation or infringement of intellectual property rights. AAJA disclaims all liability for the capture of an individual’s image in any multimedia format by other attendees at the event.

To comply with global data privacy laws, an attendee is permitted to use hand-held cameras and/or smart phones to take photographs and capture digital images for personal, non-commercial use, provided the photography is not disruptive. Photographs may not be published, sold, reproduced, transmitted, distributed or otherwise commercially exploited in any manner whatsoever.

AAJA events may also include the following agreement and consent of the following: 

Attendee assumes all risks and accepts sole responsibility for any injury (including, but not limited to, personal injury, disability, and death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability, or expense, of any kind, that attendee may experience or incur in connection with attending any AAJA event, including the national convention. Attendee hereby releases, covenants not to sue, discharges, and holds harmless the Asian American Journalists Association, its chapters, affinity groups, employees, agents, and representatives, of and from any such claims, including all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs, or expenses of any kind arising out of or relating thereto.

Specifically relating to the global COVID-19 pandemic, attendee acknowledges the highly contagious nature of COVID-19 and voluntarily assumes the risk of exposure or infection by attending an AAJA event, and that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, disability, and/or death to attendee. Attendee understands that the risk of becoming exposed to or infected by COVID-19 at the AAJA event may result from the actions, omissions, or negligence of others who may attend the event or their families, colleagues, or others with whom they may have contact. Accordingly, attendee understands and agrees that this release includes any claims based on the actions, omissions, or negligence of the Asian American Journalists Association, its employees, agents, and representatives, whether a COVID-19 infection occurs before, during, or after participation in the AAJA event.

In addition to all other rules and regulations relating to the attendee’s attendance at the AAJA event, attendee agrees to comply with all COVID-related procedures that may be implemented by the Asian American Journalists Association and the event venue, including, but not limited to, mask-wearing and social distancing requirements and restrictions on certain activities that carry higher COVID-related risk, in order to protect as much as possible the health and safety of all AAJA event attendees.

In acceptance of participating in an AAJA event, the attendee takes full action for themselves, executors, administrators, heirs, next of kin, successors and assigns as follows: Part 1) Waive, release, and discharge from any and all liability for death, disability, personal injury, property damage, property theft or actions of any kind which hereafter accrue to the attendee during any travel to and from the event, the following entities or persons: any and all event attendees, AAJA staff, event volunteers, event sponsors, Board of Directors, sponsors and /or all persons associated with the event, and their directors, officers, employees, volunteers, representatives and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties” and Part 2) indemnify and hold harmless all entities or persons of the Released Parties from any and all liabilities or claims made by other individuals or entities as a  result of an attendee’s actions. 

The Organizer reserves the right to dismiss a participant in violation of AAJA’s Code of Conduct without any refund.

AAJA Social Media Policy

AAJA members are welcome to utilize its social media services to connect and engage in the AAJA community. 

“Social Media Services” include the AAJA website,  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Slack, and any AAJA-affiliated Listserv. By accessing these services, you accept and agree to comply by the terms. These terms may be updated by AAJA without notice to its members.