
Welcome to AAJA Defined, where we make visible the storytellers behind the news.
AAJA Defined showcases the lives and journeys of AAPI media professionals (and allies) shaping global narratives about Asian Pacific America and redefining journalism in inclusive, expansive, and visionary ways. Produced by the Asian American Journalists Association, est. 1981.
Writers and editors who have worked on AAJA Defined and helped build it to what it is today include:
- Jessica Xiao (Director of Communications & Strategic Engagement, 2020-2022)
- Sofia Koyama (Digital Engagement Coordinator, 2020-2022)
- Alice Nguyen (AAJA Winter Intern, 2020-2021)
- Wesley Chen (AAJA Winter Intern, 2020-2021)
- Daniella Ignacio (Programs and Communications Coordinator, 2021-current)
- Yi-Shen Loo (40th Anniversary/Communications Fellow, 2021-current)
- Hayden Park (Programs and Communications Intern 2022)
- Anissa Deol (Programs and Communications Intern 2022)
Recent features include:
- Salgu Wissmath (Freelance Photojournalist)
- Jireh Deng (2022 VOICES Fellow, Journalist/Poet)
- Jenny Kwon (Investigative Data Journalist)
- Curtis Chin (Filmmaker, Director of “Dear Corky”)
- Abigail Lee (2022 Vincent Chin Scholarship Recipient, Emerson College)
- Aneri Pattani (Kaiser Health News, 2015 Vincent Chin Scholarship Recipient)
- Stefanie Foo (Author of “What My Bones Know”)
- Hannah Bae (Freelance Journalist, Former Mentor Match Director)
- Sally Ho (The Associated Press, ELP 2019)
- Andrew Nguyen (The Boston Globe, ELP 2019)
- Frank Abe (AAJA Seattle co-founder, author of “We Hereby Refuse,” KIRO NewsRadio)
- Michelle Li (KSDK News)
- Gia Vang (NBC Bay Area)
Latest News & Information

AAJA Commemorates 40 Years Since the Murder of Vincent Chin and Honors Our Vincent Chin Memorial Scholarship Recipients
Meet Abigail Lee and celebrate past recipients, donate to our scholarship fund As the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) reflects on the 40th anniversary of

AAJA launches new publication, AAJA Defined
The blog aims to explore and celebrate what defines rising and established AAPI journalists. The Asian American Journalists Association is excited to announce our new