A non-profit educational organization, the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) was founded in 1981 by a few Asian American journalists who felt a need to support one another and to encourage more Asian Americans to pursue journalism at a time when there were few Asian Americans in the media. AAJA’s expansion into a truly national organization took off in 1985 with the formation of additional chapters.

Today, with more than 2,000 members in 20 chapters across the United States and in Asia, the organization continues with its mission: To encourage Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to enter the ranks of journalism, to work for fair and accurate coverage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and to increase the number of Asian American and Pacific Islander journalists and news managers in the industry.

AAJA’s committment to diversity is demonstrated through programs such as J Camp and AAJA’s affiliation as a partner of UNITY Journalists of Color, Inc., along with the Native American Journalists Association, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the National Association of Black Journalists.

National Officers

AAJA National Staff