Welcome to the 2000 AAJA Seattle news archive. Matsukawa Speaks at Murrow School AAJA Seattle Celebrates the Holiday on Alki Diversity Focus at National Board Meeting Umayam, Francisco in Eastern Washington New Faces at NorthWest Cable News Ho Wins Fellowship Han Wins Fellowship to Europe Gan Honored for Vietnam Work New York Convention Biggest Ever National Board Report AAJA Seattle Celebrates 15 Years NJC Reception for Scholarship Winners Banquet Planners Mix Work and Play AAJA Seattle Welcomes Jung Home Honors for AAJA Members Ng Recognized; Abe Film Debuts Chapter Co-Sponsors Event for Photographers AAJA Hosts Author Helen Zia Chapter Reaches Goal for Stan Chen Fund AAJA Holds First Dim Sum Saturday AAJAers Chin, Wong Wed; Chun Moves Lunar New Year Banquet a Hit Journalists Java Nearly Gone AAJA Seattle Elects New Officers Matsukawa Speaks at Murrow School December 6, 2000—Lori Matsukawa, KING/5 news anchor and reporter, was selected by the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University to deliver this year’s Charlotte Friel Memorial Communication Lecture. In her lecture, "The Presidential Election and the Press," Matsukawa provided a debriefing of how accurately and effectively the press covered the presidential campaign and subsequent ballot recount. The purpose of the lecture is to bring to the campus of WSU a recognized professional in the mass communications field to speak about current trends in the news media with faculty and students. The program has now developed into a bi-annual lectureship. The most recent past Friel lecturer was Jay Harris, publisher of Mother Jones Magazine. Established by Mr. And Mrs. John B. Friel, 1923 alumni of WSU in memory of their daughter Charlotte Friel, the bi-annual Friel lecture’s goal is to inspire and offer direction to broadcast communication students at the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication. AAJA Seattle Celebrates the Holiday on Alki December 2000—Lori Aoki’s West Seattle condo echoed with laughter as AAJA members exchanged white-elephant grab bags. "Whose grandma’s attic did that come from?" demanded Margot Kim. Clarence Moriwaki studied the Perfect Abs and Arms videotape with interest. Visiting from Singapore, freelance producer Jackie Chan found the entire white-elephant idea amusing. AAJA members Melissa Wolfe, Linda Parrish, Collin Tong and Chau Luu also joined the group in a potluck celebration. Diversity Focus at National Board Meeting December 2000—(Submitted by Janet Tu) The AAJA fall governing board meeting was held in early December in San Francisco, site of our 2001 convention. The theme of the convention (Aug. 1-4) is "Gateway to a Changing America," focusing on ethnic diversity and the new economy that are the hallmarks of the Bay area. Hearst and Knight Ridder have already pledged significant amounts to the convention. Other items of note: AAJA is launching its 20th anniversary campaign, with the goal of raising at least $40,000 to support new programs, including a broadcast and new-media internship. The site of our 2002 convention was chosen. It will be the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas. Plans are roaring ahead for an AAJA/Ford Foundation-funded journalism campus for high school students of color. The "Boot Camp by the Bay" will be held July 28-August 1, 2001 at the University of San Francisco. Students will spend time in classrooms and professional newsrooms with some of America’s top journalists and get to practice their journalistic schools. All costs--including airfare, room and board—will be covered. Only those in high school for the 2001-02 school year may qualify. Applications will be available soon. The board passed the 2001 budget, granting a base salary increase to staff positions at the national AAJA office in order to keep wages competitive. The final report from the 2000 New York convention showed that it broke records in terms of fundraising (cash revenue $798,238), attendance (967 paid registrants), number of job fair booths (120) and net income ($170,530). Umayam, Francisco in Eastern Washington December 2000--Christine Umayam is an anchor/reporter at KEPR in the Tri-cities. She was an intern at KOMO-TV and was a desk assistant at KIRO-TV. Maureen Francisco left her trainee position at KOMO to become a weekend anchor/weather presenter for KIMA in Yakima. New Faces at NorthWest Cable News December 2000--Feature producer Shirley Montalvo, a southern California native most recently from Hawaii where she produced KGMB’s "Taste of Hawaii," has joined NorthWest Cable News. Reporter Kristine Uyeno comes to Seattle from NWCN’s Portland bureau. Prior to joining NWCN, she reported and anchored for KTVM in Bozeman, Montana and reported business news on KITV’s morning show in Honolulu. Lily Jang joins NWCN as an anchor. She grew up in Houston, attending UT-Austin and worked first in Amarillo, then two years in Bellingham. Ho Wins Fellowship December 2000—Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter Vanessa Ho has won a Pew International Journalism fellowship. The four-month program begins in January, 2001. Vanessa, one of eight fellows, will study at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C. before going to Fujian Province, China for five weeks. Han Wins Fellowship to Europe November 2000--KCTS/9 Producer Susan Han has won an American Marshall Memorial Fellowship which entitles her to a three-week study tour in Europe "designed to acquaint emerging American leaders with the European institutions, countries and transatlantic issues that affect communities in the United States and Europe." She is one of 15 fellows and will head to Europe in the spring. Gan Honored for Vietnam Work November 2000--The Greater Seattle Viet Nam Association awarded KING/5 Evening Magazine correspondent Mimi Gan for helping develop positive relationships and mutual understanding between the people of Greater Seattle and the people of Vietnam through two special programs: "Vietnam Revealed" and "Vietnam: 25 Years of Healing." New York Convention Biggest Ever September 2000—More than 1,000 people attended the New York AAJA convention, making it the biggest event in the organization’s history. From the posh opening reception at the Guggenheim Museum to the closing party at the fashionable Tavern on the Green in Central Park, the convention was a hit with members. National President Catalina Camia, Washington correspondent for the Dallas Morning News, handed over duties and the gavel to her successor, Victor Pinichkul. Seattle Times technology editor and AAJA National Treasurer Mark Watanabe turned the checkbook over to Sharon Prill, who also works at The Seattle Times. AAJA Seattle handled the AAJA Awards for excellence in print, radio, television and new media. National board member Janet Tu introduced a videotape prepared by Robert Mak and Elisa Hahn announcing the winners. Judging was supervised by Brian Chin (new media), Yoko Kuramoto and Roger Yu (print), Josephine Cheng (television), Ruby DeLuna (radio). Among the local award winners: Television, unlimited subject matter, first place: Susan Han, KCTS for "Precious Children," exploring how China’s one-child policy is impacting early-childhood education there. Print, Asian-American issues, second place: Paula Bock, The Seattle Times, for "A Generation Returns: Phnom Penh Connections." National Board Report September 2000---(Submitted by Janet Tu) With the dust barely settled from the record-breaking 2000 AAJA convention in New York City (attendance topped 1,000), the AAJA national board met to plan the 2001 convention and take care of other business. The 2001 convention will take place August 1-4 at the Hyatt Embarcadero along the waterfront in San Francisco. For the convention, the Seattle chapter will be responsible for organizing the broadcast mentor breakfast. The breakfast features a panel of experienced broadcasters, as well as critique sessions of videos submitted by attendees. In other action, the board also: --Voted that those national board representatives who need financial help to attend board meetings will be able to apply for financial aid from national AAJA as a last resort. --Voted to elect the six-member governing board (not including officers) for transitional one-year terms next year, before starting governing board members on two-year terms thereafter. (The national board was restructured last year into two tiers—the national advisory board and a smaller governing board—in order to make the entire board more efficient.) --Put on hold any action regarding switching the membership year from the current calendar-year system to other options such as convention to convention. Some board members had suggested the switch be made to give more value to members, since most people renew their memberships around convention time. --Will study how to best put together an AAJA student campus for 2001. The event brings together some 40 students of color, selected by the four UNITY organizations, to learn journalism. To be determined are whether to target high school or college students, and whether to hold the campus right before the convention or at some other time. --Read evaluations by attendees of Camp AAJA, a chapter leadership-development retreat held in June in Pacifica, California. 32 AAJA members participated in the retreat. The Seattle chapter sent co-president Phuong Le and Northwest Journalists of Color Scholarship coordinator Naomi Ishisaka. --Voted to write a letter in support of continuing publication of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. (Earlier this year a judge ordered the Star-Bulletin be put up for sale after an announcement last year that Gannette, publisher of the competing Advertiser, would pay the Star-Bulletin’s company in return for closing the paper.) AAJA Seattle Celebrates 15 Years July, 2000—(Submitted by Cathy Kiyomura) Fifteen years ago, Lori Matsukawa wanted Asian American families to view journalism as a noble profession. Ron Chew wished he could combine his interest in the community ethnic press with his desire to meet other Asian American journalists. Frank Abe hoped media executives would add a little color to their newsrooms by recruiting and hiring Asian American journalists. Matsukawa (KIING/5), Chew (Wing Luke Asian Museum) and Abe (King County media specialist) were honored at a gala banquet for founding the Asian American Journalists Association chapter in 1985. "Back then, Asian American families told children to be a doctor, a dentist, a teacher or a nurse," recalled Matsukawa at the banquet held in Cavanaugh’s Emerald ballroom. "No one thought about being a journalist and we wanted to change that." Since its inception 15 years ago, AAJA Seattle has grown to become the largest and most recognized minority journalism group in Western Washington. AAJA Seattle now has more than 70 members. Abe said there was a clear need to form AAJA Seattle because it helps Asian American journalists deal with common issues. "At AAJA’s first national convention, I saw 500 Asian American journalists in one room," Abe recalled. "The power in numbers and the interest the industry was willing to pay us changed me." "We truly appreciate the road you have paved for all of us," said Robert Mak, a KING/5 reporter who co-hosted the event with Mimi Gan of KING/5’s Evening Magazine. "I’m honored you are recognizing all of us tonight," said Chew. "It has been a privilege to be in this profession." A successful silent auction was organized by Mimi Gan, Su Ring and Susan Han. The evening was topped with an impressive presentation by photojournalists: Randy Eng (KING/5), Anthony Bolante (Reuters), Paul Kitagaki Jr. (Seattle Post-Ingelligencer), Barry Wong (The Seattle Times) and Dean Wong (freelance photographer). NJC Reception for Scholarship Winners July 6, 2000---At a reception at KING-TV, the Northwest Journalists of Color scholarship winners thanked their teaachers and parents for inspiring them to pursue journalism. Students Cecil Cross, Brent Champaco and Vauhini Vara were able to attend the reception. Organizers Naomi Ishisaka and Sharon Chan of The Seattle Times said the winners will make fine additions to our nation’s newsrooms. This year’s five winners include: Cecil Cross, BJAS, Garfield High School, Clark Atlanta, $1000. Austin Burton, BJAS, Franklin High School, Seattle University, $1000. Brent Champaco, NAJA, WSU, $1000. Vauhini Vara, AAJA, Mercer Island High School, $1,000. Natalie Guillen, LAMA, $400. Since 1986, the Northwest Journalists of Color has awarded $54,000 in scholarships to deserving high-school and college students. Winners were selected based on journalistic ability, commitment to the profession, desire to improve the media and financial need. Special thanks to our sponsors for their financial support of the program: The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, King/5 Television, KIRO/7 Television, Seattle Times President Mason Sizemore and The Seattle Times. The NJC 2000 program coordinator Naomi Ishisaka would like to thank the many volunteers who participated in this year’s program: Sharon Chan, Percy Allen, Wendy Ellis, Mark Trahant, Lisa Pemberton-Butler, Justice Hill, Linda Parrish, Ron Wurzer, Janet Tu, Lori Matsukawa, Rita Wong, Pedro Perez, Florangela Davila, Travis Ness, Nirmala Bhat, Carol Nakagawa and Paula Bock. Banquet Planners Mix Work and Play June 3, 2000—The weather couldn’t have been better for the final planning meeting for the 15th Anniversary Banquet. On June 3, Lori Aoki hosted 10 planners and two teens. With Elisa Hahn and Margot Kim providing the food, here are the meeting highlights: Six corporate tables are definitely spoken for—four others are pending. Six photographers have committed to presenting their work as part of the program. Mimi Gan and Susan Han are rolling right along with the silent auction. Melissa Wolfe reports the tickets are printed and ready. AAJA Seattle Welcomes Jung Home Welcome to Mimi Jung who joined KING/5 as a general assignment reporter in May. You may have also seen her anchoring the station’s noon show. Jung worked most recently as a morning anchor and reporter at KTNV in Las Vegas. She also worked at WTVH in Syracuse. She has a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University. Jung is a native of Puyallup, where she graduated from Rogers High School. Honors for AAJA Members June 2000—Congratulations to the following AAJA Seattle members who won awards at the SPJ Excellence in Journalism Regional contest: Marisa Chun, KREM-TV, 1st place investigative, 2nd place features. Robert Mak, KING/5, 1st place general news. Linda Woo, South County Journal, 1st place education; honorable mention health. Paula Bock, The Seattle Times, 2nd place social issues. Michelle Kumata, The Seattle Times, 2nd place illustrations. Helen Jung, The Seattle Times, 1st place business columns. Clayton Park, Eastside Journal, 2nd place business columns. Congratulations to Elisa Hahn for winning an AP 3rd place award for her feature, "Elevator Man," and Robert Mak, for a 1st place award for spot news, "WTO Day Two" and 3rd place for news special, "The Truth about Initiative 695." Ng Recognized; Abe Film Debuts May 20, 2000—Northwest Asian Weekly and Seattle Chinese Post founder Assunta Ng accepted the June Almquist Distinguished Service to Journalism Award at the 53rd annual Awards Banquet of the Society of Professional Journalists. May 23, 2000---Frank Abe’s documentary, "Conscience and the Constitution," debuts at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film and Video Festival. Chapter Co-Sponsors Event for Photographers May 10, 2000—AAJA members enjoyed a talk, slide show and refreshments to celebrate the work of Barry Wong and other Asian American photographers. AAJA and the Wing Luke Asian Museum sponsored the May 10th event. A staff photographer at The Seattle Times, Wong’s assignments have taken him overseas to China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Mongolia, Tibet and Iceland. Wong has won numerous national awards, was a Gannett Foundation Asian Studies Fellow, and is included in the Wing Luke Asian Museum’s latest exhibition, "Through our Eyes: 20th Century Asian American photography of the Pacific Northwest." "Through our Eyes" is a group show of Asian American work, showcasing photographs of pioneering documentary and fine art photographers alongside contemporary works by aspiring young artists, photojournalists and experimental fine-arts photographers. Also featured are the works of the Seattle Camera Club, Victor Gardaya, Irene Kuniyuki, Peter Loh, Wah Lui, Frank Matsura, Henry Miyake, Tatsuo "pat" Nakta, Johsel Namkung, Elmer Ogawa, John D. Pai, Samuella Samaniego, Barry Wong, Dean Wong, Rick Wong, Chao-Chen Yang, Youth in Focus, and many others. "It is a great honor to be included in such a tremendous show," said Wong. "Barry has a keen eye—always looking for the photo that will evoke an emotion in you," said Lori Matsukawa, who traveled with Wong on the Governor’s trip to China in 1997. "Even his food shots speak to you!" AAJA Hosts Author Helen Zia pril 10, 2000—(Submitted by Cathy Kiyomura) More than 200 fans, friends and AAJA family members jammed into Elliott Bay Book Co. to meet and greet author Helen Zia. Zia, a long-time AAJA leader and former executive editor of Ms. Magazine, read from her new book, "Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People." (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $26) "I am overwhelmed by your love and support," said Zia, at the book reading and signing. Zia’s groundbreaking book is about the clash between Asian America and the broader American society. It explores the junctures that shocked Asian Americans into action and shaped a new consciousness, including the death of Vincent Chin who was beaten to death by two white men who thought he was Japanese; the apartheid-like working conditions of Filipinos in the Alaska salmon canneries; and the boycott of Korean American grocers in Brooklyn. "These flashpoints occur when the old images and stereotypes about us clash with reality," Zia said. "The perceptions of the greater society have yet to catch up with the fact we are reaching a critical mass. People still see us as foreigners." Zia also applauded the rise of Asian Americans in the political arena, including the election of Gov. Gary Locke in the predominantly white Washington state. Zia enthusiastically thanked the sponsors of a reception in her honor, including the Asian-Pacific American Coalition for Equality, the Organization of Chinese Americans, The Seattle Chapter Japanese American Citizens League, the Seattle Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association, The Korean American Professionals Society and the State Director of Dept. of Trade and Economic Development, Martha Choe. Chapter Reaches Goal for Stan Chen Fund March 6, 2000--AAJA Seattle has met its pledge to raise $1000 this year for the Stan Chen Internship fund. Many thanks to the many members who contributed. Special thanks to major contributions this year from Debby Abe, Paula Bock, Susan Han, Susie Kamb, Cathy Kiyomura, Eric Liu, Clarence Moriwaki, Chris Nishiwaki and Deni Yamauchi. AAJA Holds First Dim Sum Saturday March 4, 2000--AAJA Seattle has replaced Won Ton Tuesdays with Dim Sum Saturdays. The first Dim Sum Saturday was held at Loong Foong restaurant. Over the course of two hours, 12 AAJA members shared stories about films, books, journalism and the shortage of dim sum at the restaurant. These occasional gatherings are an excellent opportunity to socialize with other members and catch up with the chapter. AAJA plans three more Dim Sum Saturdays this year, hopefully at restaurants that have more dim sum. AAJAers Chin, Wong Wed; Chun Moves February 14, 2000--Congratulations to Brian Chin (Seattle Post-Intelligencer.com) and Rita Wong (The Seattle Times), who got married on Valentines Day 2000 in Hawaii. The two had a wedding ceremony on the beach, then spent their honeymoon on Maui and Oahu. Marisa Chun, formerly with KXLY in Spokane, is now practicing civil litigation and employment discrimination law in San Francisco with Coblentz, Patch, Duffy and Bass. Lunar New Year Banquet a Hit February 11, 2000--AAJA Seattle ushered in the year of the dragon with one of its most unusual Lunar New Year banquets yet. The featured performer was Swil Kanim, a Native American violinist and storyteller, who shared his talents with more than 70 members and friends of AAJA. Swil Kanim performed many solemn songs, while sharing stories about honor and joking with the crowd. "It was a surrealistic experience hearing his violin playing in the middle of a Chinese restaurant," said Susan Han (KCTS). Lori Matsukawa (KING-TV) conducted the annual raffle, while Han kept tradition alive by handing out oranges to everyone at the Jumbo Restaurant in Seattle. The banquet was also an opportunity for members to meet the chapter's new co-presidents, Elisa Hahn (KING-TV) and Phuong Le (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). The event was organized by Collin Tong and Melissa Wolfe. Journalists' Java Nearly Gone January 2000--It's hard to believe, but the AAJA Seattle Coffee Sale is almost over! Thanks to the hard work of so many members, the chapter has sold nearly 2,000 bags of coffee. A special thank you to all the members who sold boxes and helped make this fundraiser a success: Debby Abe, Paula Bock, Christine Chen, Josephine Cheng, Douglas Coburn, Ruby DeLuna, Lily Eng, Mimi Gan, Susan Han, Alice Ikeda, John Iwasaki, Doug Kim, Cathy Kiyomura, Phuong Le, Alex MacLeod, Steven Mark, Lori Matsukawa, Tom Matsuzawa, Clarence Moriwaki, Chris Nishiwaki, Mae Numata, Julie Ogata, Clayton Park, Portland Chapter, Collin Tong, Su Ring Vitue, Deborah Wang, Mark Watanabe, Melissa Wolfe, Barry Wong, Rita Wong. AAJA Seattle Elects New Officers January 1, 2000--AAJA Seattle will have new Co-Presidents and a new National Board representative for 2000. Chapter members voted in December 1999 for new officers who will serve two-year terms. The chapter will also have new Membership Directors. Elisa Hahn (KING-TV) and Phuong Le (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) are the new Co-Presidents. Both of them have a long history with AAJA and are looking forward to leading the chapter. They will take over the duties from Cathy Kiyomura (KING-TV) and Janet Tu (The Seattle Times). Lori Matsukawa (KING-TV) continues as chapter Secretary, and Rita Wong (The Seattle Times) continues as Treasurer. Janet Tu (The Seattle Times) will be the new National Board Representative taking over from Robert Mak (KING-TV). Lori Aoki (Screaming Flea Prod.), Collin Tong (Washington State Unviersity) and Melissa Wolfe (National CASA) will be the new Membership Directors. They will focus on planning events and increasing membership. Brian Chin (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) continues as the chapter Media Watch Representative. AAJA Seattle Serving the Pacific Northwest since 1985. ASIAN AMERICAN JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION SEATTLE CHAPTER P.O. Box 9698, Seattle, WA 98109 Since 1985, Seattle's AAJA has provided scholarships for students, professional development for journalists and service to the community in the Pacific Northwest. Best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer. 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