Boldly Moving Forward. Proudly Looking Back.
Every year, the Asian American Journalists Association’s convention brings together the biggest thinkers and the most innovative journalists to help us gain new skills, improve our journalism, build our network, and socialize.
But #AAJA21 is more than just a convention — it is a reset and reflection. At #AAJA21, we come together in community, and with fellow journalists of color, to face the pandemic, the increase in anti-Asian violence, political unrest, and other challenges that have made journalism particularly trying this year.
This year, we celebrate our 40th anniversary at a critical moment in U.S. history. AAJA is proud to stand on the shoulders of our fearless founders. This anniversary we honor our trailblazers, while continuing to push for stronger AAPI representation in the newsroom, advocate for more AAPIs in senior positions, and mentor our future generations.
Register today!
See you in August!
Michelle Ye Hee Lee Naomi Tacuyan Underwood Jin Ding & Leezel Tanglao
National President Executive Director Convention Program Co-Chairs
#AAJA21 Frequently Asked Questions
Convention basics
Why is it called Boldly Looking Forward, Proudly Looking Back?
When will I be able to access the platform?
Do I need to request the whole week off for #AAJA21?
Are the sessions recorded?
Why did we switch platforms and what is Cadence?
Registration rates
How do I qualify for the relief rate?
What happened to the bundle rate from last year?
How do I access my convention membership rate?
For job seekers
How will the expo hall and recruiting work?
Which companies will be recruiting this year?
How do I schedule one-on-one meetings with recruiters?
Where do I upload my resume?
Why is it called Boldly Looking Forward, Proudly Looking Back?
This year is AAJA's 40th Anniversary. As we celebrate its founding in 1981, we reflect on its original mission and the movement from which it came. Drawing on the wisdom, experiences, and the work of those who laid the groundwork for AAJA today, we can continue to define and shape the future of journalism and its role in serving AAPI communities.
When will I be able to access the platform?
We anticipate onboarding registrants in mid-August. We will provide online tutorials on how to best utilize all of Cadence’s features. In the meantime, please update your resume, website, and/or portfolio so you are ready to fully populate your platform profile.
Cadence sessions will be held on its in-house platform, Symphony, or via Zoom. Prior to convention, please make sure that your device has Zoom downloaded so you will be able to utilize its features.
Are the sessions recorded?
Yes, all sessions will be recorded and available for viewing afterward for a period of time.
Why did we switch platforms and what is Cadence?
Cadence is a virtual event platform built with the end user in mind. With a seamless UI, Cadence makes it easy to find what you want and integrates with a number of systems that we think you'll really enjoy. Learn more about Cadence at www.eventcadence.com and check out their knowledge base if you want to get a leg up on how to use the platform before getting access.
Do I need to request the whole week off for #AAJA21?
#AAJA21 is meant to give you flexibility so that you don’t have to take the whole week off. The sessions will be recorded for later viewing, and there are options for sessions and events outside of work hours in the evenings. This year's conference will be held over four days, with a pre-day training day. We are providing a lot of different options throughout the week, so that you can choose what works best for you.
Here are some scheduling details that can help guide your decision:
We won’t start anything before 10:30am ET and we’re planning on hosting sessions well into the evening in order to accommodate time zones between PT and Asia. Additionally, all sessions will be recorded and available for viewing after the event is over. This year's platform will allow you to request a meeting with recruiters and schedule a one-on-one at a time that's convenient for you and that representative. Some recruiters will only be available during our expo hall hours, so make sure to make your appointments early and secure your spot for a 1:1!
Look out for festival and family fun! We’ll be cooking up fun activities, just like last year. We’ll have more information to come as we continue our planning process.
If you’re looking to level up on training opportunities, we’ve designated Tuesday as our training day. Keep your schedule open for training opportunities from groups like the News Leaders Association. Additionally, we’ll have NBCUniversity and CNN training and workshop opportunities during the week. Look out for application information for those opportunities in the AAJA Newsletter.
We’re encouraging recruiters to spend as much time as possible on the platform and attend programming so that they’re accessible to participants via 1:1 meetings.
If your time is limited and your priority is interaction with recruiters, there's good news! We've set aside dedicated hours for you to schedule meetings with recruiters while not missing out on any convention programing. Check out the Partners and Exhibitors tab in the event platform as soon as you get access and request meetings with potential recruiters and hiring managers at your mutual convenience.
How do I qualify for the relief rate?
It’s been a difficult year for our AAPI community and the journalism industry. We are casting a wide net on the relief rate, including:
You are committed to AAJA's mission.
Your circumstances include are, but not limited to: 3 years or less out of college; spousal situation where they had to stop or curtail work; head of household/single income; furloughs/layoffs; unusual family circumstances; loss of income; and more.
We are reviewing applications on a case-by-case basis and will determine rates on a sliding scale until end of July, but please apply ASAP so we can process your application and give you enough time to register. Apply for the relief rate here.
What happened to the bundle rate from last year?
The bundle rates were a one-time offering recognizing we were in unprecedented times to ensure as many individuals could participate in #AAJA20 as possible.
How do I access my convention membership rate?
To access discounted AAJA member rates, be sure to first login to your account at aaja.org/login. After you login, visit our convention registration page to register with your member rate.
Please make sure your membership is valid for the dates of convention to be able to access and purchase convention registration.
You can renew your membership on your member dashboard (note that it will take 24 hours for the member dashboard to update once you have renewed your membership). If you’re having difficulties with accessing your membership, please look at our membership FAQ. If you require support, please email convention@aaja.org with the subject line "#AAJA21 Registration Support."
How will the expo hall and recruiting work?
Expo Hall Times: While we are encouraging recruiters to spend as much time on the platform as possible, we’ve designated certain time blocks from Tuesday to Friday as dedicated expo hall time. These timeframes vary day-by-day to provide access across a variety of time zones.
Request an Appointment: During convention, you can request an appointment on a company's page under Partners and Exhibitors, which will inform booth managers that you wish to speak with them. Available appointment times will be displayed to book a quick intro meeting, after which a follow-up can be setup should there be more to discuss.
The Virtual Booth: Each recruiting entity will have a page under Partners and Exhibitors, which you can visit to get information including content about their workplace culture and mission, opportunity to group chat the representatives, and setup an appointment. Keep an eye out for any messages in your Cadence chat as that's where you'll see replies, questions and other information.
1:1 Meetings Scheduling/Requests: You will be able to request meetings with recruiters and fellow participants. For recruiters, we encourage you to go to the Partners and Exhibitors page. To meet with other participants, you can search for them in the People section.
Which companies will be recruiting this year?
To see the recruiters already signed up on our Recruiters page. This page will be updated regularly.
How do I schedule one-on-one meetings with recruiters?
We’re thrilled to provide opportunities for one-on-one sessions that attendees can request with recruiters. You will be able to request meetings with recruiters buy going to their company page. Meetings will show up in your My Agenda so make sure to populate it by reserving a spot for any sessions that interest you. More specific details outlining steps will be sent to you at a later date.
Where do I upload my resume?
In order to facilitate resume drops, you are required to drop your resume in our AAJA Career Center to provide access to our recruiters. Simply go to AAJACareers.org, register, and complete your account. Make sure to check the box saying you'll be at AAJA's convention and your resume will be provided to all recruiters attending the conference.
Make sure you fill out your profiles during registration as well as your AAJACareers.org profile with consistent information (same email, job titles, companies, etc.) so that recruiters can easily find you.
Any other questions? Email convention@aaja.org and we will update this document with answers.