2018 N3Con Leadership Fellowship Winner Testimonials
Youkyung Lee, Seoul
Elaine Ramirez, Chicago
Thanks to a burst of fresh ideas from new volunteers and strong determination from our leadership, we introduced new programs such as newsroom tours and mentoring, hosted an enthusiastic group of Canadian journalism students, revamped marketing and communications, and set the bar even higher for the caliber of our speakers. As a result, attendance doubled, we joined hands with great sponsors who support our mission, and we made our AAJA community that much stronger.
There were several times in the course of planning when I doubted if our hard work would pay off, and I was relieved this time to be wrong. The most valuable outcome for me was not the high-caliber speaker lineup or great new features such as the newsroom tours and diverse workshop series. It was the forum we created to inspire each other to hold true to the values of our trade, promote diversity in the newsroom, and bring up the next generation of journalists.
My experience as an N3Con organizer taught me more about my own strengths and weaknesses than my normal job could, and showed me the power of strong leadership and vision. N3Con 2018 established a foundation that is stronger than ever and I look forward to seeing what this momentum brings.