Welcome Letter from AAJA-Asia President

Since we last gathered for the New.Now.Next Media Conference, the world has changed–and so has journalism. The Covid-19 pandemic has taken the lives of millions. It’s exposed vast inequalities globally, with developed countries and marginalized communities bearing the brunt. It’s also sparked hate targeting those of Asian ancestry around the world and fueled disinformation about vaccines that continues to endanger lives.

Through it all, the strength and resilience of our AAJA community has shone through. Now, as cities begin to reopen and we look to reconnect, we are also challenged to Reimagine News: how we cover post-Covid challenges and upheaval in a world filled with disinformation. At our 11th annual N3Con August 2-7, we will come together to share our stories, ideas and expertise.

We will tackle the role of journalists in exposing and confronting Asian hate, as well as learn the latest in cybersecurity skills to protect ourselves and sources online. We’ll discuss with executives and leaders on how the region’s newsrooms are adapting to changes in how we work, report and connect with audiences.

N3Con 2021 will also give our community an opportunity to engage on the need for diverse newsrooms and coverage during this time of unprecedented change. To highlight and address those challenges, AAJA-Asia will be launching an exciting, first-of-its kind diversity initiative for the Asia Pacific region that will give journalists a voice in illuminating the challenges news media face and how we can best help to confront them.

While we unfortunately can’t gather in person, we’ve found from the experience of the last N3Con that there’s a lot we can do together virtually, and it’s given us opportunities to connect with journalists and media professionals in Asia Pacific and beyond that we wouldn’t otherwise get to meet. We need one another and community, now more than ever. If you’re not already a part of our AAJA family, we invite you to join us. See you at N3Con 2021.

Together we rise!

Oanh Ha
AAJA-Asia President