AAJA book highlights the intersections of AAPI journalists and history
By Yi-Shen Loo
The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) is proud to announce the publication of “Intersections: A Journalistic History of Asian Pacific America,” in partnership with UCLA’s Asian American Studies Center (AASC).
The book chronicles AAPI history through pivotal events where AAPI journalists and AAJA members played crucial roles, often being the first to speak out. Chapters range from the LA Uprisings to the murder of Vincent Chin to the Maui wildfires of 2023. The book also features mini profiles of key figures including Connie Chung, Helen Zia and Ann Curry, highlighting their contributions in shaping AAPI history. “Intersections” illustrates the diversity of AAPI communities and histories not just within the book’s pages, but in the community effort that brought the publication together. AAJA was heartened to bring together nearly thirty members and supporters to contribute their perspectives and talents to this endeavor.
In addition, the project could not have been possible without the partnership of UCLA’s Asian American Studies Center’s Arnold Pan and Melany De La Cruz-Viesca, who supported AAJA every step of the way.
“The Asian American Journalists Association has accomplished such important work for more than four decades, especially in championing AAPI representation and leadership in journalism. The UCLA Asian American Studies Center is honored to jointly publish Intersections with AAJA, a project that brings to light an extensive behind-the-scenes history of AAJA’s significant contributions in advocating for equitable and accurate coverage, reporting, and training that have been so vital not only to AAPI communities, but the nation as a whole,” said Pan and De La Cruz-Viesca.
“Intersections speaks to the ongoing and mutually sustaining connections between organizations like ours, and we hope that the book illuminates the ways that the AAJA’s mission coincides with education, research, and storytelling that makes a difference.”
“Journalism is the first draft of history, and all too often, journalism has perpetuated harmful stereotypes, erased, or misrepresented AAPI experiences and perspectives,” said AAJA Executive Director Naomi Tacuyan Underwood and Vice President of Journalism Programs Leezel Tanglao. “Through this book, we want to highlight the role of AAPI journalists and ensure they have a rightful place in our nation’s history.”
The book arrives at a pivotal moment for journalism and academia, converging matters of truth, accuracy, and how AAPI communities can own and shape their narratives.
Amy Wang, former president of AAJA’s Portland chapter and founding president of AAJA-Philadelphia, said: “The Asian American Journalists Association has come to be recognized as a force in the journalism industry. Less recognized is the role that AAJA members and AAPI journalists have played in recording Asian Pacific American history, which is American history. This book seeks to tell some of those stories. It’s the book I wish I’d had during my journalism career.”
“I am grateful to the UCLA Asian American Studies Center for helping tell the stories of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans to students and scholars. As AAJA grew over the last 40 years, its members dedicated themselves to including AAPI community stories and voices into the mainstream and calling out stereotypes, racism and exclusion. The title ‘Intersections’ is no accident. It symbolizes the importance of AAPI communities being seen and heard and journalists passing this history on to the next generation,” said Lori Matsukawa, co-editor of the project and co-founder of AAJA-Seattle.
AAJA and UCLA’s Asian American Studies Center look forward to their continued partnership and ongoing work of “Intersections.”
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