Jennifer Chowdhury

Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA). AAJA is a magical experience if you are an Asian American journalist. There are so few of us in the media industry, and when we have the opportunity to bond and share our experiences together, it really strengthens our confidence to navigate this challenging work.

This year, there was a significant emphasis on journalists going independent and creating their own media businesses, and I left with a plan to amplify my newsletter.

This is my second year attending the AAJA conference, but this is the first time I have not had work sponsorship to support my attendance. Receiving a Shackelford Shines stipend truly allowed me to participate and bond with my Asian American journalism colleagues both nationally and internationally. At the conference, I made several new contacts, received a project commission on the spot, and even formed a partnership with another journalist to collaborate on a podcast project.