2011 AAJA Convention in Detroit

AAJA held its 22nd annual convention in Detroit, Michigan – home of Motown and the largest Arab population outside the Middle East. Despite the distance, several Asia chapter members made the trip and featured prominently throughout the week.

On my way to the #AAJA convention in Detroit. For updates, I’ll be tweeting from @aajaasia for next few days. http://4sq.com/pfaZ21
TomokoHosaka
August 10, 2011
Detroit was so happy to have us. They hung up a nice welcome right as you stepped off the plane!
Detroit welcomes AAJA!
Photo by @tomokohosaka on flickr
The opening reception was held at the Arab American National Museum in Detroit. Falafel, hummus, pita, stuffed grape leaves. Lovely.
Learned a lot, reunited w/old friends, met new folks, having fun @ #AAJA convention, Detroit. Ate good Middle Eastern food in Dearborn, MI.
julietamnow
August 13, 2011
RT @peowang: enjoyed checking out the Living Textbook project in Dearborn, MI. check out this essay: http://bit.ly/r8uZHR all with the support of #AAJA!
AAJAla
August 12, 2011

Then, three days of fantastic speakers and workshops where AAJA members learned new skills, found new ideas and expanded their network.

Asia chapter secretary Ling Woo Liu presented at “What’s next for journalists after the newsroom?” Her organization, the Korematsu Institute, also co-sponsored a well-attended screening of “Who Killed Vincent Chin?”  National board representative Tomoko A. Hosaka spoke on another popular workshop, “Working abroad in Asia and the Middle East.”

There was business to be done as well.
Packed house at the #AAJA general membership meeting. Speaking is Frank Witsil, who just won Member of the Year. http://twitpic.com/64xtuk
Photo by AAJAAsia on twitter

One inspiring session featured legendary AP photographer Nick Ut. Napalm Girl. You know the photo. Everyone does. He won AAJA’s Lifetime Achievement Award this year. 

Legendary AP photog Nick Ut at #AAJA convention. He took the iconic "Napalm Girl" photo during Vietnam War. http://twitpic.com/650lh8
Photo by AAJAAsia on twitter
Ut: "I’m the luckiest man in the world" to have covered so many big stories for 45 years. #AAJA
AAJAAsia
August 12, 2011
Napalm Girl by AP's Nick Ut
Photo by @tomokohosaka on flickr
Ut: Helped "Napalm Girl" Kim Phuc get medical treatment. She was crying out that she would die during ride to hospital. #AAJA
AAJAAsia
August 12, 2011
Ut: Wasn’t sure at first if AP could use photo of naked girl. But it ended being used by front pages everywhere. #AAJA
AAJAAsia
August 12, 2011
Ut: Kim and I are like family now. Call her often to make sure she’s ok. #AAJA
AAJAAsia
August 12, 2011

USA Today president and publisher David Hunke also delivered a powerful keynote address. It’s not what you do, it’s why. Standing ovation.

Amazing speech by USA Today President and Publisher David Hunke. Inspiring, moved to tears. #AAJA
TomokoHosaka
August 14, 2011
Asia chapter members recognized for their good work!
Congrats also to Vietnam-based member K. Oanh Ha for her #AAJA National Journalism Award.
AAJAAsia
August 14, 2011
#AAJA Pres Doris Truong gives shoutout to @tomokohosaka @martyn_williams @W7VOA in her gala banquet speech for their tsunami work.
AAJAAsia
August 14, 2011
Asia chapter members below — Tomoko Hosaka of AP in Tokyo, Michael Logan of Next Media Animation in Taipei, Ling Woo Liu of the Fred Korematsu Institute
It was Koji Takahashi’s first time at an AAJA convention. He was one of the recipients of a Ford Foundation fellowship to attend the convention.
And now for an #AAJA tradition: karaoke night! Emceed by @georgekiriyama
AAJAAsia
August 14, 2011
#aaja president doris truong rocking it out to pat benatar’s "hit me with your best shot" at aaja karaoke
jiejennyzou
August 14, 2011
Haha just killed it rapping to @Eminem’s "Lose Yourself" at #AAJA Karaoke night! @aajavoices mentors dubbed me MC Lib! Hella fun! 😀
LibertyZabala
August 14, 2011
Still can’t believe Nick Ut was a back-up dancer for me and @frankshyong during our karaoke performance at #aaja national #conventionswag
FrankieBi
August 15, 2011
Another great #AAJA convention. Thank you Detroit for your hospitality. See y’all next year in Las Vegas for Unity 2012!!
AAJAAsia
August 15, 2011
UNITY “12 Coming Soon . . .

In 400 days, the UNITY ’12 Convention kicks off at The Mandalay Bay Resort & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev., to be held from Aug. 1-4 next year! The momentum and energy at the recent National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ 29th Annual National Convention at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resorts in Orlando, Fla., gave us a preview of what to expect at UNITY ’12.