This internship grant awards $1,500 to two college juniors, seniors or graduate students who have secured an internship at a news outlet. Students from the Pacific Northwest or who attend a Northwest college or university are especially encouraged to apply, though a Northwest connection alone does not determine who receives a grant. Applicants who will be interning at small to medium sized outlets will receive priority.

Eligibility and Rules

• Currently enrolled full-time at an accredited community college, junior college, college or university
• Must have secured a summer internship before applying for the internship grant. The stipend must be used for living expenses and/or transportation during your internship and may not be used for any college expenses. Grantees will be required to sign an agreement acknowledging this.
• Must have a serious interest in pursuing journalism as a career.
• Must be an active AAJA member. 

Application Requirements

• Resume
• One letter of recommendation
• A letter verifying your summer internship
• A brief statement describing your financial need
• In 500 words or less, answer these questions: What kind of experience do you expect as an intern. Describe your career goals and why AAJA's mission is important to you.

DEADLINE:

The application deadline is 11:59PM PT on April 30, 2025. Questions? Email support@aaja.org.

One internship grant in the amount of $1,250 will be awarded to a student broadcaster in honor of the late Sam Chu Lin. This grant is open to journalists working in local TV news.

Eligibility and Rules: 

• Must be a full-time college student or have graduated within the last year.
• Must have secured a summer internship before applying.
• The stipend must be used for living expenses and/or transportation during your internship. Grantees will be
• required to sign a waiver acknowledging this.
• Must be a current AAJA student member.

Application Requirements:

• Resume
• Letter of recommendation
• Letter verifying your internship
• A brief statement explaining your financial need
• 250-word Essay on prompt: state why you want to pursue a career in broadcast journalism, what you hope to gain from your internship experience, and why AAJA’s mission is important to you.

Deadline: The application deadline is 11:59 PT on April 30. 2025. Questions? Email support@aaja.org.

Dinah Eng Leadership Fellowship Grant

This grant awards funds to current AAJA members in pursuit of professional development. Applicants must be currently enrolled or accepted into a professional development program. 

Eligibility and Rules

• Current dues-paying AAJA member
• Demonstrate leadership potential, or currently hold a management position
• Must have a serious interest in continuing pursuing journalism as a career.
• Candidates must commit to submitting a post for the AAJA website at the end of their training experience that highlights how the fellowship advanced them along their career path.

Application Requirements

• Resume
• One letter of recommendation
• A letter verifying your acceptance into a professional development program
• A brief statement describing your financial need
• In 500 words or less, describe your career goals and why AAJA's mission is important to you.

To learn more about this scholarship and AAJA, visit our website.

DEADLINES: 

The spring application deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on April 30, 2025.

Grants are distributed on a rolling basis. Complete the application at least 3 weeks before payment is due for the program or event you plan on attending. All required materials must be received by the deadline to be considered. 

Questions? Email support@aaja.org with Dinah Eng Leadership Fellowship Grant in the subject line. 

This scholarship awards $1,500 to a student journalist for an insightful essay related to Vincent Chin’s life, death and legacy.
 

 Eligibility and Rules 

• Must be a current AAJA student member
• Demonstrate a commitment to AAJA’s mission in the answer to the essay question
• Must be an undergraduate student enrolled full-time (at least 12 credit hours) at an accredited college or university (including junior and community) in the United States or one of its territories
• Must be currently taking or planning to take journalism courses and/or pursuing journalism as a career
• Applicants must demonstrate the following:                            
• journalistic excellence by submitting current works (digital, photography, video/audio), and
• a strong interest in pursuing journalism as a career
• a commitment to community involvement
   

Application Requirements

• Resume
• Transcript
• Letter of recommendation
• Work samples
• Brief statement outlining financial need
• Answer one of the following essay questions:

1. Could it happen again? The attack on Vincent Chin occurred during a time in which Asians, specifically Japanese, were blamed for U.S. unemployment. People literally bashed Japanese cars with sledgehammers. Video and photos of such acts were shown in the news media. Few people connected them to potential attacks on real people. Does symbolic violence make it more acceptable to attack people? Does this climate exist against other people today? What can be done?
2. How are Asian Americans one people? Asian Americans overcame many differences in rallying together to seek justice after Vincent Chin’s killing. They came from different cultures and language backgrounds. They brought histories of being foes as often as being allies. In the Detroit area, though, they decided that an attack on a Chinese American man, assumed to be Japanese, was a danger and an injustice to all. They united in protest. Some call this the start of a pan-Asian consciousness in the United States. How does life in the United States make people from so many nationalities one group?
3. Protest or conform? Some Asian Americans were reluctant to join the Vincent Chin cause. They had been pursuing success by getting along in the mainstream. Some had been acculturated to not make trouble or call attention to themselves. Yet a group of people began writing letters, visiting the media and protesting in the streets. This question about whether to protest or conform comes to every one of us. Although the stakes are not as high as justice over the death of a young man, we are all confronted at work or in other groups to decide: When and how do you make a stand?
4. Who was Lily Chin? The Vincent Chin trials paint the portrait of a mother in anguish. We frequently ask who was Vincent Chin or who killed him. The emergence of his mother as a strong voice is a compelling story too. Describe her life and her legacy.

 
DEADLINE: The application deadline is April 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM PT

Questions? Email support@aaja.org.

The Executive Leadership Program (ELP) is for journalists and media professionals who are interested in advancing their careers and developing the skills necessary to achieve their professional and personal goals. ELP offers a challenging, practical, and life-changing experience.

This is not a typical program about how to become a better manager; it is a transformational journey designed to develop emerging journalism leaders capable of navigating unpredictable challenges and building a sustainable future for the industry.

The program explores the responsibilities and challenges within a media workplace, how to lead in a changing landscape, and how cultural values influence leadership. Experienced career coaches and senior news executives guide participants as they delve into a variety of topics in a small, supportive environment.

The trainings are highly-interactive and participants will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of subjects and questions such as: 

• How do leadership styles across various cultures affect our work?
• How can we deconstruct corporate culture to find paths to success and overcome barriers?
• In what ways do my background and passion impact my work?
• How does digital media impact the industry and what is my role in it?
• How can I meaningfully contribute to the industry and my community?
• What lessons can be learned from established and emerging media markets? 

Participants will also explore perspectives on and gain concrete approaches to:

• Diversity and culture in the workplace
• Leadership skills, styles, and opportunities 
• Power, politics, and influence
• Professional and career goal setting
• Personal branding and confidence
• Negotiation tactics 

QUALIFICATIONS

Individuals with four to seven years of experience are encouraged to apply. Space is limited and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all spots are filled. Acceptance into the program may be contingent upon an interview.
 

LOGISTICS

The 2025 ELP sessions will be held both in person and virtually. Participants are required to attend all live and virtual sessions. They are also responsible for having all the technology needed to attend the virtual trainings, including a computer, webcam, and a strong internet connection.
 

2025 Sessions (all times are for the Eastern Time Zone)

In-person Opening Session: Wednesday through Saturday, April 23-26, in Washington, D.C.
Virtual Sessions: Monthly two-hour sessions from May through July. Times and dates TBD.  
In-person Closing Session: Wednesday, July 30, during AAJA's National Convention in Seattle, Washington.
 

TUITION AND PAYMENT

Tuition for ELP is $1,750 for AAJA members and $2,250 for non-members. It includes the costs of training materials, meals during in-person sessions, and basic registration for the 2025 AAJA National Convention.

Applicants accepted to ELP must pay for the program by April 15. For those who need it, there will be an option to pay the tuition in two payments. Applicants who cancel their registration after April 15 will not receive a refund.

Those in need of financial assistance may reach out to their employers or local AAJA chapter leadership (AAJA members only). All applicants to ELP 2025 will automatically be screened for eligibility to the following opportunities.

• The South Asian Journalists Association is sponsoring two fully funded spots for ELP, exclusively for SAJA members looking to advance their leadership skills.
• The Dinah Eng Leadership Fellowship, which grants up to $1,000 to professionals seeking newsroom leadership training and management development.
• AAJA’s Simon and June Li Leadership Transformation Fund provides financial assistance to AAPI leaders, helping offset the cost of programs like ELP. 
• The AAJA Original Founders Executive Leadership Program Fellowship sponsored by Dickson Louie, which honors the six original AAJA founders —  Bill Sing, Tritia Toyota, Frank Kwan, Nancy Yoshihara, David Kishiyama,  and Dwight Chuman — for their innovation, grit, and entrepreneurial  skills that they displayed in making AAJA a reality and in challenging  the status quo. The fellowship helps support members who have been active in an AAJA leadership role at the national or local level to attend ELP.

All applications to ELP are automatically considered for fellowship opportunities. There is no separate application process required for applying to SAJA fellowship, the Simon and June Li fellowship or the Founders Fellowship.
 

HOW TO APPLY

You must be a professional working actively in the journalism and media industry to apply for the program.

Fill out the application below for the U.S. ELP Cohort.
 

Applications are due by Friday, February 28 at 11:59 PM PT. Please note that space is very limited.

Attach the following documents to the form:
       • A résumé or link to your LinkedIn profile
       • A professional, high-resolution color photo
       • A letter of recommendation from a supervisor (OPTIONAL)
       • A short 100-word biography

       Contact AAJA HQ at https://www.aaja.org/about/contact/ with any questions.