Kick off the new year by celebrating AAJA San Diego’s achievements and chatting about what lies ahead! Use this event as an opportunity to learn more about AAJA, and connect with other members and journalists!

When: Thursday, January 31 at 5 p.m.
Where: Saigon On Fifth - 3900 5th Avenue Suite 120, San Diego, California 92103 (Click here for directions)

No-host bar, but there will be drink specials for AAJA members. Appetizers will be provided, so come early!

RSVP by emailing Regina Ip at programs@aajasandiego.org

Hope to see you there!

Come eat, drink and be merry with your local journalists on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m., at the KGTV 10News Studio.

Food will be provided by various local restaurants. Stay tuned for details!

FREE for AAJA members or those who become members day of. $15 for non-members and $20 at the door (includes food and drinks).

Please purchase your tickets in advance before it’s sold-out! Tickets can be purchased online at the form below (PayPal). If you would prefer to pay by check or in person, please RSVP with Regina at programs@aajasandiego.org.

One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit journalism students and AAJA programs. If you have questions about this event, email Regina at programs@aajasandiego.org.

Register below today!

 

Asian American Journalists Association, San Diego presents …

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM 101

Learn the tricks of the trade for multimedia journalists. Panelists answer questions about where to start and what tools are needed to produce a quality story.

Saturday, Oct. 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at KGTV 10News Studios (4600 Air Way, San Diego – Click here for directions from Google Maps.)

Panelists include:
• Candice Nguyen, San Diego 6 reporter
• Greg Bledsoe, NBC 7 San Diego reporter, photographer and weatherforecaster
• Joe Little, KGTV 10News reporter
• Chris Chan, NBC 7 San Diego reporter
• Daniel Woolfolk, Camp Pendleton Patch local editor

FREE for AAJA members | $15 for non-members | $20 at the door.

RSVP: Email Regina Ip at programs@aajasandiego.org

The Society of Professional Journalists and Asian American Journalists Association presents …

Summer Mixer

Meet and mingle with fellow local journalists and community leaders for conversation, sushi rolls and drinks. There will also be a sushi-making demonstration ($5 donation) and a raffle for Hornblower SD Bay cruise tickets and Crab Hut gift certificate!

When: Friday, August 24 at 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Where: Sushi on a Roll, 1620 National Ave., San Diego, CA 92113 (Click here for directions from Google Maps.)

FREE for AAJA members | $15 for other members | $20 at the door
RSVP: Email Regina Ip at programs@aajasandiego.org

Other participating organizations:

• CCNMA: Latino Journalists of California

• National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Assoc.

• San Diego Press Club

• San Diego Association of Black Journalists

Sponsored by Sycuan  Casino, Hornblower SD and Crab Hut Restaurant

Here is a rough sketch of the volunteer times and duties.

1. AAJA Silent Auction (Room: Islander F&G)
* 5pm Review of volunteer duties and Q&A
* 5:30pm-6:50pm (auction times)
* Monitor auction items in designated area and ensure bids are legible and/or entered correctly
* Bidding ends at 6:50pm. Closeout of auction bid sheets.
* 9pm-return to silent auction room to assist with auction payment and item retrieval

2. AAJA Gala (Room: Islander H&I)
* 5:45pm – place program books and giveaways on gala seats
* 6:30pm-8pm
* Act as ticket takers and monitor in/out traffic at the main entrance of the gala

Some chapters have already sent in names. Please let us know by today Friday, July 20 at noon if you’re able to help out.

Thank you very much!!

Are you going to UNITY 2012 in Las Vegas?

Asian American Journalists Association, San Diego presents our Pre-UNITY Mixer!

Kick off Unity ’12 by mingling and networking with fellow AAJA San Diego members about what to expect at the convention and how you can make the most of it! Resumes and demo critiques will be available so make sure to bring your laptop and DVD or link.

Appetizers and drink specials will be available.

When: Thursday, July 19 at 5 p.m.
Where: Saigon on Fifth (3900 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92103)
Cost: All AAJA members are free
R.S.V.P Email Regina Ip at programs@aajasandiego.org

NAAAP Presents
From Geek to Chic

When: Saturday, July 21, 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Seminar begins at 5:45 p.m.)
Where: UCSD Rady School of Management – Mission Ventures Multi-Purpose Center, 2nd Floor, Otterson Hall

This seminar will teach you how to manage your career successfully and use after-hours to maximize your career success.

David Lum, NAAAP National Senior Advisor and Director of Asian/Pacific Product & Support Operations for the Government & Public Safety business in Motorola, will be sharing his experiences and insights on the path to success.

Cost: advance $30 for members | $35 for non-members
onsite $35 for members of NAAAP | $40 for members of AAJA and non-members
* cost covers dinner

For more information and to RSVP, visit the NAAAP website here.

If you’ve picked up a U-T San Diego newspaper or have read their articles online, Jen Lebron Kuhney is a name you may be familiar with.

Kuhney, a native San Diegan, is a member of the U-T’s Watchdog team and is responsible for various beats including City Hall, crime, environment and tourism. Recently, she has also become involved with video and social media projects.

Kuhney’s passion for writing started in the seventh grade when her English teacher saw the potential she had and forced her to serve as the assistant editor for the school’s newspaper. It was then that Kuhney says she “fell in love with hunting down stories” and hasn’t stopped since.

According to Kuhney, journalism saved her academic life. She went on to graduate from Point Loma Nazarene University with a degree in Journalism in 2008.

Before her start at the U-T in 2010, Kuhney worked at The San Diego Daily Transcript, where she covered topics involving real estate and the defense industry. While at The Daily Transcript, Kuhney won numerous Press Club awards for her feature and profile writing.

Aside from serving as AAJA San Diego’s secretary, Kuhney is a member of California Chicano News Media Association of San Diego and serves as the Director of CCNMA: Latino Journalists of California’s Multicultural Journalism Workshop. The workshop is a free 10-day bootcamp in June for 20 high school students and is hosted by Point Loma Nazarene University.

We asked Kuhney questions about her hobbies, work and being a part of AAJA via email: 

What do you enjoy most about writing?
Writing for the U-T is a lot different than the writing I do in my spare time. When it comes to news, I like breaking down important issues to help people understand the world around them and make informed decisions. My personal writing is a way to escape some of the intensity of my professional work. I write a lot of terrible sci-fi that will never see the light of day.

What experiences in journalism have been most valuable to you and why?
The most valuable experiences I’ve had are the ones where I’ve been humbled the most. No one likes being told that they did something wrong or could have written something better, but I’ve found those are the moments where I learn a lot. Those experiences have helped me become a better journalist. When you’re dealing with sometimes literal life or death issues, it’s important to remember you are human, you are fallible and you have to learn from your mistakes.

What do you like most about working with the U-T?
I love that every day is a learning experience that I get to share with my fellow San Diegans. My editors, sources and readers constantly challenge me to find good stories to tell in a way that is fair and interesting. I am never bored.

When you’re not working, what do you enjoy doing?
Wait. There are times I’m not working? I kid (mostly). I love long swims in the ocean because I can’t bring my cell phone with me. I’m a triathlete and dodgeball player. I like helping my husband home-brew beer, but like drinking it more. I’m a huge geek when it comes to books, comics, movies and computer stuff.

What do you think are some of the benefits of being in AAJA? The biggest benefit hands down is networking. You never know who will find you your next job or be a future boss. Another big benefit are the workshops we offer.

Looking ahead 5 years, where do you see yourself?
I hope in five years I will still be a part of the currently evolving U-T. I’m excited to see how the merging of traditional and new media strategies works out. I don’t know what my role will be, but I know I want to be a part of my hometown’s biggest news source.

Do you have any advice for those just starting in journalism?
Be flexible! The lines between print, broadcast and online journalism are blurring. If you want to be competitive learn how to write, shoot and edit video, and learn a little programming or HTML while you’re at it. It’s fine to specialize, but you need to be open to doing things that go beyond the scope of traditional media. Also, network like crazy.

Click here for a list of articles Kuhney has written.

Chris Soriano rises up to any challenge.

Ambitious is a word that can describe this Communications student at San Diego State University. As a first generation Filipino American, Soriano was born and raised in San Diego.

Soriano, currently a reporter for CNN iReport, likes to keep his assignments original by incorporating his creative mind and clever dialogue, “I wanted to convince CNN that I’ve got what it takes to be on their network.”

Soriano has been featured on “Showbiz Tonight” and has also gone on to interview actor Don Cheadle and softball player and Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch.

Aside from being an iReporter, Soriano has a pretty lengthy resume. At 16, Soriano wrote his first novel, “Kiss Me in the Rain,” and at 17, went on to become a motivational speaker, traveling to cities across the United States.

Since then he’s interned for The San Diego Union Tribune and KUSI News. While at KUSI News, Soriano worked for KUSI’s Prep Pigskin Report, where he interviewed professional boxer Manny Pacquiao and offensive lineman for the Tennessee Titans Eugene Amano. Soriano was also voted one of the 30 under 30 San Diego County Leaders by AOL Patch.

Last summer, Soriano was awarded the AAJA Ford Foundation Fellowship and attended the AAJA National Convention in Detroit, where he listened in on workshops and received professional guidance.

This summer Soriano will be in Las Vegas as part of Student Projects at Unity ’12, a program that allows students to “work side by side with professionals to produce solid and innovative journalism across media platforms in a ‘convergence’ newsroom.”

What other things does Soriano like to do besides reporting? You can find Soriano reading literary fiction novels, such as his favorite, “Cannery Row,” or writing short-stories.

We asked Soriano questions about his life as a student journalist and being a part of AAJA via email:

How did you get started in journalism/communications?
This all started about a year ago when a good friend of mine suggested that I pursue a career in Journalism. I knew that the news was something I’d love to be apart of, but when this person believed in me and strongly suggested I pursue it, I did. I ended up loving it ever since.

What do you enjoy most about it?
I love that a reporter can support the community by being a strong voice that the world could hear. I saw this for the first time when I was assisting KUSI reporter John Soderman at a pipe bombing in Rancho San Diego.

What experiences in journalism have been most valuable to you and why?
My internship with the Union Tribune has been the best internship I’ve ever had. I learned the print side of journalism before I decided to pursue the broadcast side and that was what aided in my storytelling process.

What do you like about being a CNN iReporter?I like that my clip proves that anyone has the potential to get on CNN, all it takes is creativity, dedication and a little bit of hope.

What do you think are some of the benefits of being in AAJA?
Learning. You can never learn enough. In this organization, I’ve learned so much from CBS reporter Angie Lee and KGTV Robert Santos that if I had to set a cost value on the information I’ve learned it would probably be around $28,000.00 – equivalent to four semesters of Journalism classes at a university. I’ve learned everything from how to project your voice, to how to write your packages and simple things like how to make my tie.

Looking ahead 5 years, where do you see yourself?
I see my self as a public servant delivering the news anywhere I can and working hard to put Asian American’s on the map.

Do you have any advice for those just starting in journalism/communications?
Never take “no” for an answer. If someone tells you that you can’t intern for a news company this semester, ask someone else, and if that person says no too, ask another and another until eventually one door opens up for you. And run through that door and work hard.

Mira Mesa Town Council Presents
San Diego Mayoral Forum 

When: Wednesday, May 9, 7:00 p.m. – 9 p.m. (Small reception starts at 6:30 p.m.)
Where: Mira Mesa High School Auditorium, 10510 Reagan Rd, San Diego, CA 92126

Hear from the San Diego mayoral candidates. Learn about their positions and understand the critical issues that affect San Diego before the election on June 5.

Mayoral Candidates include:
• Carl DeMaio
• Bonnie Dumanis
• Nathan Fletcher
• Bob Filner

Moderated by Jacqui Nguyen (Freelance Reporter) and our very own AAJA National Board Representative Hoa Quach (AOL Patch).

For more information, visit the Mira Mesa Town Council website here.