The Asian Canadian Journalists Association and the UBC Graduate School of Journalism recently brought together journalists, media professionals and people interested in finding out more about issues of diversity in newsrooms and the changing landscape of our industry.
Most of all people came to connect with others to hear about how we might begin to make connections with others where we can foster mentorship and discussion, and build a community.
On February 24, 2011 professionals and students gathered to ready to meet some new people and talk about common goals.
First, the school’s director Mary Lynn Young spoke to introduce Alden Habacon, UBC’s new director of Intercultural Understanding Strategy Development, and Jennifer Chen, a former student at the School of Journalism and CBC Radio producer. Habacon and Chen are co-founders of the ACJA.
They put the challenge out to a handful of individuals in the room to speak to strangers and tell their story.
“What could be more important to the future of journalism than giving people the opportunity to connect with each other through story,” said Habacon.
“This might be, by far, the most profound contribution of journalism to a society where we are too busy to get to know each other; and because UBC’s j-School is at the forefront of thinking about the future of journalism and role of journalists this was an ideal partnership.”
The room broke up into groups and discussions began with students and journalists from news outlets such as Global, CBC and Omni.
Guests drank refreshments handmade from a local artisan tea company, Dao Tea, and nibbled on snacks as people talked about the most interesting person they’d interviewed recently.
Journalists don’t often get to tell their side of the story and their impressions behind the scenes.
It was interesting to hear about an Asian Canadian gay right’s activist, a mother of a mental health patient, the Editor in Chief of Vogue China, and a seven-year-old kid on the topic of humanity. People got a chance to share their stories and encourage others to pursue their curiosity.
Community is at the core of the Asian Canadian Journalists Association (ACJA), as the organization is is fueled by the members’ motivated to support each other. The organization aims to build relationships within the ethnic and mainstream media, online and on the air, and everyone is welcome.
The ACJA formed in late 2009 and has been meeting monthly to hear media professionals speak about their experiences in the field. Previous events included speakers from CBC’s China correspondent Anthony Germain to veteran civic reporter Frances Bula.
The members are committed to sharing ideas and strategies on how to better represent and cover diverse cultures in British Columbia newsrooms and wide range of media. In future the organization hopes to expand, form partnerships with other like-minded groups and provide wider services to members looking for mentorship and training.
Photos by UBC j-student Jes Abeita
