AAJA Guidance: Covering violence in the Asian American community

On Saturday night, 10 people were killed in a mass shooting in Monterey Park, CA, following a Lunar New Year celebration. Authorities have identified the suspect as Huu Can Tran, who was found dead Sunday after a self-inflicted gunshot.

The Asian American Journalists Association published guidance for newsrooms on covering the mass shooting.

"AAJA recommends that newsrooms cover this tragedy with empathy, while centering community stories, and with the awareness of the tremendous stress and anxiety that the Asian American community has undergone over the last three years," a statement said.

Here are some of AAJA's tips, republished with permission.

1. Always double-check names, pronunciations, and faces.

Avoid using gratuitous graphic imagery or videos of violence without thoughtful consideration of the value it adds to the story and coverage as it may traumatize or retraumatize Asian Americans.  

Be specific and descriptive when referring to violence and harassment aimed at Asians, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Recognize that “hate crime” is a legal term that has limitations. Regardless of a crime or incident’s classification, motive, or intention, the impact on the community should be reported.

2. Avoid assumptions, insinuations, and relying on unverified sources.

Newsrooms need to consider: What is the relevance of your story to this shooting? What is the necessary context? What sources or resources are you using to inform your reporting, and are they verifiable or credible? Does this source’s assertion/judgment fully tell the story or inadvertently neglect other important factors of the full story?

Diversify your sources by interviewing and quoting AAPI experts who can legitimately speak on behalf of the community. Build relationships within the communities on which you are reporting. Question the proximity of your source with the geography and communities featured in your story. AAJA’s speakers bureau, AAJA Studio, includes AAPI researchers, experts, and thought leaders with expertise in civil rights, hate crimes, AAPI history, racial justice and community-building work, racial profiling, and discrimination.

Acknowledge and attribute credit to community media sources, and support the work of in-language and community media.

3. Provide contextualization and center community experiences and victims’ and survivors’ stories.

Try to cover the violence in the context of the recent rise in attacks on Asian Americans and heightened fear among AAPI communities across the country.

The beginning of the new lunar calendar is celebrated across many Asian communities and cultures. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 8 million people in the U.S. celebrate the Lunar New Year. 

Empower and support AAPI journalists and colleagues, while not relying on them completely to be total experts on AAPI communities. Provide AAPI journalists with the necessary mental wellness support as the community faces increased anti-Asian violence and sentiment. 

About the Asian American Journalists Association

The Asian American Journalists Association is a professional membership association that champions the development of AAPI representation and leadership in journalism through trainings, opportunities and resources for our members as well as through nurturing and maintaining a network and community of AAPI journalists globally. Learn more at www.aaja.org or follow on Twitter @AAJA.

Institute publishes Annual Report highlighting 2022 impact

The National Press Club Journalism Institute strengthened its services to journalists in Washington, D.C., and beyond through its virtual programming, daily newsletter, and community initiatives in 2022.



In a year when journalists faced challenges including decreased public trust and chaotic midterm elections, the Institute seized opportunities to serve 7,550 journalists, communicators, and members of the public, as outlined in its 2022 Annual Report, released Monday on its website.

The report includes: 

• A look at the Institute’s 13 educational programs held in 2022, which drew 3,365 registered participants from around the globe. 
• A review of joint press freedom initiatives with the National Press Club, including ongoing work to #FreeAustinTice; 
• Highlights from The Latest, the Institute’s daily industry and craft newsletter whose subscribers increased by 43 percent over the previous year; 
• A snapshot of the ways the Institute celebrated journalistic achievement and created a sense of community for Club members and journalists; 
• A thank you to the generous donors and sponsors who made the Institute’s work possible; and 
• A summary of revenue and expenses. 

The report highlights how the Institute aligns its activities to its mission — to promote an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and to equip journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. As the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest.

The report is available for download here.