Idea No. 19 for keeping AAJA extraordinary: 

We need to re-embrace members of the ethnic news media and invite them back into the AAJA family. When I first joined the AAJA National Board in 1996, we had several ethnic media executives on the board who added richly to our cultural diversity and our understanding of the business side of the news industry. As mainstream media companies try different revenue models, we need to renew our ties with ethnic media and invite them to sign on as AAJA corporate members.

What does AAJA get out of it? Besides being the original “hyperlocal” news media, ethnic newspapers and broadcast companies have a great deal to teach us about community engagement, staying profitable in the digital age, and why they will always have loyal readers, listeners and advertisers. I picture us co-hosting local Media Access Workshops, speaking to aspiring journalists, and ensuring that each other’s news coverage remains fair, accurate and complete.