February 2023 Newsletter

Welcome to AAJA Hawai‘i’s monthly newsletter! Here, you’ll find chapter updates, upcoming events, member bylines and more.

If you have a story or career update you want to share with our AAJA family, let us know at hawaii@aaja.org!

Chapter Updates

The Hawai‘i Journalist of the Year contest is looking for judges. This contest is hosted by the Hawai‘i Journalism Education Association and sponsored by AAJA Hawai‘i. Fill out this Google Form if you’d like to help judge. Students will submit their portfolios on Feb. 15, and judging needs to be completed by Feb. 20. More information about HiJOY is available here.

Member Bylines

The state’s homelessness proclamation isn’t new, but now has a few ‘rules’
Hawai‘i Public Radio’s Casey Harlow reports on Gov. Josh Green’s emergency proclamation, which eases some of the governmental “red tape” for constructing 12 kauhale, or tiny village, projects. “Proclamations that stood between 2015 and 2020 had the same exemptions as this proclamation, but [had] no guardrails or rules for environment or culture for how projects would be certified as eligible,” state homelessness coordinator James Koshiba said. “Now there’s language in the proclamation that makes it clear there will be those rules.”

Hawai‘i Legislature: Inside The Push To Make School Meals Free In Hawai‘i
Honolulu Civil Beat’s Cassie Ordonio reports on legislative proposals to provide free meals to students. “Hawaii is also one of only a few states with laws that allow students to be denied food when their parents fail to pay school lunch bills. Most states either have no law governing meal debt or have moved to a policy of requiring schools to feed children regardless of what their parents owe.”

Hawai‘i Ag Director Plans To ‘Go Big’ If Confirmed
Honolulu Civil Beat’s Thomas Heaton reports on Sharon Hurd, Gov. Josh Green’s pick as director of the Department of Agriculture, pending Senate confirmation. “The ag department has struggled with funding for years, receiving less than 1% of the state budget. The issue is raised consistently in agricultural circles, often used as an example of the dissonance between talk and action.”

Genesis Files for Bankruptcy, Has $150 Million In the Bank
Decrypt’s Ryan Ozawa reports on the digital currency brokerage’s bankruptcy filing. “The company, which is a subsidiary of Digital Currency Group (DCG), says that it has more than $150 million in cash on hand, which it describes as “ample liquidity” to fund operations during the restructuring process.”

Local Job Openings

Civil Beat is seeking a criminal justice reporter with a minimum of 5 years experience who can combine strong digging and data skills, source building and compelling storytelling. Salary based on experience but minimum is expected to be $70,000. More information here.

Civil Beat is also looking for an opinion writer to produce compelling commentary that educates and engages readers on a number of levels. Salary based on experience but minimum is expected to be $70,000. More information here.

Hawai‘i Public Radio is seeking a news editor who will work with several reporters on story selection, development and copy editing, as well as deal with breaking and developing news throughout the broadcast day. 5-7 years experience required. More information here.

Updates from AAJA National

AAJA is looking for convention planning committee members and speaker and session pitches for its upcoming #AAJA23 national convention, which will be held in Washington, D.C. July 19-23. Send in your ideas by Feb. 7. More information here.

AAJA has released its guidance for covering violence in Asian American communities following multiple mass shootings in California. “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.” Read the guidance here.

The Asian American Journalists Association is accepting applications for the following scholarships:
Due by February 28, 2023:
ABC News/Alexa Valiente Summer Memorial Internship
NBC News Summer Fellowship
Due by March 30, 2023:
Sam Chu Lin and Lloyd LaCuesta Broadcast News Internship Grants
William Woo Print and Online News Grant
Stanford Chen Internship Grant
Due by April 1, 2023 and October 1, 2023:
Dinah Eng Leadership Fellowship Grant