PORTLAND, Oregon – The Portland chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association honored 11 professional and student journalists as winners in the 2024 AAJA Diversity and Inclusion Awards competition.

Winners were announced during a ceremony Sunday, June 9, at The Soop restaurant in Portland.

The awards recognized outstanding journalism published during 2023 about issues that, through discrimination or structural inequity, disproportionately affect people of color or other under-resourced groups in Oregon and/or southwest Washington. Each award included a cash prize of $250. 

Winners were selected in six categories, judged by the New York chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association. Entries were designated as professional or student based on where they were published. The competition was free to enter, thanks to support from the Inatai Foundation.

Arts/Culture/Community

Professional winner: Meerah Powell, “Linfield University program wasn’t created to help first-generation students get through pandemic — but it did,” published by OPB

Student winner: Noah Carandanis, “Guam to Portland: UP’s first male dancer is making waves,” published by The Beacon

Politics

Professional winner:  Brianna Murschel, “Fear, Intimidation and Justice,” published by Eugene Weekly

Student winner: Zoe Buhrmaster, “PSU rearms campus police officers,” published by PSU Vanguard

Data/Investigative

Professional winner: Fedor Zarkhin, “The Forgotten Four,” published by The Oregonian/OregonLive

No student winner was named.

Environment/Health

Professional winner: Gosia Wozniacka, “Young Somali American brings green Islam movement to Portland,” published by The Oregonian/OregonLive

Student winner: Cameron Rodriguez, “Sea otters—the protectors of kelp forests,” published by PSU Vanguard

Sports

Professional winner: Nik Streng, “‘Tonight was more than football’: Milwaukie pays tribute to Coach Aum in game against Molalla,” published by The Oregonian/OregonLive

Student winner: Julianna Pedone, “Mira la Raza: Celebrating Latinx Athletes During Hispanic Heritage Month,” published by The Beacon

Opinion

Professional winner: Jennifer Perrine, “Portrait of My Mother in Mint Green,” published by Oregon Humanities

Student winner: Kimberly Cortez, “Letter from the editor: Here is my story, and why I want to tell yours,” published by The Beacon

About AAJA and AAJA Portland

The Asian American Journalists Association is a membership nonprofit advancing diversity in newsrooms and ensuring fair and accurate coverage of communities of color. Since its founding in 1981, AAJA has been at the forefront of change in the journalism industry. AAJA’s Portland chapter was founded in 1987. More: aaja-pdx.org 

About Inatai Foundation

Inatai Foundation is a 501(c)(4) serving and accountable to leaders and organizations with bold visions who are building power in racially diverse communities across Washington state. More: inatai.org