The AAJA Sports Task Force is pleased to offer a scholarship of up to $2,000 to current college students interested in pursuing sports journalism/media as a career.
About the AAJA Sports Task Force
The mission of the AAJA Sports Task Force is to elevate the voice of Asian Americans in sports and encourage future Asian American sports journalists across multiple media platforms through mentorship and scholarship opportunities.
Sports are increasingly becoming part of everyday lives. Beyond the entertainment value, sports issues have – at times – led newscasts and made headlines across traditional news outlets. What has been lacking is the perspective of Asian American voices in sports media. The AAJA Sports Task Force scholarship is one way to turn the tide. The scholarship is designed to specifically help Asian American/Pacific Islander students interested in sports reporting or other sports media-related professions.
About Al Young
Al Young is an award-winning journalist who blazed many trails for Asian American sports journalists. He is the nation’s first Asian American sportswriter at a metro daily. He is also the first Asian American to cover the NFL as the New Haven Register beat writer for the New York Giants and Jets. While with the Register, he also wrote a weekly column that was the first in the country focusing on national and local personalities and trends in women’s sports.
Young’s career spans more than four decades. He was a writer and editor at the Boston Globe, USA Today, the New York Daily News, the New Haven (CT) Register, and Bridgeport (CT) Post-Telegram.
In 2010, AAJA named Young to its inaugural honor roll as an “Asian American Pioneer in U.S. journalism.” He is a past president of AAJA’s Washington, D.C. chapter. Retiring in 2013 from the Boston Globe, Young is currently the advisor to the student newspaper at Quincy College (MA).
Eligibility and Rules
- AAJA student membership is encouraged for all applicants and required for the selected scholarship recipients. For membership, please apply online at www.aaja.org/join.
- Applicants must demonstrate journalistic excellence, a strong interest in pursuing sports journalism as a career. Selected scholarship recipients must commit to a minimum of five hours of volunteer work for the AAJA Sports Task Force.
- Applicants must be an undergraduate student enrolled full time with at least 12 credit units each semester at a junior college or university located in the United States. Applicants must also be currently taking or planning to take journalism courses and/or pursuing sports journalism as a career.
Selection Criteria
Candidates will be selected on the basis of academic achievement, demonstrated journalistic ability, financial need, and commitment to the field of sports journalism.
Application Requirements
- Resume
- Cover letter (explain journalism experience – if any – academic accomplishments, career goals, community involvement, and financial need. 500-800 words)
- Essay (1,000-2000 words)
- GPA requirement: Minimum 3.0
- References (names and contact information)
The application deadline is Sunday, December 9 at 11:59pm PT. Questions? Email Justin Seiter, AAJA Program Coordinator at justins@aaja.org. For more about the AAJA Sports Task Force, visit http://sportstaskforce.com/.