Thank you to all the AAJA-Los Angeles members who nominated candidates for this election, and especially to all the candidates who have agreed to run for a leadership position with the AAJA-LA Chapter. Candidate bios and statements (as submitted during the nomination process) are below and job descriptions can be found on the original call for nominations post.

Ballots will be sent via email to everyone registered as a full AAJA-LA member (full, gold, platinum) or student member as of Dec. 1, 2016. If you are a full member or student member of AAJA-LA but do not receive a ballot by Dec. 3, please write to aajalalosangeles@gmail.com immediately. Ballots for AAJA-LA elections will be due 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Monday, Dec. 5, 2015.

As of 12 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, nominations have been received for the following candidates:

President (1 year term): Ashley Dunn 
Senior VP of Programming: (1 year term): Thomas Lauder
VP of Community Engagement (1 year term): Annie Yu
VP of Career Development (1 year term): Cindy Chang
Treasurer (2 year term): Melissa Leu
Board Member (2 year term): Sophie Tran
Board Member (2 year term): May Lee
Board Member (2 year term): Mariko Lochridge
[Appointed] Student Representative (1 year term): Nuran Alteir

Good luck to all the candidates!

–AAJA-LA Election Commissioners
Elizabeth Chou, Secretary 2016-2017
Belinda Low, Treasurer 2016

Candidates for the 2017 AAJA-LA Board

Candidates for Officer Positions

Candidate for President (1 year term): Ashley Dunn Bio: Ashley Dunn is page one editor for the Los Angeles Times. In nearly three decades at the Times, his positions have included metro editor, deputy national editor and science editor. Statement: Ashley Dunn has been an enthusiastic member of AAJA-LA, most notably as a team leader for Trivia Bowl. With decades of experience as an editor at the Los Angeles Times, he is an ideal person to lead the organization and serve as a role model for young journalists.

Candidate for Senior Vice President of Programming (1 year term): Thomas Lauder Bio: Thomas Suh Lauder is a Senior Data Journalist at the Los Angeles Times, working with data, words, maps and code for both online and print. Statement: Events are an integral part of this organization. They help make it possible for our chapter to support journalists who give us a voice in the media industry. AAJA does valuable work and I’d like to contribute to those efforts.

Candidate for Vice President of Community Engagement (1 year term): Annie Yu Bio: Annie is an engagement editor at the Los Angeles Times. She’s a California native who did stints in Washington, D.C., Phoenix and NYC before happily returning to Los Angeles. She’s a fan of coffee, travel and good oatmeal stouts. Reach her on Twitter @anniezyu. Statement: I’d love to help grow an engaged, supportive network of journalists who 1) are offered opportunities to connect with each other; 2) are well-informed of chapter activities; 3) feel welcomed, included and valued, all of which encourage participation and contribution and 4) feel a sense of fulfillment and community from being a part of AAJA-LA.

Candidate for Vice President of Career Development (1 year term): Cindy Chang Bio: I cover the LAPD for the Los Angeles Times. I started my career at the Pasadena Star-News, then moved to the Times-Picayune in New Orleans, where my beats included city government, schools and special projects. I was the lead writer for a series on the Louisiana prison system. Statement: As VP of Print, I helped revive the AAJA-LA summer internship program. I want to insure that the program continues and expands to broadcast media. AAJA helped me start my own career, and I’d like to give back to the next generation.

Candidate for Treasurer (2 year term): Melissa Leu Bio: Melissa Leu is a digital editor at the Los Angeles Times. She used to work on the digital team at ABC7 and as a reporter at the Arizona Republic. Statement: Serving as a board member for AAJA-LA this past year has been a rewarding experience. I’d love to continue on the board in a greater capacity. As treasurer, I will make sure to keep our finances in order and continue our commitment to funding scholarships and internships.

Candidates for Board of Directors

Candidate for Board Member (2 year term): May Lee Bio: May Lee has been a television anchor and correspondent for more than 25 years having worked for CNN, CNBC, ABC, NHK, Oxygen Media and currently is a correspondent/host for CCTV-America based in LA.  Previously she was based in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, New York and Los Angeles covering major stories covering a wide spectrum of issues and events.  May is also author of “May Lee, Live and in Person” published by Wiley and Sons. Statement: I would like to pass along my experience as a long-time journalist having worked around the world to the next generation of journalists who will continue the expansion of Asians in the media.  Our current climate of uncertainty and division has inspired me to rise up and do something that will make positive differences in our community and the world.

Candidate for Board Member (2 year term): Mariko Lochridge Bio: Multimedia journalist based between Los Angeles, California and Tokyo, Japan covering general news and tech. Tweets about Star Trek and boxing. Statement: I’m looking forward to advocate for more diversity in journalism through a position within AAJA after being a member for nearly five years.

Candidate for Board Member (2 year term): Sophie Tran Bio: Sophie Bao Tran is a community leader based in Orange County, CA. Recently she was recognized in OC Weekly’s People of 2015 Issue as the “Queen of Little Saigon” for her work with the media, businesses, organizations, charity groups and also for formerly serving as a Parks, Recreations, and Art Programs commissioner for the City of Garden Grove. Currently Ms. Tran works at Little Saigon Television Network as a producer, tv show host, journalist and public relations executive. She is also a freelance Vietnamese-English Interpreter. Statement: I am a current board member and throughout the year, I have been able to gain insight on how this organization operates and will be able to take on more leadership roles in the next term. I believe with new positions open on the board, it is important to keep past members in order to consistently build on the work that was put out so far.

Nominee for [Appointed] Student Representative (1 year term): Nuran Alteir Bio: Nuran Alteir is a full-time student pursuing a higher degree in the sciences. She is also a freelance journalist for KPCC: Southern California Public Radio and Los Angeles Times Community News. Statement: I am interested in being student representative because I know I can inspire students to be the next generation of AAJA leaders. I have been involved with AAJA as a student since 2014, when I was selected to be a part of VOICES.