The award, given by AAJA-LA and ACES, honors mentors in journalism who made a difference

The Asian American Journalists Association in Los Angeles and ACES: The Society for Editing are excited to announce the recipient of the second annual Henry Fuhrmann Mentor Award.

Henry Fuhrmann was more than an assistant managing editor and the chair of the standards and practices committee at the Los Angeles Times. He was also a past president and longtime officer of the Los Angeles chapter of AAJA as well as the president of the ACES Education Fund board. But what really set Fuhrmann apart was his quiet persistence in giving generously of his time and expertise, mentoring dozens of writers and editors, not only in their craft but in life.

When reviewing the submissions, it was immediately clear to the four judges that all nominees were exemplary mentors who had positive impacts on their mentees’ careers. But when time came to honor Fuhrmann’s memory and choose the nominee who most embodied mentorship as a way of life, the choice was unanimous.

The second annual Henry Fuhrmann Mentor Award and $1,000 cash prize goes to Kate McQueen, editorial director of the Pollen Initiative, for her work with new and aspiring journalists and nonfiction writers who are incarcerated. Specifically, McQueen mentored writers at San Quentin State Prison who were working to tell their stories from behind bars.

In his nomination, mentee Joe Garcia wrote, “No coincidence, my progress as a published writer and, far more importantly, as a better person blossomed since I had the good fortune to cross paths with Kate…I am set to begin a University of California at Berkeley two-year journalism fellowship this fall, which was only possible due to Kate’s coordination and encouragement.”

Before joining the Pollen Initiative, which provides media and leadership training for incarcerated people, McQueen was an editorial adviser for Wall City, the news magazine at San Quentin, and worked with the Prison Journalism Project. 

Upon learning that she had won, McQueen wrote, “When you give incarcerated writers encouragement to try hard and excel at the journalistic practice, it’s amazing what they accomplish, from starting prison media centers to bylines in The New Yorker. Thank you, ACES/AAJA, for recognizing that fostering journalists in prison is important. I’m deeply honored that you chose to highlight my work as a mentor inside the walls.”

AAJA-LA and ACES also want to recognize the judges who took the time to read through the submissions and select an award recipient. Thank you to Julie Patel-Liss, Maneeza Iqbal, Mark Allen and Karen Yin for their work and dedication.

To support this award, please donate through the ACES Education Fund or AAJA-LA. Specify that the donation is intended for the Fuhrmann Mentor Award.