The Asian American Journalists Assn.’s Los Angeles chapter, in partnership with the Los Angeles Times, is excited to announce the first 2026 Gregory Yuen Yee Training Grant recipient.
Congratulations, June Hsu! June received a $1,500 grant to help cover travel expenses to attend the AAJA national convention in Minneapolis.
The Gregory Yuen Yee Training Grants were established in honor of an outstanding young journalist who helped shape news coverage through his energy, dedication and precision, especially while chasing breaking news as a member of the L.A. Times’ Fast Break desk.
Yee, a sensitive and disciplined writer with exceptional curiosity and empathy, was passionate about local news. In that vein, AAJA-LA and the L.A. Times seek to award grants to early-career journalists who are working to strengthen their journalistic skills and make deeper connections with their local communities.
June is a multiplatform editing fellow at the L.A. Times and has worked on all four of the newspaper’s copy desks: morning, features, news and sports. Previously, she was an intern at the L.A. Times and Voice of America, a fellow at CalMatters and the editor in chief of The Student Life newspaper covering the Claremont Colleges.
Originally from Kauai, Hawaii, June graduated last year from Pomona College with a degree in public policy analysis and politics.
“I cannot overstate what this grant means to me,” June said. “The AAJA-LA community has helped me feel welcome as I begin my journalism career out of college in Los Angeles. While I’ve attended local AAJA events, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to attend the convention, but this grant makes it possible and I know the experience will be invaluable.
“Journalism communities, near and far, have already helped me in so many ways, and I’d like to give immense thanks to the Yee family for their generosity and support.”
Learn more about the Gregory Yuen Yee Training Grants here.
— Rubaina Azhar, AAJA-LA board member