The three-day New.Now.Next Media Conference at The University of Hong Kong was an enriching experience, especially for a Japanese university student like myself.

With panels including investigative reporting in China, data journalism and reporting on North Korea, the conference offered a wide variety of topics that were facilitated and discussed by veteran reporters from the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and Reuters, among others.

Not only did each reporter’s experiences and perspectives offer an interesting dynamic within the discussions, but they also showed me just how complex the field of journalism can be.

From left: Steve Herman of VOA, Barbara Demick of the Los Angeles Times, and Jean Lee of the Associated Press

For example, the way Jean Lee, AP’s Pyongyang bureau chief, articulated the recent missile launch threat in North Korea was slightly different from how Barbara Demick, Beijing bureau chief for the L.A. Times, described matters.  Lee and Demick seemed to offer different images of North Korea based on their experiences.

In addition to the informative panels, the job fair that was held adjacent to the main conference building was a great opportunity for me to get in touch with some of the best news organizations in Asia.

AAJA member Teppei Kasai meets with Irene Jay Liu of Reuters at the N3Con Job Fair.

I met Irene Jay Liu, data news editor for Reuters, and Ken Moritsugu, enterprise editor for the AP. They gave me some of the most useful feedback on my resume, portfolio and career that will definitely come in handy going forth.

Irene suggested that I make a web-based portfolio, which is something that will become increasingly relevant and useful in this era of information. She also advised I add notes to each article in my portfolio, explaining why the stories showed a particular value that distinguished myself from others.

I also had a great talk with CNN’s Elizabeth Joseph and Aloke Devichand about how I can make the most of my current internship at CNN in Tokyo and possibly have the opportunity lead to a full-time position.

During the keynote panel, Ellana Lee, vice president and managing editor for CNN International Asia Pacific, mentioned managing “millenials” like myself was “different.” She said we were passionate and energetic but that we were also prone to want to move through career stages unreasonably quickly, saying such things as “I’m not a morning person.”

To know how top editors viewed my own generation was insightful.  I am determined to work extra hard to prove I am a different kind of millennial.

Ellana Lee, vice president and managing editor for CNN International Asia Pacific

The workshop is based on her research with women combined with creative thinking and practical tips.  

The working world has changed, its accelerated and more complex than ever. Successful Career Navigation is an art, something that must be learned as sooner or later everyone faces a career opportunity, challenge or setback. Managing your career is no longer an option, it’s a must!

More on the workshop and how to register here.

Come out for a joint happy hour with AAJA and the SFCC, plus a screening of “Juche Strong,” an 18-minute documentary on North Korea. We’ll also be joined by a visiting class of U.S. student journalists from WTAMU, so come with your extra-friendly faces on!

Who: Members of AAJA and SFCC, plus students and professors from WTAMU

When: Friday, June 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: Seoul Foreign Correspondents Club Bar

Korea Press Foundation Building, 18th floor

25 Taepyeongno 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul

서울 중구 태평로1가 25

Cost: No entry fee. 1,000 won/beer at the bar.

More on “Juche Strong”:

According to its producers, the film “explodes the most pernicious misconceptions of North Korea and argues that the propaganda-fueled national ideology has played an integral role in keeping the country together.”

“Juche Strong” delves into the specifics of the ideology designed to tap into the unique cultural and religious heritage of the Korean people and shows how it instills a collective sense of purpose.

The documentary includes interviews with prominent North Korean scholars, such as Bruce Cummings, David Kang, Victor Cha, Stephan Haggard, and Suk-Young Kim.

“Juche Strong” also includes interviews with a North Korean defector now living in the United States and evolutionary psychologist Jonathan Haidt.

Director Rob Montz filmed in North Korea in the summer of 2012. “Juche Strong,” running 18 minutes, is sponsored by the non-profit Moving Picture Institute.

Doris Truong is a multiplatform editor at The Washington Post, where she has worked since 2003. She is the winner of the 2013 Robinson Prize from the American Copy Editors Society, which recognizes exceptional effectiveness in editing. She was part of The Post’s 2006 Pulitzer Prize-winning team on the Jack Abramoff investigation. A graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism, Truong was 2011-12 president of the Asian American Journalists Association and is currently vice president of UNITY: Journalists for Diversity. Truong has been a guest faculty member at the Poynter Institute, has presented to multiple journalism groups and is a Smithsonian-exhibited photographer. Follow her: @doristruong.

When: 7 to 9pm, Thursday, May 30
Where: Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand
Penthouse, Maneeya Center Building, 518/5 Ploenchit Road (connected to the BTS Skytrain Chitlom station), Patumwan, Bangkok 10330

The China News Director will supervise a team of journalists, including beat reporters, photographers, video journalists and deputies for text, photos and video. He or she will report to the Asia-Pacific News Director in Bangkok and work closely with colleagues around the world.

The China News Director will collaborate with AP’s regional and global News leadership to set and execute AP’s strategy for coverage of Greater China, and lead cross-format planning of breaking news and enterprise. They will serve as AP’s legal representative in China, and primary editorial liaison to the Chinese government. They will also work closely with AP’s business leaders in the region to execute the company’s editorial and sales strategies in Greater China and help meet the needs of a growing AP customer base in the region.

Candidates should have at least 10 years’ experience as a full-time, professional journalist, including time with a top newspaper, broadcaster or news agency. An understanding of multi-format journalism is also required, and experience working in multiple media formats is a big plus.

For more details and to apply, go here.

Morning Calm, the travel and culture in-flight magazine of Korean Air, is looking for a full-time senior copy editor. Responsibilities include overseeing all translations, ensuring consistency between English and Korean articles, as well as copy editing/proofreading/fact checking all texts in English and Korean. Candidates should be native Korean speakers with very strong English skills. Contact me, English editor Matt Flemming, at matt@design.co.kr, for details or to apply.