Michigan Public has been honored by the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) with multiple Journalism Excellence Awards.
Zena Issa, Michigan Public’s criminal justice reporter, won the AAJA 2025 Student Excellence in Audio Storytelling Award for her Stateside podcast segment “What the Vote?: Gen Z and the Uncommitted Movement.” The piece was produced while Zena Issa was an intern at the station.
Ronia Cabansag, producer for Stateside and The Dish, received two Honorable Mention awards: The Dish series received one for the AAJA 2025 Excellence in Audio Storytelling, Long-form or Series Award, and another for the segment "The Dish visits Chef Jackie Marasigan of Adobo Boy" for the AAJA 2025 Excellence in Video Storytelling, Social Award. The Dish is Michigan Public’s food centric podcast and feature hosted by Mercedes Mejia. Laura Weber Davis is the Executive Producer of Stateside and The Dish.
“These are significant accomplishments,” noted Michigan Public News Director Vincent Duffy. “This is a national awards contest and the AAJA (Asian American Journalists Association) judges do not give out honorable mentions in every category. To receive national recognition is an honor.”
The Asian American Journalists Association has honored excellence in journalism since 1987. The AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards are bestowed to members for thoughtful reporting, thorough coverage, and strong storytelling in the general category and in AAPI issues. AAJA also honors members and organizations who champion the spirit of community through their chapter and affinity group leadership; their diversity, equity, and inclusion work; and through their life’s work.
