SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 18, 2013) - The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) is proud to announce the 42 outstanding high school students who will attend the 2013 JCamp at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The six-day program from June 21 to 26 will conclude with an all-star reception at the American Society of News Editors convention.

The multicultural group, selected from hundreds of applicants, represents some of the finest teenage reporters, photographers and broadcasters in the country. All chosen participants attend at no charge. This year's roster can be found at http://www.aaja.org/jcamp-2013-class/.

"JCamp is one of AAJA's signature programs that teaches students how to be better journalists and better leaders," said AAJA President Paul Cheung, who has served on the all-volunteer staff for several years. "Our students and faculty members also inspire me to be a better journalist."

There have been more than 450 graduates since the program began in 2001. Many have gone on to journalism careers, including Arelis Hernandez, an Orlando Sentinel reporter, who will become the first faculty member in JCamp's history to serve as an instructor. This marks the second time JCamp has been held on the GWU campus, with the university's School of Media and Public Affairs hosting the program this year.

JCamp is able to offer the program tuition-free thanks to generous support, including from The Annie E. Casey Foundation. "JCamp gives students the confidence to test out their own professional aspirations in a rich and supportive learning environment," said Patrick T. McCarthy, president and CEO of The Annie E. Casey Foundation. "We are especially pleased to support JCamp because we believe strongly in giving young people a voice, increasing their opportunities for future leadership and making a strong connection to their communities."

Returning as JCamp directors are Clea Benson, a Bloomberg News Reporter; Neal Justin, TV Critic for the Minneapolis Star Tribune; and Lorene Yue, a Reporter for Crain's Chicago Business. This year's faculty includes Bobby Caina Calvan, Freelancer, Washington D.C.; Paul Cheung, Global Interactive Editor, The Associated Press; Kyndell Harkness, Photographer, Minneapolis Star Tribune; Arelis Hernandez, Reporter, Orlando Sentinel; Caridad Hernandez, Executive Producer for Investigations and Special Projects, CBS4 in Miami; and Richard Lui, Anchor, NBC News/MSNBC.

JCamp 2013 is made possible by a grant from The Annie E. Casey Foundation. Additional support is provided by The George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs, the Dow Jones Foundation, Bloomberg, CNN, CBS, General Motors, The New York Times, the Dow Jones News Fund, NBC, AAJA-Chicago and AAJA-Washington, D.C.

The Asian American Journalists Association is a non-profit professional and educational organization with about 1,700 members in 21 chapters across the United States and in Asia. Founded in 1981, AAJA has been at the forefront of change in the journalism industry. AAJA's mission is to encourage Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to enter the ranks of journalism, to increase the number of AAPI journalists and news managers in the industry and to work for fair and accurate coverage of AAPIs and AAPI issues. AAJA is an alliance partner in UNITY Journalists for Diversity, along with the Native American Journalists Association, National Association of Hispanic Journalists and National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association. For more information, visit www.aaja.org.