Audience Engagement Reporter Katrina Pham wins AAJA-Medill Innovator Award

Pham’s multimedia reporting increases news accessibility

EVANSTON, ILL. -- Journalist and Medill alumna Katrina Pham (BSJ24) received the 2026 AAJA-Medill Innovator Award.

Presented by the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) and Medill, the award recognizes those who bring fresh, innovative approaches to Asian American Pacific Islander issues. Awardees are invited to speak to Northwestern Medill students to encourage and inspire the next generation of journalists.

Pham is an award-winning multimedia storyteller passionate about meeting audiences where they are. Her engagement work has reached hundreds of thousands of people across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts, and she uses a variety of vertical video formats, from in-the-field dispatches to at-home skits, to make news more accessible. She is currently the Social Media and Content Manager for the Chicago Reader and has previously worked with Borderless Magazine, The Marshall Project, In These Times, ABC7 Chicago and The Yappie. She also is a co-organizer of the Chicago hub of the Video Consortium and memberships director for the Chicago chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association.

"I'm so honored to receive this recognition that represents the intersection of two institutions central to my journalism career: Medill and AAJA," Pham said. "More and more people are getting their news on digital platforms, and as storytellers and torchbearers of truth, journalists should feel responsible for meeting people where they are on social."

She continued, "Reading the news doesn't have to be a draining or boring experience. And I'm so grateful for my team and time at Borderless that allowed me to redefine how we approach storytelling so more immigrants and their communities could access factual, trusted news."

"Katrina’s work demonstrates the great responsibility journalists have to the public," said Medill Dean Charles Whitaker. "Her reporting exemplifies how journalism can directly help individuals and their communities, accessibly providing trusted information. We are delighted to recognize Katrina with this award."