The Asia chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA-Asia) is excited to announce Gilles Demptos as its first Director of Asia Pacific.
Demptos has worked over 15 years in the news media industry, from both a business and public policy perspective. He was formerly Asia Director of the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), where he implemented industry initiatives, events, media development and training programs in the region. He joins AAJA-Asia most recently from Google APAC in Singapore, where he served as Senior Manager of Public Policy and Government Relations for the news, media and telco industries.
“Gilles’ experience in helping to support and strengthen newsrooms in Asia, as well as his track record of collaborating with a wide array of partners across the region, complements AAJA-Asia’s goals as we strive to bring dynamic programs to more members across Asia Pacific,’’ said K. Oanh Ha, AAJA-Asia’s president. “Gilles’ passion and ideas to help advance quality journalism in Asia will help to take us to the next level. We are thrilled to welcome Gilles to our AAJA family.’’
AAJA–Asia supports a diverse community of local and international multimedia journalists, media professionals and advocates for a vibrant press in the Asia Pacific region. The organization is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in media organizations, providing training opportunities to members, supporting students interested in journalism and advocating for fair media access. In recent years, the chapter has grown into one of AAJA’s largest chapters with about 200 members, from Hong Kong to Seoul, across Southeast Asia as well as India and Nepal.
“AAJA has grown as one of Asia’s largest and most active journalist associations, helping media professionals from across the region to upgrade their skills, expand their networks and enhance their careers,” Demptos said. “I am excited to join this dynamic organization as Director of Asia Pacific in order to further develop its services, activities and membership and help spread its values of diversity and inclusiveness across Asia’s newsrooms.”
Demptos added, “AAJA’s members, whether they are students or experienced journalists, are passionate about the crucial role quality journalism can play in Asian societies. They are enthusiastic about the possibilities that new technologies open up for improving their reporting. They are eager to learn, share, collaborate, give back. It is a privilege for me to join a community driven by such positive journalistic values.”
The chapter holds regular training and networking events year-round in a number of Asian cities, including Singapore, Tokyo and Manila. It also hosts the annual New.Now.Next (N3Con) Media Conference, which attracts hundreds of journalists and media professionals around the region. This year’s N3Con will be held May 21-24 in Hong Kong.
Demptos is currently based in Singapore and can be contacted at gilles.demptos@gmail.com. He graduated in both Law and Philosophy (with diplomas from University of Kent at Canterburyand University of Paris IV – La Sorbonne) and holds a Master’s in Philosophy of the Law from University of Paris II, Panthéon-Assas (Honors).
Please welcome Gilles to our AAJA family!
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