AAPI VOTE 2018: SF mayoral ccandidate calls out reporter on her questions

Mayoral candidate Jane Kim, left, was instrumental in the creation of the
Filipino Cultural Heritage District in San Francisco.

ASAM NEWS

A REPORTER from the San Francisco Chronicle covering the city’s heated mayoral race lost her beat this week, after emailing Korean/American candidate Jane Kim a list of questions for a possible story.

The campaign’s response — in the form of a public Medium blog that included a copy of the reporter’s questions and Kim’s blistering responses — accused the Chronicleof inadequate research and biased reporting.

Most of the questions from reporter Rachel Swan revolved around Kim’s private school education and her family’s personal finances, in contrast with her liberal politics that seem to champion the middle class.

Some dove into the details of her childhood growing up in New York City, her parent’s luxury condo purchase in 1989 and records showing a “Jane Kim” was on the payroll of a company related to her father’s employer, Kiss Products. A follow-up question asked why she never disclosed that income.

Turns out, the reporter got the “wrong” Jane Kim.

“Kim is actually a very common Korean name.” Kim wrote. “Even though we received these questions less than 24 hours ago, my team Googled ‘Jane Kim’ and ‘Ivy Enterprises,’ called the company and spoke to this other Jane Kim who confirmed her employment. I would suggest the Chronicle also verify information received from opposition research in the future.”

Another question on the list: “Could it not be seen disingenuous to paint yourself as a hero of the people, when your father has this high-paying executive job [at Kiss Products, a global cosmetic company]?”

Kim included in her reply, “The way this question is asked leads me to believe this reporter has already pre-determined the outcome of this piece — which is why I am sharing the questions and my answers directly with voters.”

And to answer why she never discussed her dad’s financial success on the campaign trail, she wrote: “I’m rarely asked about my dad’s career … I believe most voters would find it very retro to measure a woman by her dad’s job.”

The next day, the Chronicle’s chief editor Audrey Cooper apologized in an editor’s note on May 4: “…those written questions were inappropriately worded and insufficiently researched. They failed to meet the journalistic standards of The Chronicle.”

Last month, the Chronicle endorsed candidate London Breed, originally the city’s acting mayor following the unexpected death of Ed Lee in December, who previously held the post.

The election for San Francisco's mayor is June 5, 2018. If no candidate wins over 50%, there will be a runoff of the two top candidates in November.
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