Views From The Edge: AAPI journalists

Showing posts with label AAPI journalists. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

'Why don’t you ask China?' Trump tells Asian American journalist in confrontation

ASAM NEWS

Donald Trump abruptly ended a White House briefing after another confrontation with CBS News’ White House correspondent Weijia Jiang on Monday.

“You’ve said many times that the U.S. is doing far better than any other country when it comes to testing,” Jiang said during the briefing. “Why does that matter? Why is this a global competition to you if, every day, Americans are still losing their lives, and we’re still seeing more cases every day?”

“Well, they’re losing their lives everywhere in the world, and maybe that’s a question you should ask China,” Trump retorted.

But Jiang, who is Chinese American, didn’t let Trump get away with that answer.

“Sir, why are you saying that to me, specifically, that I should ask China?” she asked.

Despite several reporters, including CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and PBS NewsHour’s Yamiche Alcindor, trying to cede their time to Jiang, Trump ignored them, abruptly ending the conference.

Trump faced immediate criticism over Twitter, many calling the incident “racist” and a “temper tantrum,” as well as applauding Jiang and the other reporters for their calm temperaments.

Other critics included former President Barack Obama’s Chief Strategist, David Axelrod, and MSNBC’s Joy Reid, who both noted the connection of Trump asking an Asian American reporter to refer her questions to China, as well as the ongoing trend of Trump’s dismissive attitude towards women reporters.

This isn’t the first confrontation between Jiang and Trump.

Trump told Jiang to “keep her voice down” during an April coronavirus task force briefing, complaining that he was being treated “unfairly.” (Jiang was calm throughout the entire exchange, and had not raised her voice or asked inappropriate questions.)

The same month, during another briefing, Trump called her tone while asking a question “very nasty,” then said, “You ought to be ashamed of yourself.” (Again, Jiang’s tone was not unusual, and she remained collected throughout the briefing.)

Jiang had also called attention to how coronavirus, or COVID-19, was being talked about by White House officials in March.

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Historical Footnote, Part 2: More all-AAPI panels appear in news shows

I'm not sure if this is the networks way of rebuking Trump's usage of "Chinese virus" that fuels the attacks against Asian Americans, but the presence of AAPI on the network news shows are at an unprecedented high.

RELATED: See my earlier post noting this trend.

Above, CNN reporters Kyung Lah and Natasha Chen speak to host Don Lemon Monday (March 23) about the apparent turnaround of Donald Trump's use of "Chinese virus" when talking about COFID-19 and xenophobia against Asians that is running rampant across the country, unleashing a torrent of hate-fueled acts.

Below, Monday evening, MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell's The Last Word has three Indian American medical professionals -- Ashish Jha, Kavita Patel and Vin Gupta -- talking about the effectiveness of the stay-at-home strategy meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Up to now, it is still a rare occurrence when Asian Americans appear in news programs -- the entertainment industry is another story -- as experts in their fields. To have an entire panel of AAPI commentators, is still rare enough to merit me posting it to bring the trend to your attention.

Hopefully, it is not a trend. Maybe the networks won't need a national emergency to notice AAPI expertise in a whole lot of fields beyond racism and medicine. The largely immigrant AAPI communities are making huge contributions to this country and maybe we should be tooting our own horn more often. #IAmAnImmigrant.

Whether or not the appearance of Asian talking heads a deliberate strategy of the networks or simply an example of how deeply entrenched AAPI people are in all aspects of US society -- I'm liking it.

Friday, August 23, 2019

Democrats prodded to include an AAPI debate moderator

SCREEN CAPTURE / CBS

Elaine Quijano was the lone moderator for the Vice Presidential Debate.

While AAPI candidates for POTUS have had an impact in the Democrat's debates, Asian Americans have been absent among the moderators for any of the debates for the POTUS candidates for the Democrats.

“It is now time for the DNC to take their commitment (to diversity) even further by ensuring that Asian Americans are represented among moderators on the debate stage,” wrote Rep. Grace Meng, who is Chair of ASPIRE, said. The New York congresswoman is also vice chair of the DNC.

ASPIRE, the political arm of Asian American and Pacific Islander Members of Congress, sent a letter last week to declared candidates for the Democratic nomination for President encouraging them to prioritize AAPI communities in their outreach, hiring, and campaign materials.

AAPI voters’ participation in the 2018 midterm elections increased more than any other racial group, according to a letter sent by ASPIRE,

Meng said she was hopeful that the DNC would appoint an Asian American or Pacific Islander as a debate moderator. “[I] look forward to Chairman Perez responding to our request,” she said. “I am confident that host networks will not have trouble finding qualified and talented AAPIs to include in their moderator panels.”

Apparently, the PAC's letter fell on deaf ears. ABC announced Wednesday (Aug. 21) the four moderators: ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos, "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir, ABC News correspondent Linsey Davis and Univision anchor Jorge Ramos.

The Democrats have staged two debates hosted by NBC and CNN and no Asian American journalist have been among the panelists questioning the candidates although they featured female, Hispanic and African American moderators.

CBS journalist Elaine Quijano, a Filipino American, was the first Asian American to moderate a general election debate when she performed the chore for the 2016 Vice Presidential Debate between Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence. She performed professionally and acted as the adult in the room while trying to corral the argumentative candidates clamoring for attention.

Two of the 10 candidates who have qualified for the September debate thus far -- Sen. Kamala Harris and businessman Andrew IYang -- are Asian Americans. A third, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, has until Aug. 28 to meet the requirements for the debate.

If Gabbard qualifies - she is currently serving her stint in the Hawaii Army National Guard -- ABC will move to a two-night debate format with assignments given to the candidates by random draw.

“Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing population in our country, and we are already an important constituency in key electoral states such as California, Nevada, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. It’s crucial that candidates seeking the Democratic nomination pay attention to Asian American and Pacific Islander voters across the country,” said Meng in the letter also sent to the various campaigns.

Besides Meng, the letter from ASPIRE was signed by Representatives Ami Bera (CA-07), Judy Chu (CA-27), TJ Cox (CA-21), C Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Andy Kim (NJ-03), Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Doris Matsui (CA-06), Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (CNMI), Michael San Nicholas (GU), Bobby Scott (VA-03), and Mark Takano (CA-41), all of whom are Democrats.

The DNC has already committed to ensuring that at least one woman and one person of color serves as a moderator at each of its primary debates for the 2020 cycle.

"The DNC is committed to an inclusive and fair debate process," DNC senior adviser Mary Beth Cahill told Refinery29 in May. "That means that all 12 DNC-sanctioned debates will feature a diverse group of moderators and panelists including women and people of color, ensuring that the conversations reflect the concerns of all Americans."

The 10 candidates who have qualified for the debate stage as of Aug. 22:

Former Vice President Joe Biden
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts
Sen. Kamala Harris of California
Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey
Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota
South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg
Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas
Andrew Yang, entrepreneur
Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro

“We encourage you to keep Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in mind as your campaign makes hiring decisions and prioritizes outreach to different voting blocs as you campaign for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. History has shown us that we are stronger when all voices are represented at the decision-making table,” wrote the Aspire members.

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Tuesday, May 21, 2019

#IAm profiles for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) has teamed up with US Bank to observe Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with the #IAm Campaign, a series of video interviews of Asian American and Pacific Islanders.

The question asked of the interviewees is: How did you become successful? The journey to success has been tough for many of the subjects, only made hopeful by those who supported them along the way.

As they received encouragement along they way, the subjects have broken barriers and opened doors for others to follow.

This Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, let us not only remember those that have opened doors for us, but that our unique stories are also opening doors for others. Let us celebrate the success and the support, and most importantly, celebrate what’s possible.

Drawn mainly from the world of entertainment, it also lists a few journalists, writers and sports. Among the AAPI personalities spotlighted are George Takei, Jeremy Lin, Lisa Ling, Ming-Na Wen and Apolo Ono. Start with actor George Takei's #IAm story:

There are a ton of other videos and profiles so check them out for yourself, and participate: “Share YOUR #IAm story. Join the conversation and share what inspires you the most and express your I Am_ aspiration via Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram with the hashtag #IAm. Or simply share this campaign with your friends and family.”

More links provided below. If they don't work, click here.