It’s the season to give thanks, so to close my 2011-12 term as president of the Asian American Journalists Association, I will be counting down December with a daily shout-out.
Day 13
Thank you to Anthony Ramirez and Maya Blackmun for ensuring that the AAJA “Handbook to Covering Asian America” has been fully updated. This is a resource that will help us for years to come.
Day 1;
Day 2;
Day 3;
Day 4;
Day 5;
Day 6;
Day 7;
Day 8;
Day 9;
Day 10;
Day 11;
Day 12
AAJA MediaWatch: Getting Noticed
The Jason Whitlock-Jeremy Lin incident led to plenty of coverage of the Asian American Journalists Association’s statement:
- Deadspin: Jason Whitlock Says He “Debased A Feel-Good Sports Moment” Because Of His Mother And Richard Pryor [NB: accompanying photo slightly NSFW.]
- Inquistr: Jason Whitlock Apologizes For Small Penis Joke Made at Jeremy Lin
- Los Angeles Times: Fox Sports’ Jason Whitlock apologizes for Jeremy Lin tweet
- Orlando Sentinel: Fox columnist Jason Whitlock apologizes for Jeremy Lin tweet
- Sporting News: Jason Whitlock apologizes for offensive Jeremy Lin tweet
- USA Today: Columnist apologizes for racist Lin tweet; is that enough?
- Yahoo Sports: Jason Whitlock apologizes for his unfunny Jeremy Lin comment on Twitter
Plus, there were mentions on media industry blogs:
- FishbowlLA: Jason Whitlock Apologizes for Racist Tweet
- Jim Romenesko: Jason Whitlock apologizes for Lin tweet
- Richard Prince’s Journal-isms: Whitlock “Truly Sorry” for Tweet About Asian NBA Player
Kaimen, a communications and business consulting firm, even turned AAJA’s work into a case study on PR.
Possibly my favorite person to have taken note, though, was playwright David Henry Hwang:
Thanks to AA Journalists Assn @AAJA & all who made J. Whitlock apologize for his racist remark about Jeremy Lin goo.gl/dnKmW@jlin7
— David Hwang (@DavidHenryHwang) February 13, 2012
AAJA reacts to Rush Limbaugh
Here’s a response from the Asian American Journalists Association’s MediaWatch committee to Rush Limbaugh’s broadcast while Chinese President Hu Jintao was making his first state visit to the United States.
We can’t quite believe our ears. Did Rush Limbaugh really resort to mocking a visiting head of state with a “ching-chong” derision that even children on a playground know not to use?
Frankly, we, at the Asian American Journalists Association, are not sure whether to be more abhorred at Limbaugh’s buffoonish antics or feel embarrassed for the man.
Ching-chong, really? In the 21st century? Of a visiting dignitary? In a country that counts among its citizens millions of Asian descent?
If it were our druthers, we would rather ignore Rush Limbaugh and his buffoonish antics. But we, at AAJA, take seriously our duty to call people out when they cross the line. Limbaugh has again crossed the line.
His latest mockery of the Chinese language and culture is an insult not only to visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao, but also to the values we share as Americans. When the leader of one of the largest and most influential countries pays a visit, we should have the decency to pay a little respect.
Limbaugh should know better. Millions listen to his broadcast. His “ching-chong” speech on his Jan. 19 program was just silly, but hardly funny.
AAJA Media Watch Co-chairs, Bobby Caina Calvan Jam Sardar
