AAJA: Asian American Journalists Association


CBS News Responds to AAJA's Inquiry of CBS News Report

(AAJA received the following letter from CBS News President Andrew Heyward. AAJA sent a letter in response to the "Pressed by Cost of Dry Cleaning?" broadcast on Feb. 27, 2004 on the CBS Evening News.)

March 18, 2004

Aki Soga
Chairman, AAJA Media Watch

Dear Mr. Soga:

Thank you for your letter regarding CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson's report on the CBS EVENING NEWS on Feb. 27, 2004, about cost differences among dry cleaners in the Washington, D.C. area.

As you probably know, CBS News maintains a healthy and constructive relationship with the AAJA, and in that spirit I welcome the opportunity to respond.

Having reviewed the report and the reporting that went into it, I respectfully but strongly disagree with your contention that our "decision to identify the ethnicity of [the] group" was in any way "insensitive" or "irresponsible." These business owners officially identify themselves as the "Korean American Dry Cleaning Association." Further, there is no implication whatsoever in the report that their "ethnicity plays a significant role in the way they conduct business."

You should also know some other things the association told Attkisson:

- Korean American Dry Cleaners own the vast majority of dry cleaners in the Washington, D.C. area (80%-90% in some neighborhoods).

- The group pooled $80,000 under the name "Korean American Dry Cleaners Association" to challenge Dry Clean Depots.

- Korean Americans organized and appeared at numerous protests at local zoning and planning meetings.

- The Korean American Dry Cleaners Association was the only known entity fighting Dry Clean Depot in the Washington, D.C. area.

Lastly, your letter incorrectly claims that Attkisson "discussed the issue [of ethnicity] with the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium." That never happened, because ethnicity in itself was never an issue in preparing the report.

Thank you for your interest.

Sincerely,

Andrew Heyward
President, CBS News

   The Asian American    Journalists Association    (AAJA) was founded in    1981 by a few Asian    American and Pacific    Islander (AAPI) journalists.    Within the next few years,    AAJA began hosting panel    discussions for members.


   AAJA joins UNITY:    Journalists of Color in    Atlanta, Georgia for its first    conference focusing on    people of color and diversity    in the newsroom.

   AAJA was honored with the    Medal for Distinguished    Service in Journalism by the    University of Missouri for its    contributions to the industry.

   AAJA named the    championship trophy for    its annual photo competition    after the late New York    Times photojournalist Dith    Pran. The names of each    recipient are engraved on    the trophy.

   The organization marks its    25th year anniversary    hosting celebrations in New    York, Texas and Los    Angeles to kick off a $2    million endowment    campaign for programs.

   AAJA presented the 2008    Media Champion Award by    the Asian Community    Mental Health Services for    "challenging misinformation    and stereotypes in media    coverage around the    Virginia Tech tragedy and    helping to present mental    distress as a human and    commonplace experience."