Detroit Forum Examines Impact of Journalism on Asian American Civil Rights Movement

For Immediate Release:

April 13, 2005

Contact:
Janice Lee, deputy executive director, AAJA
(415) 346-2051, janicel@aaja.org

The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) will hold a public forum to examine the role of journalism in the Asian American civil rights movement throughout the past 20 years, including the crucial role that media plays today. The forum, "Remembering Vincent Chin: A Conversation About Civil Rights and Journalism," will be held at the Pangborn Design Gallery in Detroit, Michigan on April 28 from 6:30 – 9:30pm.

Vincent Chin was the Chinese American killed in 1982 in Detroit by two autoworkers frustrated with the success of the Japanese auto companies. The case galvanized the Asian American community, captured the media’s attention and became a battle cry for Asian American civil rights.

"Since 9/11, this battle has gained renewed attention as people of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent, as well as immigrants and Muslims, have become the target of aggression, profiling and questionable government detention," said Rene Astudillo, executive director of AAJA.

A panel of journalists and Asian American leaders in the civil rights movement will lead the conversation with the diverse Detroit community and people from across the country. Moderated by Frank Wu, the first Asian American to serve as the Dean of Wayne State University Law School, the panel is composed of:

- Elizabeth Atkins, author and race relations reporter for The Detroit News
- Ti-Hua Chang, award-winning investigative reporter with WCBS-TV in New York and an activist in the Vincent Chin case
- Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News and chairman of the Arab American Political Action Committee in Dearborn and the Congress of Arab American Organizations
- Teresa Takai, Michigan state’s Chief Information Officer, whose parents were sent to live in internment camps during World War II
- Helen Zia, award-winning journalist and scholar who has covered Asian American communities and social and political movements for more than 20 years

Esther Wu, AAJA national president, said that this forum is one of many that the organization will be holding as it seeks to work more closely with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities around the country to ensure fair and accurate coverage of their issues, including that of civil rights. Wu said, "As we prepare to celebrate AAJA’s 25th anniversary, we have embarked on a strategic plan that would explore meaningful ways for our organization to work more closely with the growing AAPI community."

Last year, AAJA launched a two-year, $2 million Endowment campaign designed to ensure the future of AAJA programs, including its high school journalism camp, scholarships for aspiring AAPI journalists, leadership training for its mid-career members, MediaWatch and Media Access Workshops for AAPI community organizations. Proceeds of the event, which also features a taste of Asian cuisine and a benefit auction of artwork of renowned AAPI artists, will go towards the Endowment fund.

Participating artists in the auction are: Melba Abela, Lucy Arai, Jennifer Bryant-Lenardon, Goldie Chan, Kevin Chin, Ingrid Faber, Taiko Fujimura, Douglass Kwong Gordon, Fong Sam, Imran Sheikh, Miya Ando Stanoff, Micke Tong and Scott Tsuchitani.

Sponsors of this event include the Detroit Free Press, General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, The Detroit News, Joe Grimm and the DTE Energy Foundation.

Tickets are $100 per person. For tickets and more information on the Detroit public forum or about AAJA’s 25th Anniversary Endowment, visit the AAJA Web site at www.aaja.org or call (415) 346-2051.

About AAJA

The Asian American Journalists Association is a non-profit professional and educational organization with more than 2,300 members today. Founded in 1981, AAJA has been at the forefront of change in the journalism industry. AAJA’s mission is to encourage Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to enter the ranks of journalism, to work for fair and accurate coverage of AAPIs, and to increase the number of AAPI journalists and news managers in the industry.

AAJA is an alliance partner in UNITY Journalists of Color, along with the Native American Journalists Association, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and National Association of Black Journalists.