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Hillary Hails Ethnic Media

By: Jennie L. Ilustre

WASHINGTON – Senator Hillary Clinton (Democrat-NY) hailed Asian, Latino and other minority media in the nation, stressing "the impact you are making" at the New America Media (NAM) 1st National Ethnic Media Awards held on Nov. 14 in the nation’s capital.

"I had to be here," former First Lady Clinton told part of the 565 media people from across the country, seminar speakers and NAM officials and staff at the historic Mayflower Hotel here. "I want to congratulate the honorees who are receiving the equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize...Every generation brings so many voices to the debate."

"A fresh political wind is blowing in Washington," Hillary said, stressing the change which "the people voted for in last Tuesday’s elections." She noted, "Ethnic media represent the way the new Washington needs to connect to the new America."

Founded by the nonprofit Pacific News Service in 1996, NAM is the country’s first and largest association of ethnic media. Originally called the New California Media, it is based in San Francisco, California. Awards programs in the past seven years took place in that state.

A total of 34 winners in investigative reporting, international affairs and 17 other categories were chosen from over 600 entrants nationwide. NAM presented 23 first-place awards with cash prizes. Workshops were held the following day. Topics included producing radio segments and podcasts, covering health care and the future of the ethnic vote in American politics.

"Hurricane Katrina and immigration rights dominated news in ethnic media over the last year," said awards coordinator Sandip Roy. "Each of these complex stories reflects ethnic media’ s unique role as an advocacy voice, as well as a vital source of news and information for their audiences."

Year of the Ethnic Media

After the reception, guests moved to the Grand Ballroom, where NBC-4 anchor and emcee Pat Lawson Muse and participants acknowledged 2006 as "The Year of the Ethnic Media." On accepting his award as one of two Ethnic Media Champions, 1995-2006 Ford Foundation program officer Jon Funabiki said to applause, "Year of the Ethnic Media, I think that’s too short. I think we should declare this as the Decade of the Ethnic Media."

Filipinas publisher and pre-awards briefing panelist Greg Macabenta said Chinese and Vietnamese reporters were "among the first responders" to help Asian victims of Hurricane Katrina. Vietnamese fishermen and shrimpers were among those hardest-hit in New Orleans. Minority media also reported on Asian stories not covered by major mainstream media in August last year.

Hillary, the Democratic frontrunner in the 2008 presidential elections, electrified the reception with her five-minute appearance. Guests greeted her like a rock star, applauding, fist-pumping and making "woo-woo" sounds.

She said she was proud to represent New York, a state "where the ethnic media are vibrant" and praised minority media in general "for making sense of what’s going on in the world." She also noted, "Our country has been blessed with many wonderful attributes, and the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press are among the reasons our country has been great for so long."

Newly-reelected Congressman Mike Honda (D, CA) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton presented the first awards. The Exceptional Communicators awards went to Terry B. Jones, publisher of New Orleans Data, an entertainment paper that metamorphosed into the "People’s Paper," and to Elvira Arellano, a Mexican activist who ignored deportation orders and given sanctuary in a small United Methodist Church in Chicago. A church pastor accepted the award on her behalf. Frank J. Quevedo, vice president of Equal Opportunity for Southern California Edison, has put ethnic media on the country’s corporate agenda. He received the Ethnic Media Champion award.

Other VIP guests present were Washington Post’s executive editor Len Downie, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope, Afghanistan Ambassador Seif T Jawad, Bangladesh embassy Minister Sheikh Mohammad Belal, Korean Consul General Tae-Myn Kwon, Philippine Ambassador Willy Gaa, and Jamaican Ambassador Gordon Shirley.

NAM executive director Sandy Close said she invited Hillary "because it’s important that she is aware of the minority media and its role in the nation." Ms. Close and D.C. Director Khalil Abdullah said the event honored "not only the individual winners but also the tradition of advocacy established by black newspapers" which the ethnic media nationwide have carried forward.

This year’s program was NAM’s first national awards event by NAM, and the first time it was held in the capital, said Odette Keeley. Ms. Keeley is the Filipino American NAM chief of staff and anchor and producer of "Headlines From The Ethnic Media."

Asian Winners

NAM’s Roy said the awards process took "6 months, 600 submissions, 60 judges, 14 languages, 15 teleconference judging calls." Among the winners were: Roy Lu, of Mandarin-language KSCI-TV in Los Angeles, who traveled to the U.S. Mexican border to bring the issue of undocumented immigrants to Chinese audiences and Korea Times’ Euy Hun Yi, who became the first Korean American journalist to report from Afghanistan.

Nam said this year’s awards also honor those unafraid to turn a critical eye on their own communities. Dennis Romero of Tu Ciudad magazine won the Best In Depth Award for his vivid profiles of Latinos who staunchly oppose illegal immigration, and even volunteer with the Minutemen. Ray Hanania, an Arab-American columnist for a Jewish publication and website, won Best Commentary for his humorous take on some of the thorniest political issues of our time.

Other Asian winners: Best Investigative/In-Depth (English): Runner-up Viji Sundaram, India West (San Leandro, CA), "Women Innocent Victims of AIDS," and Honorable Mention, Sujeet Rajan, The Indian Express (New York, NY), "Living in America;"

Best Investigative/In-Depth (In-Language), Runner-up: Hsien Hsiu Lu, Chinese Media Net Inc. / Duowei Times (Bayside, NY),Three-Part Series: "New York Chinese Commuter Van Industry Makes a Living on Narrow Streets," "No Place To Park, Nowhere To Go," and "Chinatown: Extortion or Protection?"

International Affairs (English) Winner: Rupali Ghosh, SAMAR Magazine (Prince St. Station, NY), "Indentured in Singapore’s Little India;" International Affairs (In-Language) Winner: Euyhun Yi, The Korea Times (Los Angeles, CA), "Memories of Korea--Journey to Afghanistan;" Runner-up: Nguyen Xuan Nghia, Viet Bao Daily News (Westminster, CA), "Vietnamese-American Relations: Permanent Normal?"

Arts Sports And Entertainment (English) Winner: Ky-Phong Tran, Nguoi Viet Daily News (Westminster, CA), "So Long, Dat Ngyuen;" Commentary /Editorial Writing (English) Runner-up: Ronault Catalani, The Asian Reporter (Portland OR), "Haditha;" Commentary /Editorial Writing (In-Language) Winner: Chang Hyun Roh, Daily Sports Seoul New York (Dobbs Ferry, NY), The Generation and Communication Gap When Your Child Does Not Speak Your Language;" Runner-up: Hao-Nhien Q. Vu, Nguoi Viet Daily News (Westminster, CA), "Be kind to 'illegals';" Women’s Issues Winner: Liz Chow, Sing Tao Daily (New York, NY), "Human Trafficking: A Form of Modern Slavery;" Runner-up: Radhika Kumar, India Currents (San Jose, CA), "A Window Opens Doors;"

Photojournalism Winner: Chenghui Hsu, World Journal (Whitestone, NY), "Delivery Man Shot Dead;" Covering a Multi-Ethnic Society Winner: Lavina Melwani, Little India (New York, NY), "The Colors of Desi;" Runner-up: Charles Ding, Sing Tao Daily (City of Industry, CA), "Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, A Model Charter School;"Movement for Immigrant Rights Winner: Silja J.A. Talvi, ColorsNW Magazine (Seattle, WA), "The Real Enemy?" Runner-up: Chih Yi Chen and Jian Cao, World Journal (New York, NY), "Restaurants Hire Workers Amid Numerous Legal Traps;" Technology Reporting, The Waiting Game"Runner-up: Thuy Pham, Nhá Magazine (San Jose, CA), "Chit Chatting in the New Vietnam."

Broadcast,Best Community Talk Show Winner: May Sheng Zhu, Sing Tao Chinese Radio (San Francisco, CA), "May’s Talk Show on Proposition 73;" Best Investigative/In-Depth Winner: Simone Gao, New Tang Dynasty TV (Monterey Park, CA), "Hi-tech companies, the Chinese government and the Internet;" Covering Katrina and its Aftermath Winner: John Thai Dinh, Little Saigon TV (Santa Ana, CA), "The Vietnamese after Katrina from Houston to Baton Rouge to Biloxi." (For a complete list, visit the NAM website.)

 

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