Asian press thrives in Boston
From print to radio, ethnic media keeps immigrants in the know
Sampan’s staff poses in their Chinatown office. From left, advertising manager Kelly Liao, Chinese
editor Yang Yang, and English editor Christopher Rogacz.
Asians in the news? They are few and far between, or so many Asians feel. As the so-called "invisible minority," many Asians believe they are largely inconspicuous in the mainstream media. Janet Gee, a second-generation Chinese American, voices the perspective of many Asians.
"We're only in the news when it comes to Chinese New Year, stories about Asian food, or when some heinous crime occurs," says Gee, who leads the Asian American Resource Workshop, a nonprofit activist group. Because stories about Asians are so scarce, says Gee, Asian-owned media-print, web, and broadcast-is crucial.
Fortunately, the ethnic media in New England is thriving, reflecting the influx of newcomers from China, Vietnam, Korea, India, and elsewhere. There's the Dorchester-based Thang Long newspaper for Vietnamese readers; the Boston-headquartered J-Magazine for young Japanese living in the United States; the Waltham-based INDIA New England newspaper. In Quincy, Betty Yau broadcasts "Boston Chinese Radio," which is a longtime entertainment and information program on WJDA-AM. Some of these publications and broadcasts are in native language; others are in English.
"As the foreign-born immigrant population has proven to be the most dynamic part of the Massachusetts population-the state's only real source of growth-this has been translated into a fairly significant growth in the availability of web, print, TV, and radio to serve these groups," says Paul Watanabe, director of the Institute for Asian American Studies at U-Mass Boston.
Since 1990, the Asian population in Boston has increased by 47 percent. Although Chinese make up the largest share of the Asian-American population, the community now encompasses more than 15 Asian subgroups, including enclaves of Cambodians, Hmong, Laotians, Japanese, Koreans, Thai, and Pakistanis. Asian-Americans have settled everywhere from Lowell to Fall River. And although second and third generation Asians typically assimilate quickly into American society, new immigrants usually remain loyal to their roots and seek a sense of community among fellow countrymen and women.
This is why Myong Sool Chang decided to launch The Boston Korean three years ago. The weekly newspaper, which is printed in Korean, covers news of the local Korean community as well as entertainment and sports. "I thought we needed something to inform the Korean community," says Chang.
The Sampan, the only Chinese-English newspaper in New England, has a similar goal. "We report what's going on in Chinatown, but are also gradually trying to cover more issues outside of the city, in places like Quincy, Malden, and Arlington, where there the Chinese population has increased," says Yang Yang, the editor of the Sampan. Yang says Sampan's Chinese language readership is typically new Chinese immigrants and international students, whereas the English language section is read by "those whose ties are maybe not as strong as their parents or grandparents but they still feel a connection to the Chinese community."
Then there's the controversial Asian Boston magazine, published by Leo Anthony Ballou, a South Boston entrepreneur. Although provocative photos of scantily dressed Asian woman have sparked some opposition in the Asian community, Ballou says, "the magazine is a well-respected and reputable magazine in the Asian community." In addition to beauty and fashion, the publication covers Asian cultural events, cuisine, business, and trade news, "reflecting the life experiences of many interesting Asians who live and work in our beautiful and colorful region."
Watanabe, who is a second-generation Japanese American, says that Boston's "knowledge environment" encourages newcomers to communicate and connect with each other. "Here in Boston, we thrive on producing knowledge and information, and there's no doubt that immigrants sort of respond to that as well by creating their own networks."
