If anyone has seen Law & Order: SVU, episode called "Debt" featuring Ming Na and other prominent Chinese actors, you'll know why we are upset.

First, they put together a fantastic cast of English speaking Chinese Americans and yet, Ming Na spoke in broken English the whole time.  And they played too much of the stereotypical Chinatown - whore houses, Asian brides for sale, Asian gangs, sweat shops, fake Hermes bags, etc. 

Finally, they allowed the main character (Stabler) the white male, to be the "hero" of the episode, when in reality they could have allowed B.D. Wong to be the hero.  Again, the Asian princess is saved by the "white knight in shining armor."

Lets let NBC execs know that we want to see more positive roles for Asian Americans!!  We are not all gang members, and we speak English!  We are sick of being stereotyped and type cast into these roles!  Let your voice be heard!!

http://www.citizenspeak.org/campaign/3725.php  (B.D.Wong deserves better!)

Sorry I havent been around in awhile!! Here are some new things that are on our plate at the moment!!

There is a TV network called ImaginAsian TV.  Please go to http://www.iatv.tv/ to read about their programs.  Its a very bold move for Asians to have our own TV network, however, most cities are not carrying it.  Not even NYC and LA!!  Please sign the below petition and let them know that you want this service for your TV!

http://www.citizenspeak.org/campaign/9082.php  

The new show called "Hawaii" was supposed to have a lot of Asian and Asian American influence and characters on the show.  However we've noticed that most Asians/Asian Americans are on the sidelines.  Lets convince NBC that they need to give the Asians bigger roles!!

http://www.citizenspeak.org/campaign/8844.php

Be sure to check out the new show "Lost" on ABC.  It stars Daniel Dae Kim, however, he plays a non-English speaking typical Korean man.  Since it hasnt aired yet, we're waiting to see what happens with the character.  Meanwhile, check out this site.

http://www.danieldaekim.org

Finally, check out our website for regularly updated information, and sign up for our weekly newsletter!  Get your friends to sign up too!! 

www.asianmediawatchdog.com

Its been a while since an update, but here's an issue that really needs to be addressed!!

First, check out the link.

This was written by Michelle Malkin, in the New York Post, earlier this month.  She has a new book out which defends Japanese Internment camps during World War II, and this article wants us to relive those days and use racial profiling on minorities.

Asian Media Watchdog will start a letter writing campaign soon to ask her to retract her article.  However, according to people who have dealt with her in the past, she really does not care.

We cannot let a woman who has false beliefs about the Japanese Internment spread her views to the general public. 

Please get the word out about her article. 

There is a street called JAP ROAD in Jefferson County, near Beaumont, Texas.

They say that JAP ROAD is to honor the contributions of the Japanese immigrants who settled in the area.

We say it's a DISGRACE.

Local history tells us that approximately 100 yearsago, Japanese immigrants arrived in Texas and some settled in the Beaumont
area.  They developed and farmed the land, and made Texas a rice-producing state.  They built schools and churches, contributed to the local community and became part of it. The street is reputedly named to honor those pioneers, but the Japanese American
community hardly feels honored.

In 1993, local Japanese American residents began a campaign to have the name changed but other local residents refused.  They learned that the power to change the name rested solely and squarely with the County Commissioners, so they appealed to them.  But the Jefferson County Commissioners deferred to the preferences of the local residents who continued to claim that "Jap Road" was not a racial slur but that it honored a Japanese family, the Mayumis, who once lived on that road.

We say it's an OUTRAGE.

Throughout the years, hundreds of letters were sent -- including letters from U.S. Senators and Congressmen (from Texas and
other states) -- and pleas were made for the County Commissioners to change the name, but the affront remains.

On July 28, 1986, the U.S. Congress passed Congressional Resolution 290 which stated that the term "Jap" is racially offensive, and that term is prohibited for use on any federally-owned land or building.  But in Beaumont, the slur remains.

Earlier this year, the veterans of the Texas "Lost Battalion" (the 36th Texas Division) wrote the Commissioners in both Jefferson and Orange Counties (TX) urging them to change the names of "Jap Road" and "Jap Lane" to honor the all-Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team who defied odds and sacrificed life and limb to rescue them during WWII.  But the disgrace remains.

Finally some action.  All interested parties have been invited to address the Commissioners Court on Monday, July 19, in Beaumont, Texas, to voice their opinions on why "Jap Road" should be renamed. Many concerned citizens will attend this meeting, and we would like to show the Commissioners that in addition to the local community who urges the name change, there is also national support.

"Jap Road" dishonors the memory of the Japanese Americans who lived there, fought for our country, and helped to build the community.  Please lend your voice to the outrage and urge the Commissioners to change this shameful name.

Of course, we're doing this citizenspeak campaign.  This letter will go  to ALL Jefferson County Commissioners directly by your siging.  Add  your own words if you wish, sign it and pass it on!

http://www.citizenspeak.org/campaign/4627.php  (Please erase the name of Jap Road)

Here is Bush's ad campaign that's been airing in parts of the country.  Please watch it and let me know what you think. 

http://www.georgewbush.com/News/MultiMedia/VideoPlayer.aspx?ID=910&T=2&PT=hiwmp

Also, this is something the Asian Media Watchdog finds very important.  Its a little long, but please read it through and sign the petition.  Our voices need to be heard!!

Nielsen, "Don't Count Us Out" coalition.

This is a VERY serious matter and we feel that all APAs must unite on this new campaign and we will explain to you why.  
We have been communicating with several APA groups and minority groups (including Screen Actors Guild Ethnic Employment Opportunity Committee) on this.  Nielsen, as you know, is a rating system to get ratings for TV shows, mostly networks.  Nielsen has been pushing for new system called Nielsen Local People Meters (LPMs), despite strong opposition from community leaders, lawmakers and even some TV networks.  The root of the problem is that the LPM system has been counting 25% fewer African Americans and 14% fewer Latin Americans than what they should be counting based in demographics.  

When it comes to Asian Americans, they were not counting AT ALL.  
Zero.  Nada.  

Because of this system, many shows suffered significant rating
declines ESPECIALLY minority themed shows.  

This report came from the audit firms such as Ernst & Young and Media Research Council.  So we are not just saying this for the sake of sensationalism.

What does this mean for APAs?

If the new system doesn't count APAs, shows with APA cast cannot know what kind of support they get from their own community.  This means they can face cancellation more easily.  (Remember "All American Girl"?)  That will lead to fewer employment opportunities for APA actors.  This is a lose-lose situation.  Since Nielsen is the ONLY agency conducting ratings surveys for American television, this new system will seriously hurt Asian Americans in American television.

We must do everything we can do to stop this, so we'll start with
a letter writing campaign.

http://www.citizenspeak.org/campaign/924.php (Don't push a flawed system that doesn't count APAs!)  

This letter will go to President and CEO of Nielsen Susan Whiting, her executive team and will be carbon copied to Federal Comminucations Commission!  As usual, after you are done, pass the link along!

Please also refer to Don't Count Us Out Coalition website,
http://www.dontcountusout.com/  They also have their own letter
writing campaign but it is not specifically tailored to address Asian
Americans' concerns.  Therefore, we set up our own.

Also here is the direct contact for Nielsen.

Susan Whiting
President and CEO
Nielsen Media Research
770 Broadway
New York, NY  10003
Phone (646)654-8300

You should also call Federal Comminucations Commission  1-888-CALL-FCC (225-5322) and Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357)

And this just came in to our attention in regards to "Don't Count Us Out" campaign.

The Senate Communications Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing at 10:00 am on Thursday, July 15 on the Nielsen Local People Meter (LPM) TV rating system.

Please contact the Subcommittee immediately at: webmaster@commerce.senate.gov and urge them to demand reforms to the LPM so that it fairly and accurately counts Asian American, African American and Hispanic households.  

Also, if you are a resident of AK, CA, FL, HI, IL, KS, LA, MA, ME,
MS, MT, ND, NH, NV, OR, SC, TX, VA, WA, or WV, at least one of your senators is a member of this subcommittee.  Please see the list of committee members below with their contact information, and contact that senator directly!  Most use webforms for email contact, but some provide their proper email addresses.  Be sure to include your street address in the body of the email, so that the senator knows that you are a constituent.

If you don't have enough time to write, here is the citizenspeak
campaign for you to help you save some time.  
http://www.citizenspeak.org/campaign/5586.php (Please demand reforms to the Nielsen LPM!)  This letter will go to all Senate Commerce Committee members.  Either way, make sure to include your address so that the targeting senator will know that you are his/her constituent.

If you have time, you can write them directly as well.  Here are the
addresses of the member.

Communications Subcommittee
Conrad Burns, MT, Chairman  http://burns.senate.gov/index.cfm?
FuseAction=Home.Contact
Ernest Hollings, SC, Ranking  
http://hollings.senate.gov/contact/Webform.cfm
Ted Stevens, AK  http://stevens.senate.gov/contact_form.htm
Trent Lott, MS  http://lott.senate.gov/index.cfm?
FuseAction=Contact.Email
Kay Bailey Hutchison, TX  http://hutchison.senate.gov/e-mail.htm
Olympia J. Snowe, ME  olympia@snowe.senate.gov
Sam Brownback, KS  http://brownback.senate.gov/CMEmailMe.htm
Gordon Smith, OR  http://gsmith.senate.gov/webform.htm
Peter G. Fitzgerald, IL  http://fitzgerald.senate.gov/index.cfm?
FuseAction=Offices.Contact
John Ensign, NV  
http://ensign.senate.gov/contact_john/contactjohn_email.html
George Allen, VA  http://allen.senate.gov/?c=email&which=Standard
John Sununu, NH  mailbox@sununu.senate.gov
Daniel K. Inouye, HI  Senator@inouye.senate.gov
John D. Rockefeller, WV  senator@rockefeller.senate.gov
John F. Kerry, MA  
http://kerry.senate.gov/bandwidth/contact/email.html
John Breaux, LA  senator@breaux.senate.gov
Byron Dorgan, ND  senator@dorgan.senate.gov
Ron Wyden, OR  http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/
Barbara Boxer, CA  http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm
Bill Nelson, FL  http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm#email
Maria Cantwell, WA  http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html