Comments on: Virginia Tech: The Day After / Media Advisory from the AAJA http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:53:47 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: 8Asians.com » Coaxed into College and eventually a Pulitzer Prize: An Asian American/Asian Canadian Blog http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/comment-page-1/#comment-99694 8Asians.com » Coaxed into College and eventually a Pulitzer Prize: An Asian American/Asian Canadian Blog Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:22:14 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/#comment-99694 [...] he won a share of a Pulitzer writing for the Washington Post on the Virginia Tech massacre, a subject covered here at Asians . He is now covering the Presidential [...] [...] he won a share of a Pulitzer writing for the Washington Post on the Virginia Tech massacre, a subject covered here at Asians . He is now covering the Presidential [...]

]]> By: john patrick http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/comment-page-1/#comment-7710 john patrick Fri, 20 Apr 2007 08:44:15 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/#comment-7710 Folks, I appreciate your perspectives, and I understand that they will be different than mine depending on region, etc. Mine is that I was watching the national news on the day of the the shootings and the day after, and that Cho's Korean ethnicity was mentioned almost as often as his name. "South Korean immigrant Cho...." Today, they did that much less. I am glad the AAJA raised the issue. I remember the Oklahoma City bombing 12 years ago, on the day of the bombing the media speculated loudly that it was probably an Arab. Did they actually close the boarders to people of Arab descent? I'm not sure, but I remember hearing about it. Anyway, when they found out the bombers were white guys, I don't remember any apologies to the Arab community. Anyway, I'm glad the AAJA raised the issue. You can't be too weary of racial profiling. Folks, I appreciate your perspectives, and I understand that they will be different than mine depending on region, etc.

Mine is that I was watching the national news on the day of the the shootings and the day after, and that Cho’s Korean ethnicity was mentioned almost as often as his name. “South Korean immigrant Cho….” Today, they did that much less.

I am glad the AAJA raised the issue. I remember the Oklahoma City bombing 12 years ago, on the day of the bombing the media speculated loudly that it was probably an Arab. Did they actually close the boarders to people of Arab descent? I’m not sure, but I remember hearing about it.

Anyway, when they found out the bombers were white guys, I don’t remember any apologies to the Arab community.

Anyway, I’m glad the AAJA raised the issue. You can’t be too weary of racial profiling.

]]> By: Xxxtine http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/comment-page-1/#comment-7508 Xxxtine Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:13:27 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/#comment-7508 Perhaps it's because I'm getting the news in Canada, but I too don't see that much emphasis placed on Cho's nationality/ resident status. I think it's the fact that when rumours were swirling about the identity, phrases like "resident alien" and "immigrant" were used, and him being a visible minority had already skewed people's perception. Even when the media makes an error - it's still difficult to correct most people's perception of what really is happening because despite the tragic events - people would rather get the just of it and go about their day. The news up here has emphasized his loner behaviour and depressed/ disturbed state. Perhaps it’s because I’m getting the news in Canada, but I too don’t see that much emphasis placed on Cho’s nationality/ resident status. I think it’s the fact that when rumours were swirling about the identity, phrases like “resident alien” and “immigrant” were used, and him being a visible minority had already skewed people’s perception. Even when the media makes an error – it’s still difficult to correct most people’s perception of what really is happening because despite the tragic events – people would rather get the just of it and go about their day.

The news up here has emphasized his loner behaviour and depressed/ disturbed state.

]]> By: Oliver Williamson Jr http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/comment-page-1/#comment-7503 Oliver Williamson Jr Thu, 19 Apr 2007 11:06:55 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/#comment-7503 When word of the story first broke, my very first reaction was that the perpetrator was probably on some kind of anti-depressant. So many of these kinds of crimes in this day and age involve psychotropic drugs. One of the Columbine perpetrators was on an anti-depressant called luvox. So much for the effectiveness of drugs. It's entirely possible that Cho was on one of these things as well. Perhaps, this is the real issue. I hope we can find out. You might find last night's show on Coast-to-Coast AM interesting in this respect. Here's the link. http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2007/04/18.html#recap When word of the story first broke, my very first reaction was that the perpetrator was probably on some kind of anti-depressant. So many of these kinds of crimes in this day and age involve psychotropic drugs. One of the Columbine perpetrators was on an anti-depressant called luvox. So much for the effectiveness of drugs.

It’s entirely possible that Cho was on one of these things as well. Perhaps, this is the real issue. I hope we can find out. You might find last night’s show on Coast-to-Coast AM interesting in this respect. Here’s the link.

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2007/04/18.html#recap

]]> By: Lex http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/comment-page-1/#comment-7408 Lex Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:18:00 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/#comment-7408 I believe the problem was the intial information provided by the Chicago Times alleging the individual was a Chinese immigrant in his 20s who immigrated to the area through San Francisco. I think we see the problem from the get go. I believe the problem was the intial information provided by the Chicago Times alleging the individual was a Chinese immigrant in his 20s who immigrated to the area through San Francisco.

I think we see the problem from the get go.

]]> By: Akrypti http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/comment-page-1/#comment-7395 Akrypti Wed, 18 Apr 2007 23:03:04 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/#comment-7395 My TV was on all night yesterday and I don't think the shooter's race was overemphasized. To report the news comprehensively, the media has to give a complete profile of the shooter and if they hadn't included race and his immigration status, that would have been even more weird. His race is not relevant to the incident, but revealing his racial identity IS part of the picture and you can't omit it just to attempt to be politically correct. I still doubt whether there will really be a backlash against South Koreans after this. If anything, there is more of a backlash against "loner" students than there is against Koreans. The real emphasis of the media's portrayal of his bio was on his disturbed mental state, and not on his race. Seriously. I watched a LOT of different mediums last night and I just didn't get that impression. Only some of the bloggers out there, especially the Asian bloggers, have really turned this into a race issue. Don't worry, Joz, I don't mean you. You're doing a fantastic job covering this!! My TV was on all night yesterday and I don’t think the shooter’s race was overemphasized. To report the news comprehensively, the media has to give a complete profile of the shooter and if they hadn’t included race and his immigration status, that would have been even more weird. His race is not relevant to the incident, but revealing his racial identity IS part of the picture and you can’t omit it just to attempt to be politically correct.

I still doubt whether there will really be a backlash against South Koreans after this. If anything, there is more of a backlash against “loner” students than there is against Koreans. The real emphasis of the media’s portrayal of his bio was on his disturbed mental state, and not on his race. Seriously. I watched a LOT of different mediums last night and I just didn’t get that impression.

Only some of the bloggers out there, especially the Asian bloggers, have really turned this into a race issue.

Don’t worry, Joz, I don’t mean you. You’re doing a fantastic job covering this!!

]]> By: Rhea http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/comment-page-1/#comment-7393 Rhea Wed, 18 Apr 2007 22:53:19 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/#comment-7393 For any observer to bring race into the discussion -- as if that would help determine why this guy did it -- is ridiculous. People who commit acts of violence -- school rampages, rape, child sexual assault and abuse -- have more than likely been a victim themselves. I recommend the book "Violence" by James Gilligan for the best explanation of "why it happens" that I've ever read. For any observer to bring race into the discussion — as if that would help determine why this guy did it — is ridiculous. People who commit acts of violence — school rampages, rape, child sexual assault and abuse — have more than likely been a victim themselves. I recommend the book “Violence” by James Gilligan for the best explanation of “why it happens” that I’ve ever read.

]]> By: lost in ube http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/comment-page-1/#comment-7337 lost in ube Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:47:23 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/#comment-7337 When I first read the AAJA message I noticed it was worded a bit strangely but I just took it to mean: "Do not jump to conclusions and do not use racial stereotypes when writing your stories. Stick to the facts." Not everyone saw it that way though. And the timing was unfortunate. We did not know much about the shooter so we would not know what information was relevant and what wasn't. But this is the age of the blogger so lots of people started speculating and started throwing around theories. An example about one notable person doing so is here: http://www.salon.com/tech/htww/2007/04/17/vtech_korea/ It's partially about Debbie Schlussel and how she made some "interesting" assumptions. Actually, she still is and other bloggers are too, concerning Cho's possible Muslim connections. I'd link to it but I don't really want to drive more traffic in her direction. I've noticed that some of mainstream media stories (the AP and CNN mainly) are now keeping the references to Korea at a minimum although that's probably because everyone knows who he is now. This story really showed (to me anyway) how the internet can both inform and misinform you and that you have to be patient to get the facts. Anyway, this is a terrible tragedy and I hope that the survivors and friends and family of those who have died get all the support they can from those around them. When I first read the AAJA message I noticed it was worded a bit strangely but I just took it to mean: “Do not jump to conclusions and do not use racial stereotypes when writing your stories. Stick to the facts.” Not everyone saw it that way though. And the timing was unfortunate. We did not know much about the shooter so we would not know what information was relevant and what wasn’t. But this is the age of the blogger so lots of people started speculating and started throwing around theories. An example about one notable person doing so is here:
http://www.salon.com/tech/htww/2007/04/17/vtech_korea/
It’s partially about Debbie Schlussel and how she made some “interesting” assumptions. Actually, she still is and other bloggers are too, concerning Cho’s possible Muslim connections. I’d link to it but I don’t really want to drive more traffic in her direction.
I’ve noticed that some of mainstream media stories (the AP and CNN mainly) are now keeping the references to Korea at a minimum although that’s probably because everyone knows who he is now.
This story really showed (to me anyway) how the internet can both inform and misinform you and that you have to be patient to get the facts.
Anyway, this is a terrible tragedy and I hope that the survivors and friends and family of those who have died get all the support they can from those around them.

]]> By: mazuzu http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/comment-page-1/#comment-7315 mazuzu Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:37:59 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/2007/04/17/virginia-tech-the-day-after-media-advisory-from-the-aaja/#comment-7315 next time a muslim kills (or tries to kill) a bunch of americans on a college campus... i hope they plaster a picture of his face on every major newspaper... oh wait... that already happened... i don't recall seeing a picture of his face.... http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,186946,00.html next time a muslim kills (or tries to kill) a bunch of americans on a college campus… i hope they plaster a picture of his face on every major newspaper…

oh wait… that already happened… i don’t recall seeing a picture of his face….

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,186946,00.html

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