New America Media, News Report, Posted: Apr 02, 2013

Image credit courtesy New America Media

The Associated Press announced Tuesday, April 2, 2013 that it will no longer use the term "illegal" or "illegal immigrant" to describe a person. Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll wrote in a blog post that the decision was part of the company's attempt to rid their Stylebook of labels. She did not specify which term the Associated Press would use instead.

But the question doesn't only apply to English-language news media. New America Media asked editors of U.S. in-language media outlets what terms they used to describe undocumented immigrants (in Chinese, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese) -- and found some surprising responses.   - Report courtesy of New America Media (For the full report click on the blue headline above)

RELATED:

New America Media, News Report, Elena Shore, Posted: Sep 19, 2011

New Report: Asian American students don't benefit from
No Child Left Behind ActMajor Reforms needed

(New York, NY) At the first-ever National Asian American Education Advocates Summit held at Columbia University in April, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), a 34-year old civil rights organization, released its new report detailing several provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) that must be overhauled in order to meet the needs of Asian American students.

AALDEF's report, Left in the Margins: Asian American Students and the No Child Left Behind Act, demonstrates how Asian Americans who are English Language Learners (ELLs) are currently set up to fail under NCLB. Citing Census statistics and numerous examples in school districts around the country, AALDEF illustrates how this marginalized community is falling through our public education system's cracks. Left in the Margins puts a spotlight on particular school districts where Asian American ELL students are the most visible and also highly vulnerable due to the lack of appropriate services.

Margaret Fung, AALDEF executive director, said: "Since the No Child Left Behind law was enacted, we have not seen significant improvements in the quality of public education. Instead, Asian Americans-- especially immigrant, poor and non-English speaking students--have been left behind to fend for themselves in securing basic educational services."

Key recommendations from AALDEF's report propose...

Judge Robert M. Takasugi Receives UCLA Public Service Award

Los Angeles, CA Federal Judge Robert M. Takasugi of the Central District of California was recently awarded the UCLA Alumni Associations 2007 Public Service Award in a ceremony held on the Westwood, California campus. The award recognized his over thirty-year commitment and service to the courts.

At the time of his appointment by President Gerald R. Ford in 1976, Judge Takasugi was the first Japanese American appointed to the federal bench. As both a district court judge and an invitee of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Takasugi's work in the courtroom has consistently been marked by a high degree of integrity and a commitment to equal access to justice. But perhaps Judge Takasugi's greatest contributions have occurred outside the courthouse, in his role as teacher, mentor and role model to thousands of law students and attorneys, and in his creation of a pro bono bar review course for public interest and minority law students.

In accepting the award, Judge Takasugi spoke of his concern with the current administrations unrestricted violations of constitutional rights and due process similar to those that were violated during his youth while he grew up interned as a Japanese American:

"I was a consequence of history. In 1942, as an eleven-year old child born in Tacoma, Washington, I became a prisoner-of-war imprisoned in an American-style concentration camp by the country of my birth. I vividly recall...

Eddy Li, former ABC News Video Editor 1971 to 2009, now retired and healthy Photo credit: Eddy Li

Hong Kong

May 13, 2013

Eddy Li globe-trotted the world for ABC News in a high-stress non-stop news video editing job from 1971 to 2009.

When a sudden diagnosis of cancer changed his life, Li wrote his personal account on how he entered into the darkest tunnel of his life and emerged, a more vigilant and environmentally aware individual.

Today, as a cancer survivor and a retiree who now enjoys a healthier and more fulfilling life, Eddy shares what he has learned about our world's increasingly hazardous environment and how you can protect yourself from its toxicity.  

AsianConnections' Suzanne Joe Kai chatted with Eddy about his new book, "From A Great Escape to a New Beginning - My Journey Through Cancer." 

Suzanne: Congratulations on beating your Stage 3 cancer. When you were a news video editor with a busy globe-trotting life for years, can you share with our readers what your life was like, and how and why you have changed your lifestyle? 

Eddy: In the eyes of an average audience, network news looks glamorous. It was indeed, at least during my days. But behind the scenes of its glamor, there went a stress-filled working environment. That is compounded by the time difference between Asia and the Americas. I joined ABC News in October 1971. I retired in October 2009.

For me, it had been a physically challenging career. Sleep...

Another Asian Pacific Heritage MonthMay has come and almost gone as quietly as it has arrived. It has been mostly unnoticed by mainstream media, and yet as public servants, this May feels different, for there is a growing political energy, excitement and electricity, for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (APIAs) across the country.

APIA POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT GROWING NATIONALLY

by Congressman Michael M. Honda

Congressman Honda represents the 15th District of California and serves as the Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

"...courageous and promising Asian Americans are running not only in states with traditional APIAs population centers, such as California, New York and Hawaii, but also in states such as Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, Maryland, and Connecticut."

Another Asian Pacific Heritage MonthMay has come and almost gone as quietly as it has arrived. It has been mostly unnoticed by mainstream media, and yet as public servants, this May feels different, for there is a growing political energy, excitement and electricity, for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (APIAs) across the country.

Over the past few election cycles, APIAs now numbering almost 14 million nationwide have reached inspiring levels of civic participation in a way that turns heads and quickens heartbeats. According to a recent report released by the Asian American Action Fund that draws on current scholarship, APIAs have lately entered the political process as candidates,...