The media is the voice of the masses. Asian Americans are integral to the country’s heritage. However, their representation in the media was insubstantial. The times have changed now and their voices are heard. AsianWeek is a pioneer of this change. Not only is it the earliest publication made for and by Asian Americans in English, but it is also the largest. It is no longer an active newspaper with no physical publications. Though it has been more than a decade since that, the legacy it left behind continues.
This article will talk about AsianWeek, what it was and what it has become. It will also mention the developments it brought about in society.
What is AsianWeek?
AsianWeek was a weekly editorial focusing on Asian Americans, specifically the pan-Asian members of society. Their tagline, “The voice of Asian America” summed up the purpose of the broadcast.
The hardest part of bringing about a change is the initial stage. The start. AsianWeek paved the path for Asians in America. They created a movement that stretched far and wide, empowering a legion of people.
The need for AsianWeek:
In the mid-1960s, a huge stream of Asian immigrants landed in America. They would soon go-ahead to become a thriving Asian American community. In 1979, the founder of AsianWeek, James Fang felt the need to give a voice to his community.
That led to the formation of AsianWeek. What started as a small endeavor has now gained thousands of readers across the country.
It was initially a subscription service newspaper one had to buy. By the late 1990s, it was redesigned to be a free, interactive magazine that everyone has access to.
The main areas addressed by AsianWeek:
The broad area of focus continued to be Asian Americans. This section will talk a little about the nuances of this focus.
Achievements:
A major theme AsianWeek followed was mentioning all that Asian Americans have done to uplift the people. It wrote about accomplishments in academics, sports, art, literature, and acting to name a few.
The reason for this was two-fold. It was to take pride in and congratulate the efforts of the people who performed well. It was also to demonstrate to the younger members of the community that their futures are bright.
Politics:
The best part about democracy is the freedom to choose one’s leaders. AsianWeek urged Asian Americans to participate in the political world. It requested them to come forth as leaders. It also appealed to the people to vote for the candidate they find fit.
AsianWeek shed light on the role Asian Americans played in the various levels of administration.
Opinions:
AsianWeek gave a voice to all the willing members of the community. Readers sent in their articles about the issues or accomplishments of their interest. There were various types of articles people could send in.
This interactive format, one of the first ones that enabled Asian Americans to speak out, sparked the curiosity of readers.
Current affairs:
In the section, “Nation and World”, AsianWeek touched upon the areas of concern and interest around America and the rest of the world. It wrote about the major events that would impact the multitude.
This section, for the most part, was similar to that of a common newspaper.
Regional News:
AsianWeek was established in California. The founders felt that it was pertinent to include a section dedicated to the Bay area.
Entertainment and arts:
This section is pretty self-explanatory. Amongst the serious and sometimes morbid articles, this portion was like a breath of fresh air. It consisted of restaurant reviews, an advice column, and celebrity gossip.
Community:
AsianWeek conducted and sponsored tons of functions and gatherings. They tried to host events that interested and were a safe space for Asians.
These were not just for entertainment but also for awareness. While the majority of events focused on jovial topics, some were to enlighten the people about various topics.
AsianWeek’s contribution in the present:
By the late 2000s, AsianWeek had stopped printing physical copies. By 2012, online editorials stopped too. Now their website continues to publish special edition articles on certain events but that’s about it.
Their website also has an Archive where one can access all of the installments ever to be circulated. They are also active on social media where they continue to inform the masses about themselves even today.
Though it has been more than forty years since the initiation of the AsianWeek, the traction it gained facilitated the development of millions of Asians in America.
To conclude, AsianWeek is one the biggest instigators of change among the Asian American community. In the broad scheme of things, their contribution was short-lived. However, it was enough for thousands of people to feel seen and heard!
