Data Collected

Content Analysis (Julie Calma)

Our group selected nine of the Asianadian magazines to observe and collect data concerning the content of the issues. We divided the content into the presence of particular ethnic groups, issues, and ideas of the Chinese World View. Upon reviewing the content of the issues, we found that the issues mirrored the Asianadian aims. The aims of the Asianadian were: to find new dignity and pride in being Asian in Canada; to promote an understanding between Asian Canadians and other Canadians; to speak out against those conditions, individuals and institutions perpetuating racism in Canada; to stand up against the distortions of our history in Canada, stereotypes, economic exploitations, and the general tendency towards injustice and inequality practiced on minority groups; to provide a forum for Asian Canadian writers, artists, musicians, etc.; and finally, to promote unity by bridging the gap between Asians with roots in Canada and recent immigrants.

Since the writers and contributors of the Asianadian were a mix of different ethnic Asian groups, the magazine touched on most every Asian background. Chinese and Japanese were the most prevalent Asians discussed in the articles, although, other groups such as Koreans, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Asian Indian, Singaporeans, Pakistani, Indonesian and Malaysians were also mentioned. It was very clear that the magazine was not directed towards one particular Asian group, but to all Asian backgrounds. Among the presence of social issues, the ones that were discussed the most were immigrants, Asian equality in Canada, racism, discrimination, prejudice, human, and civil rights. In issues relating to the Chinese World View, the most commonly present were family issues, organismic wholeness/interconnectedness and education/didacticism. For example, organismic wholeness and interconnectedness are presented in an article by Ami Chiyo Hori, “Are the Sansei Avoiding Each Other?” This particular article discussed how it is becoming the norm for Japanese women to be engaged in relationships with white Canadians. Due to the rise in inter-racial marriages, Japanese Canadians have become better able to adapt to white middle class mainstream culture.

Our findings are as follows:

See Appendix A for comprehensive categorization of Asianadian content.

Government Relations (Julie Calma)

Writer and co-founder of Asianadian, Bobby Siu had informed this group that the Asianadian was published by the Asianadian Resources Workshop. This workshop was not a private sector company or a business but a “collective” of Asian Canadians offering their own time in getting their magazine published and distributed. The only relations the Asianadian had with the government was during a period of approximately one year where the workshop received a government grant. These grants were used in order to produce issues for that year, as well as provide office space, supplies and salaries for two to three staff members that were in charge of making the layouts.

Because of this team’s limited information in terms of the Asianadian and their relations with the government, the team had decided to research a bit about the media and government relations in Canada. We found on the Media Awareness Network, The Canada Newspaper Association (CNA) statement of principles tied together with the Asianadian. The statement of principles include:

PREAMBLE

This statement of principles expresses the commitment of Canada's daily newspapers to operate in the public interest. A newspaper is a vital source of information and a private business enterprise with responsibility to the community it serves.

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Freedom of the press is an exercise of every Canadian's right to freedom of expression guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is the right to gather and disseminate information, to discuss, to advocate, to dissent. A free press is essential to our democratic society. It enables readers to use their Charter right to receive information and make informed judgments on the issues and ideas of the time.

INDEPENDENCE

The newspaper's primary obligation is fidelity to the public good. It should pay the costs of gathering the news. Conflicts of interest, real or apparent, should be declared. The newspaper should guard its independence from government, commercial and other interests seeking to subvert content for their own purposes.

ACCURACY AND FAIRNESS

The newspaper keeps faith with readers by presenting information that is accurate, fair, comprehensive, interesting and timely. It should acknowledge its mistakes promptly and conspicuously. Sound practice clearly distinguishes among news reports, expressions of opinion, and materials produced for and by advertisers. When images have been altered or simulated, readers should be told.

COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY

The newspaper has responsibilities to its readers, its shareholders, its employees and its advertisers. But the operation of a newspaper is a public trust and its overriding responsibility is to the society it serves. The newspaper plays many roles: a watchdog against evil and wrongdoing, an advocate for good works and noble deeds, and an opinion leader for its community. The newspaper should strive to paint a representative picture of its diverse communities, to encourage the expression of disparate views and to be accessible and accountable to the readers it serves, whether rich or poor, weak or powerful, minority or majority. When published material attacks an individual or group, those affected should be given an opportunity to reply.

RESPECT

The newspaper should strive to treat the people it covers with courtesy and fairness. It should respect the rights of others, particularly every person's right to a fair trial. The inevitable conflict between privacy and the public good should be judged in the light of common sense and with decency.