The month of May is not only for a midpoint reflection. There are a slew of activities and moments in time to celebrate and take into account. Asian American Heritage Month is an annual holiday that is observed to recognize cultural and societal contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. It is a statement in point to not only inform the community of rich histories and experiences, but highlight achievements of these individuals that are derived from different backgrounds. Within this month, Fad looks to highlight a woman in particular - Connie Chung, one of the first Asian American women to anchor a major U.S. network newscast.

Connie Chung, 1973

With a strong background in media, breaking into the field of News Reporting was a new foreground for Chung as the steps of development were a continuous task at the time. The idea of perception and truth was a fruit-bearing notion that created wonder for valleys of groundwork.

Whilst having a strong position in the role as a reporter, it played as a key factor in identity within a male dominated field. Overcoming criticism as a young woman in the arena served as a pillar in discovering the strengths of her vision and voice.

As the concept is shown here, developing a bit of courage and armor within the voice not only added to the presence as a leader in position but created the lane of confidence with intention.

More information on this idea is seen here, in Phases II - IV of The Phases of Journalism

Then vs Now: Women in Journalism

The idea of stepping into position when it comes to public media has stood as a structured system within itself. There has been a visible evolution in the overall presentation, but many of the standards have remained the same.

In reference to the steps that it takes, creating a layer of armor is customizable for different situations. The outer piece or foundation in structure acts as a strong ingredient to present your business into the field of many changes.

• Tools of communication spread began as typewriters and newspapers, later evolving into television networks and digital tools - This proved to evolve the standards of what it took to show up as a reporter and the ways of relaying your message in the world. What began as written news ventured into a media display, adding a face and voice to the presentation. This created an identity to Media Representation, simultaneously accumulating gender roles and stigmas.

• Safety in completing assignment - This refers to the ability for journalists and media pros to receieve, produce, and share information without facing physical or moral threats. This has scaled to be a debilitating factor since the early times of work to current time periods. Instances such as sexual harassment, cybercrime/cyberstalking, threats of violence, and legal harassment in intimidation attempts to silence coverage have been rooted in misogyny.
  Historical criticism has been a factor that women journalists have faced online and offline that threatens their right to freedom of expression and instills limitations of diversity in opinion. Organizations such as The Coalition for Women in Journalism and International Women's Media Foundation have worked to combat these issues in determinations to reduce and eliminate these challenges.

Visibility & Authorship: A Vantage Point

To be visible in a system that modifies the art of voice is to contain the capacity for a realm of propagandas that are built into the ecosystem. The traditions and stigmas that are hidden ingredients to ensure that the cycle continues are unavoidable once you begin to step into a point of scale. What does this mean in regards to authorship?

Modifying your presentation is a layer that operates under constraint. With this, production becomes less creative and more generalized. The idea of a work being displayed to the public is common, tying that work back to an identity is where challenges arise. It then operates as a tool that is seen as exposed rather than presented. Once the concept evolves into that field, the idea of collective identity arises to the surface.

Collective Identity is able to recognize a concept in a mass conjunction and display a label of navigated propoganda. It is a shared sense of belonging and self-definition within a group.

With individual authorship, the matter to be able to continuously create with the space to operate freely is a process that may not necessarily align with negotation. The roots of the two tend to contrast, causing a need for seperation of some sort. Standards, systems, structure. The dilution occurs when a step is missing or disincluded. A sort of structural tension is then created which forms into a tone policy.

Femininity Expectations

This can cause a requirement for women that loom over the creations of their work, causing systemic oppression that is instilled in the framework.

As the days move forward, this piece of the puzzle seems to be changing as media continues to evolve.

As the modern day of the Informational Age continues to form into place, staying aware of these ideas serve to make progress and developments that are congruent with the times.

For those who celebrate Asian American Heritage month, there are a chain of community festivals, government-sponsored activities, and educational activities for students in many different locations!

Wishing you a wondrous start to the month of May, stay tuned for more information.