Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) released a report, Invisible Ink: Media Representation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, exploring news media coverage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). 

AAPIP is a national membership organization dedicated to expanding and mobilizing philanthropic and community resources for underserved AAPI communities.

The report shares that the escalation of anti-Asian violence prompted this research and analysis into print media’s pre-pandemic coverage of AAPI communities. 

The report offers a pre-pandemic snapshot of AAPI representation in news articles from 2019 across seven major publications. It explores several key areas, including the portrayal of AAPI individuals and communities in the media, the narratives emerging from the media and more.

Key takeaways from the report:

•    Less than a third of news articles mention Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders.

•    Less than 4% of article focus on AAPI communities.

•    2% of articles feature disparities in AAPI communities.

•    AAPI communities are included in the data in these articles only 28% of the time. 

•    The articles omitted AAPI data 37% of the time, even when the data existed.

•    The articles reviewed focus on “education or affirmative action that repeat overall monolithic themes of educational achievement and success without highlighting educational differences among Asian American communities.”

•    Articles on local political figures and entertainment also highlight achievement and success. 

•    Few words in the articles related to social justice, crime or economic inequality.

•    Very few articles focused on Pacific Islanders in 2019. The study had to include five years of articles in order to have a large enough sample size. Those articles did not center on the lived experiences of real Pacific Islander people and did little to educate the public about Pacific Islanders.

•    The research revealed reoccurring usage of the “model minority” which is described by AAPIP as "the false notion that all Asian Americans in this country are largely well off." The research shares that the lowest-earning Asian Americans have only seen their income increase 11%, whereas the lowest-earning Americans on average have seen their income increase 36%.

The research also examined press coverage of AAPI communities within philanthropy news publications, particularly around the issue area of economic inequality. 

Key findings:

•    During the 2019 calendar year, a total of 29 articles were identified in The Chronicle of Philanthropy related to economic inequality and mentioning at least one race. AAPI communities were mentioned in 6 out of the 29. 

•    Approximately 13.8% of the articles focused on AAPI communities.

•    13.3% featured data on AAPI communities.

The report highlights the role of philanthropy to further the goals of equity and inclusion within journalism.

“Funders have a prime opportunity to invest in, leverage and reform journalism as a core strategy to advancing racial equity, inclusive of AAPIs and Native Americans,” the report states.

Recommendations for philanthropy to support inclusivity in journalism:

1.    Support journalism and media research projects that accurately portray the lived experience and diversity of AAPI communities.

2.    Fund best practice AAPI data collection efforts.

3.    Hold media and journalism partners and projects you fund to standards of diversity, equity and inclusion.

4.    Fund fellowships and staff positions in newsrooms for Asian American journalists and Pacific Islander journalists.

5.    Fund AAPI-led media organizations that offer authentic reach and insight into the multiplicity of AAPI communities.

6.    Circulate press releases of foundation announcements to AAPI and all people of color media organizations.

7.    Fund racial and gender equity awareness and bias training for journalists inclusive of AAPI and Native American perspectives.

8.    Connect journalists with AAPI community members and nonprofits for authentic coverage.

There have been increased calls to better support Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, which according to AAPIP have been underfunded and under-resourced.  

The Asian American Foundation in partnership with the Ford Foundation recently called on foundations, corporations and individuals to join the AAPI Giving Challenge to support AAPI communities and causes. The giving challenge has generated over $1 billion for AAPI communities. 

Want more?

Read the full report. 

Connect with AAPIP.

Learn more about the AAPI Giving Challenge.