2009 National Ethnic Media Awards Winners

Ethnic Elders

Winner

"Sharks Are Targeting Servicemen, Elders, and Disabled People"
Do Quy Toan, Viet Tribune

Runner Up

"The Future That Maia Henderson Left Behind"
Sue Yang, Korean American Press

Ethnic Elders

Winner: Do Quy Toan, "Sharks Are Targeting Servicemen, Elders and Disabled People," Viet Tribune (San Jose, California)

Do Quy Toan wanted to both warn and inform his readers about "sharks." In English, says Do, people know them as "cut-throat" lenders. In Vietnamese he calls them "sharks." But they are organizations that lend money at rates many times higher than banks, even though they operate within the law.

"Within the ethnic communities in the U.S., cut-throat lenders operated freely," says Do. "New immigrants, who are unfamiliar with banking business, who do not speak English, are very much exploited."

He tells the story of an 80-year-old man who thought he was borrowing $200 in 2002 from a small lender. He found his entire monthly $585 social security check was going first to the lender who was deducting his monthly debt payment. Sometimes that left him with less than $200 a month. When his mobile home burned down and he could not make his payment, the lender sued him.

"Most vulnerable are servicemen, the disabled and elderly," says Do. "As Vietnamese, we usually do not want to talk about our financial problems, and we also cover our misfortunes because we fear losing face."

Born in North Vietnam in 1939, Do Quy Toan wrote poems at a very early age under the influence of his father, who spent much of his time reciting poems by Vietnamese poets. Before he migrated to Canada in 1975, Do taught high school in Saigon and published two collections of poems.

On the suggestion of his friend Do Ngoc Yen, the late publisher of Nguoi Viet, Do moved to California in 1995 to work for the Vietnamese newspaper. He still writes a column there under the pen name Ngo Nhan Dung, and also covers the economy. Lately he has written for the VietTribune and other publications about how the crisis effecting the Vietnamese American community.


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Testimonials

About NAM's First National Ethic Media Awards
Washington, D.C., 2006

Hillary Rodham Clinton

I want to congratulate the honorees who are receiving the equivalent of the “Pulitzer Prize.” Every generation brings so many voices to the debate. Ethnic media represent the way the new Washington needs to connect to the new America.

Len Downie, Executive Editor, Washington Post

I was very pleased that I could be at the awards ceremony. New America Media is a very significant journalistic organization and you are doing important work.

Michael Jack, VP of Diversity, NBC Network

Congratulations for pulling off such a successful event. It is not easy to do anything for the first time, but you managed to do just that. The well deserving recipients truly appreciated the acknowledgement.

Brant Houston, Executive Director, Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc.

Thanks for including us in this great project.

Lorena Hernandez, Bay Area Director of Communications, Comcast

Congratulations on the successful National Ethnic Media Events in DC!

Juliet K. Choi, National Partnership Development Senior Associate, American Red Cross

Congratulations on a beautiful inaugural Ethnic Media Awards – and kudos for getting Senator Clinton to show!

Julie H. Sun, Corporate Relations and Housing Outreach Manager, Freddie Mac

We were very happy to be engaged.

Pat Lawson Muse, Anchor, NBC4

Congratulations for pulling off such a successful event. Many of the stories that generated awards were so moving. The well de- serving recipients truly appreciated the acknowledgement.

Anna Lefer, U.S. Programs Program Officer, Open Society Institute

Congratulations on a hugely successful awards ceremony. After scanning the crowd of journalists and executives from ethnic and mainstream media, elected officials, international dignitaries and diplomats, and DC insiders, it is quite clear that NAM is a part of the political fabric down in DC.

Pam Larson, Executive Vice President, National Academy of Social Insurance

Being part of NAM’s gathering and associated events was a true honor and thrill for us! . . . You’ve got a real eye for the future -- and for making a better “present” for many people, too!

Ellen Hume, Senior Research Fellow, UMASS Boston

Congratulations to everyone. Our delegation just met here at UMASS Boston to recount how inspiring the NAM awards and work- shops were. Everyone is glowing.

Jon Funabiki, former deputy director of the Media, Arts and Culture with Ford Foundation

New America Media truly has changed the nation by bringing the power of ethnic news media into focus and making people take notice. NAM has changed the course of history.