Fascinasians

jesifiable:

mizmlee:

THIS.

Great article

(Source: yoisthisracist)

Diversity in YA Fiction is a website and book tour founded by two young adult authors, Malinda Lo and Cindy Pon, to celebrate diverse stories in YA.

DIYA is a positive, friendly gathering of readers and writers who want to see diversity in their fiction. We come from all walks of life and backgrounds, and we hope that you do, too. We encourage an attitude of openness and curiosity, and we welcome questions and discussion. Most of all, we can’t wait to have fun sharing some great books with you!

Cindy Pon is the author of Silver Phoenix (Greenwillow, 2009), which was named one of the Top Ten Fantasy and Science Fiction Books for Youth by the American Library Association’s Booklist, and one of 2009′s best Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror by VOYA. The sequel to Silver Phoenix, titled Fury of the Phoenix, will be published in April 2011. Visit her website at www.cindypon.com.

Malinda Lo is the author of Ash (Little, Brown, 2009), which was a finalist for the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, and named one of the Kirkus Best Young Adult Novels of 2009. A companion novel to Ash, titled Huntress, will be published in April 2011. Visit her website at www.malindalo.com.

jesifiable:

LOS ANGELES - Concerned with the slow progress of TV networks in the area of diversity casting, the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition (APAMC) has released its 2011 report cards grading the networks’ past 2010-2011season while simultaneously challenging ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC to castat least one Asian Pacific American actor as the mainstar in a TV show within the next three years.

“Since APAMC began meeting with the networks in late 1999, only two new shows have starred Asian Pacific Americans (APAs),” said co-chairs Guy Aoki and Marilyn Tokuda in a Coalition statement, “‘Cashmere Mafia’ with Lucy Liu and ‘Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann (Inaba),’ both on ABC. We believe that, without a timetable, the networks will never confront the perceived obstacles to using APAs as the faces of their series. So we have issued a challenge that within three years—by the Fall of 2014—they air a series which stars at least one APA clearly cast as the central character (the star’s name usually appears first in the credits when they aren’t listed alphabetically).”

For example, the star of “Parks and Recreation” is Amy Poehler, not Aziz Ansari.

The Coalition challenge included a further condition: “Because many actors are part-Asian Pacific and viewers are unaware of what their heritage is, we always encourage the networks to make it clear within the context of their shows that the character is Asian Pacific. However, if all we end up getting are stars who are part-APA but don’t look it and who don’t play recognizably APA roles, then the goal of more meaningful inclusion will not have been reached.”

Last year, the total number of APA regulars amongst the top four networks jumped from 32 to 38—an all-time high.  This past season, that number dropped to 31.

Overall, NBC, with a B (up from a B-), ranked highest in this year’s APAMC report cards, which marks the 10th anniversary of judging the inclusion of APAsin eight categories: actors, unscripted show participants, writers/producers, directors, development, procurement, executives, and network initiatives.   

No other network has ever received this high a grade from the coalition. Out of 12 report cards since 2000, NBC has received the highest overall grade 8 times (5 of them ties with other networks).  This past season, the peacock network also had the highest grade for actors, development deals, and writers/producers, and tied for top honors in procurement, executives, and diversity initiatives.

CBS maintained a B- for the third year, ABC slid from B- to C+. Fox fell from C+ to C-, the worst network grade since CBS received the same rating in 2005.

“Last season, NBC had 13 regulars of Asian Pacific descent (boosted by five regulars on ‘Outsourced’,” Aoki stated. “This was the highest number any network has been able to achieve in the 11years the Coalition has released report cards. Accordingly, we have issued our highest grade in the actors category ever, a B+. NBC is the only network to receive this high a grade, which they also received in 2004.”

According to the APAMC report, between 2006 and 2008, ABC either had the highest number of APA regulars or tied for that distinction. But ABC’s record has declined noticeably since then. This past season, ABC could claim only 5 regulars and 4 recurring characters, their exact numbers in 2005. Of all four networks, ABC received the lowest grade in the actors category, a D+.

The day after the new “Hawaii Five-0” debuted in September of 2010, theAPAMC encouraged CBS to hire writers and actors from Hawaii in order to truly capture the essence of the people of that state.

“We have been disappointed that most of the APAs used are as suspects or villains and increasingly, most of the guest stars-who often get more screen time than regulars Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park and Masi Oka-are white and from the mainland,” Aoki said. A meeting with CBS has been set for next week to address these concerns.

Read more here…