| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
xingyiman
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
|
 Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 8:58 pm Post subject: My analysis of the KT face saving article. |
 |
|
| Quote: |
| The Korea Times has recently learned about some "misunderstandings" regarding our coverage of foreigners in general and native English teachers in particular. |
Basically someone has been contacting one or more of our sponsers.
| Quote: |
Rather than name names or nitpick over the contents of articles that apparently serve as the basis for that misunderstanding, we would like to share with our readers some principles this newspaper operates by.
|
Wait a moment and we'll justify all our bias slanted coverage.
| Quote: |
| Above all, we believe that a newspaper is a marketplace. In other words, it should try to give equal treatment to all parties. We emphasize the word, "try," because the objectivity in news coverage can be a matter of subjectivity from the perspective of the parties directly involved in a given issue and, after all, journalists are only human. |
....and as such the KT journalists can be as xenophobic and racist as anyone and give preferential treatment to many ant-foreigner groups. After all we're only human aren't we?
| Quote: |
| By an extension of this metaphor, the role of newspapers may be harsh to some and kind to others. It is just like a real market, where good products sell well and bad products are kicked to the curb. We do our best to give credit when and where it's due. |
Lets face it....race baiting and hate sells to our readers. Would you rather we printed an article every day about teachers lesson planning methods in the city of Ilsan?
| Quote: |
| More to the point, if foreign residents do good deeds, The Korea Times has done its part reporting them and helping them set an example for others - not just for our foreign readers but also for our domestic ones. Likewise, if they are engaged in wrongdoings, we don't neglect reporting them. |
But the Koreans are "the individual known only as Lee...." whereas the foreigners' resume's are posted online for all to see.
| Quote: |
| We believe that allegations that our newspaper is being unfair in its coverage of cases involving foreigners are less than just. Besides, this newspaper takes pride in serving its foreign residents and visitors as an important segment of its readership, making these allegations even more untenable. |
But just how does slapping us in the face by printing blanket articles written by biased journalists who are quoting officials and others making broad claims about foreigner activities without providing backing data serve us?
| Quote: |
| Since some of the misunderstandings stem from inconsistencies in data |
You can say that again.
..
| Quote: |
| , we want to make our rule clear that extra effort is made to crosscheck figures and facts with more than two sources in dealing with sensitive stories. But there are inadvertent and occasional exceptions: when these important pieces of information come from reliable sources, and we believe they don't have any hidden agenda or axes to grind. |
So basically, if they are an older, male Korean they're good to go.
| Quote: |
| When a case is made by the parties involved that raises a reasonable doubt about these fact sheets, we go back to the sources and double-check their stories. |
But seemingly never print a retraction.
| Quote: |
| We have an additional built-in vetting system with our foreign staff playing the role of addressing foreigners' sensitivities in our coverage. |
Who I'm sure are always quick to bring attention to racially bias articles printed by your paper right? After all...what are you gonna do fire em?
| Quote: |
Importantly, The Korea Times keeps its doors open to any suggestion, believing that the newspaper business is a two-way street;
|
That's why we print all these articles defending our actions and discrediting the foreigner.
| Quote: |
our role is not just the provider of news but the recipient of reactions. But this also makes it part of our mission to vet those reactions with the same intensity as used to check the data in our news articles, before any decision is made on corrections and clarifications. |
No comment.
| Quote: |
| Lastly, we think that some of the misunderstanding is caused by a sense of isolation felt by foreign readers living far from home and adapting to a new set of surroundings. This is not out of the ordinary but it sometimes intensifies people's predilections to take things out of proportion or to be extra sensitive to trivial matters. |
Remember those old movies in the west where the hysterical woman was always slapped to bring her to her senses?
| Quote: |
| For example, some foreigners see our coverage on foreigners' crimes being unfair because they opine that we turn a blind eye to domestic crimes. But just a glance at our Nationline briefs dispels this myth. The majority concern natives committing illegal acts. |
But the Korean gets to claim that they were drunk as a defense and the foreigner is always guilty of perverting "Joseon culture".
| Quote: |
| After all, foreign residents are part of Korea, with their number already sizable and rising. This reason, not just for our newspaper, but for Korea as a whole to accept them as part of our extended family is all the more compelling. |
Now I hope you all feel much better after reading this. Sam gyup sal anyone? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: My analysis of the KT face saving article. |
|
|
Witty analysis! 
| xingyiman wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Lastly, we think that some of the misunderstanding is caused by a sense of isolation felt by foreign readers living far from home and adapting to a new set of surroundings. This is not out of the ordinary but it sometimes intensifies people's predilections to take things out of proportion or to be extra sensitive to trivial matters. |
Remember those old movies in the west where the hysterical woman was always slapped to bring her to her senses? |
 Yeah but I'd translate what's being said here as: we don't have to pay too much attention to what is said by a divided and waygook minority. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| OP- 100% true! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dirving
Joined: 19 Nov 2009
Location: South Korea
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Ditto. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Moldy Rutabaga
Joined: 01 Jul 2003
Location: Ansan, Korea
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Lastly, we think that some of the misunderstanding is caused by a sense of isolation felt by foreign readers living far from home and adapting to a new set of surroundings. This is not out of the ordinary but it sometimes intensifies people's predilections to take things out of proportion or to be extra sensitive to trivial matters. |
| Quote: |
| Remember those old movies in the west where the hysterical woman was always slapped to bring her to her senses? |
Hehe... thank you, OP. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jdog2050
Joined: 17 Dec 2006
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Moldy Rutabaga wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Lastly, we think that some of the misunderstanding is caused by a sense of isolation felt by foreign readers living far from home and adapting to a new set of surroundings. This is not out of the ordinary but it sometimes intensifies people's predilections to take things out of proportion or to be extra sensitive to trivial matters. |
| Quote: |
| Remember those old movies in the west where the hysterical woman was always slapped to bring her to her senses? |
Hehe... thank you, OP. |
This article is just...wow. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Forever
Joined: 12 Nov 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
Do you think the KT face saving article was written by a Korean or foreigner?
Usually (since its in English) the Korean company (KT) tells the foreign employer what they want to say and the foreign employer (who is well payed/taken care of) writes it up - gets his bosses approval and thats it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vaticanhotline
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Location: in the most decent sometimes sun
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Yeah, Steve Schertzer wrote it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:41 am Post subject: |
|
|
I wouldn't be shocked at all if it had been written by either:
- a gyopo of the born in Korea but raised overseas sort, or.
- a gyopo of the born overseas but "returned to the motherland" sort.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
