\doc\web\98\04\beatkwan.txt
[1] MSNBC's Apology For "American Beats Out Kwan" News         \-[2]
+   Bulletin
Date: Sat Feb 28 15:41:09 PST 1998
Organization: Deja News - The Leader in Internet Discussion
Lines: 27
X-Article-Creation-Date: Sat Feb 28 23:41:09 1998 GMT
X-Originating-IP-Addr: 192.138.149.4
X-Http-User-Agent: Mozilla/3.01Gold (WinNT; U)


MSNBC finally posted an apology:


        http://www.msnbc.com/news/147046.asp


Here is the clear text copy:


        MSNBC apologizes for error in Michelle Kwan news bulletin


        MSNBC apologizes for an error that may have been interpreted to
        state that U.S. figure skater Michelle Kwan was not American.
        The error appeared briefly in a scrolling marquee during
        coverage of the Winter Olympics and was corrected quickly.
        However, the marquee was picked up by MSNBCs push technology,
        News Alert. So to some, it might have appeared the error was on
        the site for a longer period or was not corrected. MSNBC
        apologizes for the bulletins wording.


        Edmundo Macedo
        Executive Sports Editor


It's kind of weak since they don't repeat the offending bulletin, they
don't acknowledge that they understand that Kwan is an American and
they don't state how such errors will be avoided in the future.


                                                                    


Date sent:        Thu, 05 Mar 1998 15:45:42 -0800
From:             Soya Jung <wairj@speakeasy.org>
Organization:     WAIRJ
To:               Soya Jung <wairj@speakeasy.org>
Subject:          "American beats Kwan"


FYI -- a great letter by Seattle City Councilmember Martha Choe to
MSNBC. Write your own!


Soya Jung
WAIRJ
(206) 340-9187 -- ph
(206) 405-4532 -- fx
wairj@speakeasy.org


Date:       03/05/1998  03:25 pm  (Thursday)
From:      Martha Choe
To:         COSCCML.INTERNET."sports@msnbc.com",
              COSCCML.INTERNET."merrill.brown@msnbc.com"
              CC:  COUNCIL, jane, david kim, kathleenahn, apawli
Subject:  american beats kwan


gentlemen:
 I am writing to register my deep disappointment and shock at your
recent
headline, "American beats Kwan." What do the writers think Michelle
Kwan is?! She is an AMERICAN citizen, not a foreigner.  I recognize your


apology but feel compelled to respond to such a display of ignorance.


I was born and raised in the United States.  I have never lived anywhere


but the United States. I do not speak a second language. I happen to be
an AMERICAN of Asian ancestry. I am an elected member of the Seattle
City Council and can only be grateful that msn was not operating when I
was elected, for I fear your headline might have been something along
the lines of, " American citizen defeated by Choe." Americans represent
several different ethnicities and races and should be recognized by the
media as such.


Your headline was a reminder to me that there is much work that
continues to be done across this country on the subject on racial
literacy, even in this state where we elected a governor - an AMERICAN
governor of Chinese ancestry - by the largest margin ever.  I was
shocked and saddened to see such an unenlightened state of journalism
in my own back yard.


Signed,


Martha Choe


An AMERICAN
Seattle City Council member