Yu, S. S. (2016). Ethnic media: Moving beyond boundaries. In C. Campbell (Ed.), The Routledge companion to media and race (pp. 160-172). New York, London: Routledge.
Abstract: The mediascape in multicultural societies is transforming. Aside from increasing transnational migration, forces of globalization (both cultural and economic) and digitalization allow media to transcend their formal national boundaries. Ethnic media are no exception. Formerly confined to the domain of ethnic or diasporic communities, these media go beyond not only geographic, but also ethnic boundaries. What is lagging behind this shift is the social perception and academic approach toward ethnic media, which consider ethnic media as media by and for immigrants, ethno-racial groups, and linguistic minorities only. This brief discussion traces the evolution of ethnic media by examining various aspects—terminologies, historical trajectories, and trends in production and consumption—and suggests that new critical approaches to understanding ethnic media are needed.
Yu, S. S. (2016). Ethnic media as communities of practice: The cultural and institutional identities. Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism. Doi: 10.1177/1464884916667133
Abstract: In an increasingly multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual media environment, ethnic media are an important part of the public sphere, and the process in which ethnic discourse is produced deserves attention. This article advances Husband’s work on ethnic media as communities of practice by exploring ethnic media of young diaspora. Just as ethnic communities are heterogeneous across ethnic groups, depending on immigration history, demographics, and communication infrastructure, among other factors, ethnic media as communities of practice are never homogeneous and lineal practices. The case of Korean media in Vancouver and Los Angeles, one of the most rapidly growing ethnic media sectors in North America, suggests two new identities – cultural identity and institutional identity – in addition to the journalists’ subjective identities, which Husband discussed. These two identities that are specific to Korean media confirm diversity within communities of practice and suggest the variations to be considered in the broader discussion of ethnic media as communities of practice.