The examination of the status and roles of Asian-American public relations practitioners in the United States

The purpose of the study was to examine whether Asian-American practitioners were hired to target Asian or Asian-American clients or publics and whether they had the same problems as other minority practitioners.;The study identified two different types of practitioners; firm-type and government-type. Firm-type practitioners were not hired to target Asian or Asian-American market. They were more interested in working in the mainstream that in dealing with Asians or Asian-Americans. Government-type practitioners were mainly hired to communicate with Asians or Asian-Americans and were interested in issues involving Asians or Asian-Americans.;Two models, "cultural translator" model and "mission oriented" model were identified. The purpose of the cultural translator model was to fill the gaps between an American organization and its Asian clients or publics. The mission-oriented model was used by practitioners whose identity as Asians was strong and the purpose was to make the Asians or Asian-Americans aware of social issues and to get them involved in the U.S. mainstream. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)...