Dith Pran, Humanitarian and Photojournalist for the New York Times has died of Pancreatic Cancer. A survivor of the Cambodian holocaust, he was the subject of the Oscar winning movie "The Killing Fields."

New York Times photojournalist Dith Pran, a Humanitarian, Cambodian Genocide survivor, and the subject of the Oscar winning 1984 movie "The Killing Fields" has died of pancreatic cancer this morning March 30, 2008 in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Last week, surrounded by family and friends in the hospital, Pran, 65, known for his upbeat personality quipped to Star-Ledger staff reporter Judy Peet that he intends to win his battle with cancer, "Food, medicine and meditation are good soldiers, and I am ready to fight."

But ultimately "this is my path and I must go where it takes me." He said he wanted to use his condition to encourage people to do early cancer screening.

Pran had spent his life since his survival from the brutality by Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979, to raise awareness of the Cambodian holocaust and to campaign against genocide everywhere. He said in an interview in recent weeks, hoping that others will be able to carry on his work, "If they can do that for me, my spirit will be happy."

Pran was an assistant and translator in war-torn Cambodia from 1973 to 1975 to Sydney Schanberg, a New York Times correspondent. On April 17, 1975, while most Americans and other foreigners had already evacuated Cambodia, Schanberg had decided to stay to witness...

AALDEF Honors Civil Rights Leaders with Justice in Action Awards at 2006 Lunar New Year Gala

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) ushered in the Year of the Dog with their annual Lunar New Year Gala at PIER SIXTY, Chelsea Piers on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006 in New York. More than 850 friends, both old and new, came out to celebrate AALDEFs 2006 "Justice in Action" Award honorees: Ivan K. Fong, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Cardinal Health, Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., Harvard Law School professor and civil rights leader, and Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor and publisher of The Nation.

AALDEFs Justice in Action Awards recognize exceptional individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions in advancing justice and equality.

In these difficult times, our honorees have promoted a broad vision of civil rights in the law, media, and public policy, said AALDEF executive director Margaret Fung. Their efforts truly reflect the spirit of AALDEFs mission: to advance human rights for all.

Hosting the evenings festivities was WNBC reporter Vivian Lee, who has often brought stories from Asian American communities to the fore. Justice in Action Award honoree Ivan Fong accepted his award from the Hon. Denny Chinthe first Asian American appointed as federal district judge on the East Coastand expressed deep gratitude to Judge Chin and others who inspired his work on behalf of the Asian American community, urging the next...

A Tribute to Sam Chu Lin
Pioneer Asian American Broadcaster

He should have lived much longer because his will and intellect were so young and energetic. Judy must be devastated to have such a life and partner taken away from her -- really just reaching the prime of his mission. His mission was to spread the news, the word, about recognizing the contributions and achievements of Asian Americans to the world at large. This was his way of fighting for truth, justice and the American way. He really believed in that Superman hero credo. Not for the idea of a superman. But for people being champions of justice, and with truth you can have justice. And that was the American way. Honesty, integrity, fairness. That's what he lived and died for. That's what he wanted for Chinese and Asian Americans. He graduated from high school in the mid-fifties. From a town in Mississippi which was a cradle of the blues. Greenville, Mississippi. In an era when Elvis became King. He was there for all of us. Feeding us the news, the views, the feelings, the insights, yea, the wisdom of what he had gathered, found or deduced. When we were down he lifted us up. When we were angry he brought us down to earth, with soothing words of comfort, commiseration, or understanding while bringing other angles into our sights we hadn't seen quite seen in our turbulence. He did this by sharing his stories of the stories he covered.

Congressman Mike Honda, Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus Mourns Death of Journalism Pioneer and Friend, Sam Chu Lin

From U.S. Rep. Mike Honda
15th District (CA) - California

I carry a heavy heart today. A heavy heart over the passing of one of the giants of Asian American Journalism, and my dear friend: Mr. Sam Chu Lin.

Sam was a pioneer; not just in the Asian American Community, but in the entire field of journalism.

A reporter par excellence - news anchor - radio announcer - media consultant - a conscience, of and for, American journalism for almost four decades.

As one of the first Asian American network reporters in New York City, he announced to the nation on CBS News, the fall of Saigon.

He interviewed Presidents and world leaders. He covered earthquakes and major disasters.

He reported from China the government crackdown on the democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square.

His life was one of endless commitment to truth-seeking and justice for all Americans - but especially for his brothers and sisters in the Asian American Community.

He believed "informing and helping others is what makes journalism exciting." He also believed his beloved career in journalism was an opportunity to use his roots for a positive purpose.

His relentless pursuit of excellence in journalism was legendary. He once convinced ABC's Nightline to do a program called "Asian American - When Your Neighbor Looks Like the Enemy." After doing so, he helped book the guest, checked the...

Sam Chu Lin

Sam Chu Lin
Reporter-Anchor, KOOL-TV (Phoenix), 1968

Sam Chu Lin is a reporter/news anchor/radio announcer who found that "informing and helping others is what makes journalism exciting." As one of the first Asian American network reporters in New York City (CBS News), he announced to the nation the fall of Saigon and helped Superman's creators win their pensions. He's interviewed presidents and world leaders and covered earthquakes and other major disaster. In China, he went on the air to report the government crackdown on the democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square. He feels journalism can also be educational. "It's a chance to use your roots for a positive purpose." Sam recently convinced ABC's Nightline to do a program called "Asian American - When Your Neighbor Looks Like the Enemy" and helped book the guest, checked the script for accuracy, and found historical footage for the broadcast. He spent over a year talking with the executive producer about how Asian Americans have been unfairly stereotyped because of the campaign fundraising and spy scandals. The program was the highest rated show in its time slot beating out Jay Leno and David Letterman in the national ratings. He has been presented with many awards including the AP, UPI, Golden Mike, National Headliner Award for Best Documentary, Chi Lin is an Old American Name, and the 1998 Los Angeles Press Club Award for covering a neighborhood shoot-out. Based in Sunnyvale with his wife Judy, and...