Asia Pacific Forum (APF) is a progressive pan-Asian radio show based in New York City focusing on culture and politics. APF’s broadcasts cover underreported stories from Asia and Asian America and explore topics such as activism, civil and human rights, foreign policy, immigration, history, labor, literature, pop culture, and the performing arts. Founded in 1998 as a collective by Samori Marksman and Sybil Wong, it continues to operate as such. Its core members include Zhaleh Afshar, Saara Azadi, Olivia Canlas, Mijounga Chang, Michelle Chen, Aniruddha Das, Danny Kim, Aruna Krishnakumar, and Hyun Lee (1970-2022). APF is one of the few national media outlets focusing on Asia and Asian America and its content and audiences are local, national, and international in scope. As of late 2018, Asia Pacific Forum is no longer broadcast on WBAI 99.5 FM, but now streams digitally in podcast form.
Covering the collective’s approximately 500 on-air shows from 1998 to 2009, the Asia Pacific Forum Records offer a trove of historical media coverage of significant events and issues impacting Asia and Asian America. Of particular significance are full-length unedited interviews with notable Asian Americans, including activist Yuri Kochiyama, novelist Jessica Hagedorn, and musician and activist Chris Iijima. There are also scripts (some annotated with handwritten notes), preparatory materials, and research notes for shows, and some documentation of APF’s publicity efforts.
To learn more about the contents of the Asia Pacific Forum Records, located at the NYU Tamiment Library & Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, view the collection’s finding aid.