This week I interviewed Alex Tizon, a journalism professor at the UO. On top of being an enthusiastic and inspiring professor, he is currently writing a book to be published at the end of this year, titled “Big Little Man: The Asian Male at the Dawn of the Asian Century.” Tizon has written for The Los Angeles Times, The Seattle Times, and helped contribute to a story on male Asian mail-order brides for CBS’ 60 Minutes. In addition, he has traveled to Indonesia, Singapore, China, and the Arctic Ocean. Pretty accomplished, right?
During my interview with Tizon, I discovered some pretty interesting aspects of being a journalist, and which fancy treat he gives his dog once a week.
HC: How long have you been a journalist?
AT: Since the mid 80s when I started as an intern. The last story I wrote was for the LA Times in 2008.
HC: What is your specialty?
AT: If I had to have a speciality, it would be Asia. That’s what I know.
HC: What is your favorite part of being a journalist?
AT: There are too many parts to like! My favorite part is being able to go out to parts of the world I wouldn’t be able to see on my own. I got to hang out with guys in gangs I would never hang out with on my own. It has given me a way to see the world. It’s like getting paid to play, at its best.
(Photo: Tizon in the Arctic.)
HC: Any struggles?
AT: The hardest thing was to chart my paths so that I could write about what I cared about. When you first start off, you end up doing what your editor wants you to do. The challenge was in trying to carve out a position to enable me to write what I wanted to. I prefer issues related to race, immigration and ethnic groups, anything related to North America or the world of animals.. Asia!
HC: Let’s talk about favorites. What is your favorite music?
AT: That’s really hard. Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, Neil Young
HC: Favorite food?
AT: Japanese – I love it. I love Italian, I also like meat. I’m a carnivore. I know it’s not “fashionable.” Once a week I grill a NY steak for myself and my dog. It’s a treat. His is usually a $13 steak, but when it’s done, it’s a $30 steak you would buy in a restaurant.
HC: Favorite publication?
AT: The New Yorker or The Atlantic Monthly.
HC: What is something most people would be surprised to learn about you?
AT: How much bad television I watch. I watch The Office. It’s not bad, just juvenile. I watch MMA and boxing, wrestling…
(Photo: Tizon in Masaba,Philipines.)
HC: Who inspires you?
AT: Most of the people who have inspired me are dead. The Gladiator from the movie Gladiator inspires me. I think there’s a primal part in all of us that loves the idea of being able to vanquish our opponents. The woman who runs PETA, Ingrid Newkirk. I’m a total contradiction – I eat meat, but I love animals. Obama, Tolstoy, Rilke, Jane Goodall.
HC: If you weren’t doing journalism, what would you do?
AT: Anthropology. I love the idea of being able to solve crimes and bring justice. A lawyer… something in social justice.