MTV News anchor reflects on life struggles

Over the course of her young life, SuChin Pak has held jobs with PBS, Oxygen, Tech TV and MTV, but has perhaps proven herself most qualified for a post with Barnum and Bailey – Pak’s success in the television industry has come largely from her fantastic abilities as a juggler.

As a Korean-American woman seeking an on-air career, Pak has learned to juggle her identities as a Korean and an American, her loyalty to her parents and her career ambitions and her attitudes.

‘As a girl in a visual medium, you have to be sexy, but you can’t flirt with your interviewee, you have to be smart but not intimidating, hard-hitting but not bitchy,’ Pak said in a presentation in Grant Auditorium Monday.

The event, sponsored by Women in Communication and the Korean American Student Association, was orchestrated to bring a well-known personality in the communications industry to campus, said Mina Markham, sophomore graphics and women’s studies major and programming chair of WIC. Markham said Pak was especially interesting because she is not much older than most Syracuse students.



Pak began the event by playing a clip from her MTV documentary series, ‘My Life: Translated,’ in which she interviewed teenagers of various backgrounds about how they balanced their native cultures with American culture.

After emigrating from Korea at age five, Pak faced similar challenges and pressures. Her parents intended for her to become a lawyer, and Pak even studied political science at the University of California at Berkeley before she was discovered by PBS and asked to host a show called ‘Newton’s Apple.’ She never believed she could work in television, and described the options for Asian Americans as limited to being Connie Chung, or being an extra on MASH.

Pak was able to delicately handle her parents’ objections to working in television by relying on her own confidence, she said. She added that parents from foreign cultures often have a difficult time conceiving the total freedom of America’s corporate world.

As a product of two cultures and a representative of the media, Pak believes strongly in television’s ability to enact social change. Several times in the presentation, she mentioned her pride in MTV’s strong pro-social agenda. That agenda, however, is still driven by the bottom line of profit, as Pak was quick to point out. She explained that no matter what the cause, MTV is only able to air what the audience wants.

In fact, Pak said she feels MTV is at the forefront of socially conscious programming, having been the first network to handle such issues as AIDS and gay couplehood on its program ‘The Real World.’ But in terms of making a profit, Pak said the bottom line should never be the top priority.

The bottom line is the easiest place to get to, and shouldn’t be the source of most concern, Pak said.

Following her presentation, Pak engaged the predominately female audience of about 150 in a Q & A session. When asked for her best advice to future TV-host hopefuls, Pak replied, ‘I try to own everything I do, to really own the product that I ultimately give to you.’ She endorsed being your own boss because it allows for greater personal control.

Pak expanded this idea with an example from her career, when she covered the Sundance Film Festival. She allowed herself to be talked out of producing a segment on an independent film she was particularly impressed with. When MTV Films later purchased the rights to the film, Pak knew she had let a golden opportunity get away.

Learning to say no was a lesson Pak called one of her most important.

‘People respect you when you hold your ground,’ she said. She recalled having to use the n-word to her parents when they pressured her to pursue a law career, and in fighting with editors to keep controversial content in her documentaries.

Pak, however, seemed unable to say no to the swarm of autograph, picture and interview requests that descended upon her after the presentation. At a press conference held at Schine following the event, Pak expressed a special satisfaction with the Q & A, and was overcome with the students’ interest. Her polite demeanor and warm smile impressed many students, as did her example as a minority in an industry dominated by white men.

‘(Pak’s presentation) was really encouraging as a woman in a visual medium,’ said Colette Hebert, a senior music industry major.

Though few in number, male audience members enjoyed the presentation as well.

‘I wasn’t planning to come, but it was worth it,’ said Michael Ho, a sophomore finance and accounting major. ‘She sends a good message for anybody – you have to market yourself and go for it.’





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