From 2013 Newsroom Crisis to Drag Race Uk: the Full Timeline
By James H. Sterling
Q1: Why did KTVU air the fake names during the Asiana Flight 214 report?
A1: A newsroom producer called the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to confirm a list of names circulating online. An NTSB summer intern mistakenly confirmed the names without authorization, and KTVU pushed the names directly to the midday broadcast without cross-checking.
Q2: Who is the drag performer known as Sum Ting Wong?
A2: Sum Ting Wong is the stage persona of Bo Zeng, a British-Vietnamese singer, animator, and drag performer who rose to national fame as a contestant on Series 1 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2019.
Q3: Why did Bo Zeng choose this specific drag name?
A3: Zeng adopted the moniker to reclaim a racial slur frequently directed at him during his upbringing in Britain. By choosing the phrase as a performer, he stripped the words of their derogatory bite and repurposed them into a celebration of Asian identity.
Q4: What were the professional consequences for the KTVU newsroom staff?
A4: Following an internal review in late July 2013, KTVU dismissed three veteran investigative producers involved in clearing the segment. The NTSB terminated the intern who improperly verified the names.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
