Jason Om of ABC on The 16-Year Struggle for his Father’s Acceptance, Growing up as a Gay Asian & Life as an Asian Australian Journalist | Ep. 21

We’re joined by Jason Om, an award winning reporter with the ABC’s 7.30 program. Jason has recently released his first memoir, All Mixed Up: a powerful story about growing up as a gay Asian-Austalian, uncovering his family history and finding resilience. 

In this episode, we talk to Jason about his professional career in journalism, working with the SBS and ABC, how he’s paved the way for other Asian-Australian journalists, the 16-year struggle for acceptance with his Cambodian father and how he’s navigated his experience around being a gay Asian-Australian.

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro
• 1:36 How Jason’s Parents Met
• 3:56 Jason’s Upbringing
• 7:21 Jason on Navigating Identity & The Relationship With His Cousins
• 9:55 Uncovering Parent’s History & Rekindling with His Half-Sister
• 14:35 Using the Memoir to Understand Jason’s Childhood Upbringing
• 16:27 How Jason’s Love for Journalism Began
• 19:38 Getting Into Journalism as a Profession
• 22:54 Working for SBS and ABC
• 30:23 Paving the Way for Asian-Australian Journalists
• 32:17 Advocating Asian-LGTBQI Stories
• 34:35 Jason’s Dad
• 39:46 Being Accepted By the Family
• 41:54 Jason’s Current Relationship with His Dad
• 43:22 Being Gay & Asian-Australian
• 46:51 Advice for Asian-Australians Navigating their Sexuality
• 53:24 The Future of Journalism
• 59:13 Advice for Asian-Australians Wanting to Get Into Journalism