Hmong Today (Xov-Xwm Hmoob) is an American nationwide newspaper documenting the news and culture of theHmong American community.[3] It is published biweekly and based inSt. Paul, Minnesota.[4] Because Hmong typically only read English, articles are usually in English.[5][6]
Hmong Today publishes a biweekly print newspaper reporting on Hmong American and global Hmong news stories, especially about Saint Paul, Minnesota, the paper's headquarters and the largest concentration of Hmong in the United States. Founder Wameng Moua manages most aspects of the paper.[7][3] Because Hmong typically only read English, articles are usually in English, and rarely in Hmong.[5][6]
Along withHmong Times,Hmong Today has been called one of the Hmong community's "most enduring publications".[8]
The publisher of the newspaper is Sang Moua[9] and the president of the company isSy Vang.[10] Wameng Moua and Sang Mouacheupao foundedHmong Today in 2003 and published the first issue January 1, 2004.[2] The website was developed and administered by Hmongmedia.[11]
Sang Mouacheupao and Wameng Moua co-foundedHmong Today in 2003. Owners ofHmong Times Dick and Steve Wetzler offered to sell their half-share inHmong Times to Moua in 2003 forUS$200,000, which Moua declined. A white businessman had implied that Hmong couldn't run a paper without the aid of white people, so Moua and Mouacheupao started the paper on their own.[12][2]
The front-page story of the first volume and edition was about Hmong in Laos facing ongoing persecution after theLaotian Civil War. Entitled "Betrayal, Lost Hope, And the Forgotten Tribe" and written by Wameng Moua, it was published December 31, 2003. Hmong scholar Her Vang reports: "Moua had dedicated many volumes and editions ofHmong Today to the plight of the Hmong in Laos."[13]
Around 2001 Kathy Mouacheupao joined the paper writing for the arts and entertainment section. Kathy is co-founder Wameng Moua's sister and at the time had recently become staff atCenter for Hmong Arts and Talent.[14]
Copies ofHmong Today with the headline about the 2007 murder ofCha Vang were distributed at his funeral.[15]
^abVang, Chia Youyee (2008).Hmong in Minnesota. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 53.ISBN0-87351-598-6.The two papers that currently provide the community's news are Hmong Times and Hmong Today. Articles are printed primarily in English, but a few stories are available in Hmong language.
