When the Fort Worth Star-Telegram picked up a Houston Chronicle story about overtime pay for state employees written by Yang Wang and Terri Langford, they changed one little thing: the first reporter’s name was printed as “Yank Wang.” (Here’s a photo of the print edition, via Fort Worth Weekly). 

Media watchdog Jim Romenesko first highlighted the story on Monday. The paper made sure Wang and Romenesko saw it was corrected via Twitter:

Romenesko also talked to Wang, who is a reporter and data specialist. She told Romenesko she thought it was funny. She explained:

Yang is a very, very common Chinese first name, but a lot of people here still won’t believe it. I once received reader comments who question the legitimacy of my articles just because they think the byline isn’t something they feel familiar with.

Some of my Chinese friends changed their names to “Jim”, “Lucy” or some traditional American names because they are too tired of people calling/spelling their names wrong. I stick to mine, because I’d like to think it a way of educating American public about some basics of Chinese culture.

Wang also said she her Twitter handle, @yangyangyang, is meant “to stress the correct spelling of my name.”