I have not seen Robyn and Adolpho after the spring break, and a short while after Zimbabwe election issues broke out. I heard that they went back to Zimbabwe last time, but I thought they were sent out there by news 10 to cover the election because Robyn might have privilege since she is from Zimbabwe. I just learned today that they actually quit.
I don not know what happened, why they quit, or what they are doing now. But I feel so sad when I think of not having a chance to say goodbye and not seeing them ever after. I cannot help to get emotional because they have been so nice to me.
According to the messages on Robyn's facebook, her mother was detained and then released by somebody. It makes the story even more mysterious. Any way, I pray for her and her family, as well as for Adolpho. Our "international crew" will always be a precious memory in my deep heart.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
From CNN: Tourist video shows Friday’s rioting in Tibetan capital
(You can click on the title for the link of this news)
March 19th, 2008
Tourist video shows Friday’s rioting in Tibetan capital
Posted: 07:36 AM ET
(CNN) — An Australian tourist traveling in Tibet when anti-Chinese rioting broke out last Friday returned home this week with dramatic video that gives the world the first independent look at the violence in the streets of the Tibetan capital Lhasa.
“We’re standing here in the middle of Lhasa and the place has just (expletive) exploded,” tourist Michael Smith said in narration recorded as the riot was happening.
Tibetan exile groups claim at least 80 people were killed by Chinese security forces that day, but Chinese authorities insist they acted with restraint and killed no one. Instead, China says 13 “innocent people” were killed, some brutally burned, by the Tibetan rioters.
The video shows Tibetans smashing windows and setting fire to Chinese shops and cars, while others are heard cheering. Chinese security forces are seen, but there are no clashes between them and the rioters shown.
March 19th, 2008
Tourist video shows Friday’s rioting in Tibetan capital
Posted: 07:36 AM ET
(CNN) — An Australian tourist traveling in Tibet when anti-Chinese rioting broke out last Friday returned home this week with dramatic video that gives the world the first independent look at the violence in the streets of the Tibetan capital Lhasa.
“We’re standing here in the middle of Lhasa and the place has just (expletive) exploded,” tourist Michael Smith said in narration recorded as the riot was happening.
Tibetan exile groups claim at least 80 people were killed by Chinese security forces that day, but Chinese authorities insist they acted with restraint and killed no one. Instead, China says 13 “innocent people” were killed, some brutally burned, by the Tibetan rioters.
The video shows Tibetans smashing windows and setting fire to Chinese shops and cars, while others are heard cheering. Chinese security forces are seen, but there are no clashes between them and the rioters shown.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Reporters Phase
According to the intern schedule Mr. B gave to me, I've been entering into Reporters Phase, passing by Producers and Photographers/Editors Phases. However, I didn't really feel the difference, because I didn't really follow the schedule.
Most of the time, I am still doing the same thing: observing and imitating, either producers, reporters or photographers.
Producers, in my opinion, have the least freedom, physically. They need to race with the deadline, by arranging all the news stories into a certain frame created by an AP software. Some people would hate these frame of time and space, but for people who like doing this, they view themselves as artists, enjoying playing with the designing game no less than a frentic boy plays XBOX.
A is a photographer that I like a lot, becuase he is really true and nice, also because his shooting and editing skills are very great. Editing, again in my opinion, involves a lot of sense of art. Dumb people would take it no more than cutting and cumulating, but smart people conduct the videos and audios to play with the story and the audiences.
A good reporter, must be a good designer. He always knows how to grasp you by only one sentence at the beginning, tell you what you are expected to know, suprise you with what you are appreciated to know, and totally refresh you at the end. This is what I want to be.
There are always new things to learn, despite I've been doing the same thing every time. For example, I felt really frustrated when I found a "tech-girl" I thought myself was could not even simply move a video window in the editing software that we are using! Come on... I need to steal more skills from A next time!
Most of the time, I am still doing the same thing: observing and imitating, either producers, reporters or photographers.
Producers, in my opinion, have the least freedom, physically. They need to race with the deadline, by arranging all the news stories into a certain frame created by an AP software. Some people would hate these frame of time and space, but for people who like doing this, they view themselves as artists, enjoying playing with the designing game no less than a frentic boy plays XBOX.
A is a photographer that I like a lot, becuase he is really true and nice, also because his shooting and editing skills are very great. Editing, again in my opinion, involves a lot of sense of art. Dumb people would take it no more than cutting and cumulating, but smart people conduct the videos and audios to play with the story and the audiences.
A good reporter, must be a good designer. He always knows how to grasp you by only one sentence at the beginning, tell you what you are expected to know, suprise you with what you are appreciated to know, and totally refresh you at the end. This is what I want to be.
There are always new things to learn, despite I've been doing the same thing every time. For example, I felt really frustrated when I found a "tech-girl" I thought myself was could not even simply move a video window in the editing software that we are using! Come on... I need to steal more skills from A next time!
Monday, March 17, 2008
From China Daily (English)
(You can click on the title for the link of the news)
China 'improving environment' for foreign journalists
(Xinhua)Updated: 2008-03-14 09:00
BEIJING -- China is continuously improving the work environment for foreign journalists, a move that has been well received by the international community, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman here on Thursday.
"As China continues to push forward its opening up, it is also making efforts to create a better work environment for foreign journalists," said spokesman Qin Gang at a routine press conference.
"I believe the work environment for foreign journalists in China will get better and better."
He said China had made efforts in a "serious", "active" and "responsible" manner to carry out the current regulations to help foreign journalists to report on the August Olympiad.
The "Regulations on reporting activities in China by foreign journalists during the Beijing Olympic Games and the preparatory period" took effect on January 1 and expires on October 17.
"Any unbiased foreign reporters would notice that they are having more and more access and getting better service to make their reports on China along with China's opening-up process," Qin said.
However, he acknowledged there were problems during the implementation process which, he explained, were caused by two major factors.
First, China was a large country with a vast territory, a huge population and many differences among the various regions. It would take time for the foreign media regulations to be carried out thoroughly as various parties needed time to understand, absorb and implement the regulations. Second, a few foreign media also needed to reflect on their reporting style.
Qin said some reporters had violated Chinese regulations, didn't respect those they had interviewed, yet proceeded with interviews against the person's wish. Some had even fabricated news stories.
He said China would remain committed to improving the working conditions for foreign reporters in the country. He expressed his belief that foreign media would enjoy a better working environment with the country's further opening to the outside world.
China 'improving environment' for foreign journalists
(Xinhua)Updated: 2008-03-14 09:00
BEIJING -- China is continuously improving the work environment for foreign journalists, a move that has been well received by the international community, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman here on Thursday.
"As China continues to push forward its opening up, it is also making efforts to create a better work environment for foreign journalists," said spokesman Qin Gang at a routine press conference.
"I believe the work environment for foreign journalists in China will get better and better."
He said China had made efforts in a "serious", "active" and "responsible" manner to carry out the current regulations to help foreign journalists to report on the August Olympiad.
The "Regulations on reporting activities in China by foreign journalists during the Beijing Olympic Games and the preparatory period" took effect on January 1 and expires on October 17.
"Any unbiased foreign reporters would notice that they are having more and more access and getting better service to make their reports on China along with China's opening-up process," Qin said.
However, he acknowledged there were problems during the implementation process which, he explained, were caused by two major factors.
First, China was a large country with a vast territory, a huge population and many differences among the various regions. It would take time for the foreign media regulations to be carried out thoroughly as various parties needed time to understand, absorb and implement the regulations. Second, a few foreign media also needed to reflect on their reporting style.
Qin said some reporters had violated Chinese regulations, didn't respect those they had interviewed, yet proceeded with interviews against the person's wish. Some had even fabricated news stories.
He said China would remain committed to improving the working conditions for foreign reporters in the country. He expressed his belief that foreign media would enjoy a better working environment with the country's further opening to the outside world.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Not mentioning doesn't mean not happening
In the email newsletter that I got from China Daily so far, there are not even one news about Tibet demonstrations, which are the biggest ones in Himalayan region in 20 years.
Instead, there was one headline news for today, saying "China 'improving environment' for foreign journalists". In which, Xinhua news agency, the national news agency in China, concluded that China had made efforts in a " serious", "active" and "responsible" manner to carry out the current regulations to help foreign journalists to report on the August Olympics, without offering any details about the changes in the regulation.
The article at the end expressed the belief that foreign media would enjoy a better working environment with the country's further opening to the outside world.
According to the results that I searched in www. baidu.com, an equivalence of Google in China, that most comments were blaming Tibetans, by criticizing they should not aim to Han majority people and their properties, and should not try to independent from China with the secret help from Western countries. This is coincident with the tone of the Chinese government, which shows the success of the propoganda and ethnic concerns on the Tibet issue.
Instead, there was one headline news for today, saying "China 'improving environment' for foreign journalists". In which, Xinhua news agency, the national news agency in China, concluded that China had made efforts in a " serious", "active" and "responsible" manner to carry out the current regulations to help foreign journalists to report on the August Olympics, without offering any details about the changes in the regulation.
The article at the end expressed the belief that foreign media would enjoy a better working environment with the country's further opening to the outside world.
According to the results that I searched in www. baidu.com, an equivalence of Google in China, that most comments were blaming Tibetans, by criticizing they should not aim to Han majority people and their properties, and should not try to independent from China with the secret help from Western countries. This is coincident with the tone of the Chinese government, which shows the success of the propoganda and ethnic concerns on the Tibet issue.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Bjork didn't help much
Last week, Icelandic singer Bjork closed her concert in Shanghai with a song "Declare Independence", yelling severl times "Tibet" during the song. This protest behavior apparently couldn't favor to either the Chinese audience or the Chinese goverment.
"We will further tighten controls on foreign artistas performing in China in order to prevent silimar cases from happening in the future," the Ministry of culture said in a statement on its website.
"We shall never tolerate any attempt to separate Tibet from China and will no longer welcome any artists who deliberately do this."
"We will further tighten controls on foreign artistas performing in China in order to prevent silimar cases from happening in the future," the Ministry of culture said in a statement on its website.
"We shall never tolerate any attempt to separate Tibet from China and will no longer welcome any artists who deliberately do this."
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