Joseph of the Longbow Papers has written an article for the Society of Professional Journalists that offers a critical but optimistic look at freedom in the press in China. While I am somewhat less sanguine than Joseph on this topic, he has some great stories to tell about the progress being made. And the work he’s doing with his students is truly inspiring.
May 6, 2005
The Discussion: 8 Comments
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1
By Joseph Bosco
Dear Richard,
Thanks for the link and the kind words my dear friend. What’s happening with your plan? I am sorry that I have not been in e-mail contact much of late, but it’s my usual excuse–too much to do and too little time!
All the very best,
Joseph
P.S. Is your New York Times Link Generator working? I haven’t been able to access it for a couple of days now.
May 7, 2005 @ 10:30 pm | Comment
2
By Simon World
Daily linklets 9th May
Bill Rice wonders if the NYT editorial team read their own paper before writing their editorial on A Rising China. Hong Kong bloggers write an open letter to the media and public on what a blog is and is not. Hong Kong’s legislators to start carrying …
May 8, 2005 @ 7:34 pm | Comment
3
By steve
Joseph,
I applaud your effort in bringing different thinking into China. Just a suggestion based on my personal experience: if some students actually sided with CCP, do not dress down him/her.
When I was in college, my friends and I befriend with an American who taught us English . During the student movement before June 4, one day we were talking about the student movement. I made two comments: 1) BBC sounds fair to me. If CCP is lying one way, Voice of America is exaggerating from the other side; 2) lots of students on strike for classes just want to skip class and have fun.
That teacher was really not happy with my comments. Our relationship got cold. I honestly do not like CCP. I had been a loyal listener of BBC and VOA for three years. But I gradually find the other side is not much better.
May 8, 2005 @ 9:28 pm | Comment
4
By Joseph Bosco
Dear Steve,
Thank you for the kind words. However, I must assure you that I never disparage the Party or the Central Government with my students. Much to the contrary, actually. I also do not do it in my personal life. I am very much a supporter and friend of the People’s Republic of China. Many of my students are Party members, as are a number of my friends and associates. I work for the Central Government, which has always treated me with respect and kindness during my years in China.
All the best,
Joseph Bosco
May 8, 2005 @ 9:53 pm | Comment
5
By Tom Vamvanij
Joseph,
I appreciate your work, but…
By this standard, the anti-Japan protesters are probably elegant, too.
Steve,
This probably won’t convince you, but the VOA is indeed far better than, say, China Radio International. The comparison would be even more lopsided with the BBC and NPR, whose fierce independence can easily turn into hostility toward their governments.
May 8, 2005 @ 11:36 pm | Comment
6
By Joseph Bosco
Dear Tom,
Actually, I think Ms. Li’s op-ed “Who Does He Think He Is” was relatively elegantly written for a first-semester sophomore writing in a second language. Is it peevishly nationalistic? Yes. But I don’t think it even approaches the level of diatribe that might be heard over a bullhorn at an anti-Japanese protest.
All the best,
Joseph Bosco
May 9, 2005 @ 3:53 am | Comment
7
By steve
Tom,
You are mostly right. Let me give you another perspective. The other day, I am reading a column by Curzon, “http://www.cominganarchy.com/”. He said, he was happy with every chance that China get screwed.
To be clear, I have no bad feeling against Curzon. I actually think he is honest and frank. His position is part of human nature. However, I guess many, if not most, people at VOA propably shared his view.
To be fair, the same occurs to Chinese. I raise this piont is to help you put things in perspective.
May 9, 2005 @ 5:28 am | Comment
8
By Mark
Amused by the ‘fierce independence’ of the BBC. Once that may have been true; but those days are long gone…
October 27, 2005 @ 3:09 pm | Comment