China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Tony, Memphis, TN — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:47:39 GMT

Western media lost truest in Chinese people in part due to the bias of western media. NPR, one of most unbiased media I think in US, still reported a lot more Tibetan's protests than pro-china protests during torch relay. The obvious truth is, there were a lot more pro-China protesters in the street if you happened to be in one of those protests.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Belle — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:57:49 GMT

You see this what some of the dishonest and untruthful media did. They pass the bad apple to other media who are honest and try to report the truth.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

laigam sekhar, seattle, washington — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:05:28 GMT

I wish that the Chinese had shown the degree of empathy and compassion that we need today towards the Tibetans who were killed and crushed, by their own government..Both are tragedies of massive proportions , one brought about by men in power, and another by Nature, or God...

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Shelly, San Diego — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:10:29 GMT

The pictures are horrifying. I feel so badly for these people. The images of parents clinging to the bodies of their dead children is absolutely heartbreaking. I pray the Lord gives them peace.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Charles Siu, San Jose California — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:17:03 GMT

I think Mr. Gao is just a proud and polite Chinese. He does not want foreign media to misrepresent the situation. This report did not indicate Miss. Mong explained to Mr. Gao before filming. This incident would have been avoided if “media does not think that they have God given rights to film wherever and whenever they want”. If you are trying to sell your house and have an “open house”, you will not like your visitors to film the living room or backyard without your permission, will you? Filming disaster and dead bodies is not “God given right”? Ask first! Respect others on how you will like to be respected. There are too many misunderstandings on all sides already.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Dan Harris — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:17:26 GMT

Great post. This sort of thing goes on every day in China, and not just for reporters. Many times the locals are more interested in censoring than is Beijing, and much of the time that is because that is what the locals thing Beijing wants.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Gilbert — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:22:03 GMT

I belive the reporters should have respected the Chinese wish's .. not to film after all it is there country and the reporters were guest's..

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Henri, Chicago, IL — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:29:00 GMT

China was closed too long. It is a good thing China start to get more attention in world media. I really believe the media attention last month pushed Chinese government reacted very quick and forceful after the earthquake, which saved a lot of lives. This shows China wants to be a member of the world community. The western media, at least part of them, should stop slapping the word "Communist" before "China" any more. It is not true, and it brings up hostile reaction immediately from a Chinese audience. On the other hand, Chinese need start to be used to hear different voices from the media, true or false.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Cindy, SF, CA — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:38:51 GMT

To Laigam: How about the people killed by the Tibetan Riots then? It's still the matter of biased media. You only saw one side of the story.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Cindy, SF, CA — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:44:35 GMT

China government reacts the same to natural disasters no matter what western media report. It is the people they care. That has been shown earlier this year during the disaster caused by heavy snow.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Mr Matt Phila Pa — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:48:28 GMT

"NPR, one of most unbiased media"

you have GOT to be kidding me.

Charles, you are right, the media thinks they have special rights that others dont, and blatantly interfere with, and put their noses in others business, and treat everyone as second class citizens at the VERY best. I agree, if the media is requested to leave, escpecially in a foreign country by the people themselves, they should go. The media has absolutley no respect, absolutely none.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Noah, Klamath Falls, OR — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:55:14 GMT

I think one thing that the Mainland Chinese are not familiar with is that throughout the rest of the world, the majority of News is about what is going wrong. This has historically been the case, while in mainland China, the controled media has typically put a positive spin on most news or not reported on it at all. Protests are just more of a news story than a rally of support. People are just more interested in the facts of devastation in a natural disaster than of speeches of moral support from premier Wen. I understand their concern for national pride etc, but it is really a testament to the strong control of the CCP and how ingrained these concepts are. In expposing themselves to the world, they will have to learn the difference between news and propaganda. Propaganda has a place in news, but the need for the gritty facts will definitely outweigh the 'feel good' news stories.
The handling of this crisis reflects well on the Chinese people, but not everything will always be positive when the truth is exposed. Pres. Bush has been criticized and ridiculed countless times in the western media. That is what freedom of press is about.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Peter Dallas TX — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:57:10 GMT

Yes I do see the fireman Gao's point and it's hard to blame him. The media is so often biased and tells the story from a specific point of view. It is so rare to watch a news broadcast with anything positive in it these days. The media is like a form of tyranny, without any responsibility for correcting false impressions. Why would anybody want to be filmed or interviewed knowing that the media will twist your words, twist the view to satisfy their own agenda, they can edit anything to make it appear however they want, whatever thier bias is, for me the news media and CNN is the most UNTRUSTWORTHY media I can think of. May God bless all those poor Chinese people, those children, dead and injured, their suffering parents, relatives and friends. I really can not imagine the horror these workers must have to endure as they work through this devastation. When people suuffer such great devastation all they need is to know that the world cares about them and that we will do our best to help them. The Red Cross is taking donations right now, so please donate what you can.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Esther Ling, TX — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:58:24 GMT

For those who think Chinese people/government don't care about Tibetains, the hardest hit area where troops march in on foot amongst heavy rain, mudslides, aftershocks in impassable mountain roads, is an area where lots of tibetians called home. We call them our fellow Chinese. What do you know about Tibet, about China, to call yourself 'pro-tibet', what did Richard Gear do to help those tibetians he 'cared' so much? Would any of thoese people hike into the mountains to save their life, if Chinese government were not there to help them?

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Calvin — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:59:21 GMT

And how quickly msnbc has turned a small trivial incident into a front page item about media tranparency in China. Look, those folks have probably been working none stop, pulling out dead and wounded. They can be expected to be on edge, and weary of anything. That with the real western media bias (again, shown by this article) has gotten them to ask you to leave. This was not the gov't telling you to stop filming, it was the people in a time of trial. You should have respected their wishes and just moved on to other areas where perhaps people were not as on egde. Instead, you take any little incident and turn it into another attack on China. Good going. Keep this up. All you do is continue to show your bias.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

landon kelsey,coldspring,texas — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:04:14 GMT

I don't blame the guy for being suspicious!

The media profits from controversy/strife!

I remember a couple getting an amicable divorce...amicable until the attorneys stirred things up!

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Ken M, Scottsdale, AZ. — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:09:59 GMT

It appears to me that the Chinese don't really want freedom of speech as we do in the US and don't really stand up to the government for their freedom. They are oppressed and want to oppress Tibet, Taiwan, the media, ect. Why do they come to the US if they want to bad mouth the freedoms we honor as citizens in the US then GO HOME!!! Freedom is a privledge and should be treated as one, not slammed by the CHinese that don't have it or desire it.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

E, Rockville, MD — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:14:27 GMT

Why are people afraid of the truth? You combat lies with the truth. As for the media overstepping their bounds, I'm sure the Klu Klux Klan thought so too during the civil rights movement and the pictures of Blacks being attacked by police dogs and firehoses? Are people too stupid to not be shown what is going on and let them come to conclusions for themselves? Why does not the Chinese media put out stories to the contrary and promoting the opposite story? Also, you don;t think the media and other countries were kind of insulted by the Chinese government's decision to have para-military types there? How about Chinese demonstrators in S. Korea hurling objects at citizens in other countries? Actions such as that would of course bring negative images to any nation.

You have Chinese society which is controlled by the government. The government controlls the media. So what is the truth and what is state propoganda? To the Chinese living in the US, the freedoms that you enjoy here, you will not enjoy in China. I'd be willing to bet anything on that. You should know that one thing Americans and the West value is freedom of speech, thought, and yes the press. Maybe it's a difference of ideology. But I would rather be shown what is going on instead of having the government be in control of the media. With the latter, the media just becomes a propoganda tool for the government. Whereas the Western media can be brazen at times bordering out of control (paparazzi), what is wrong with information and the individual deciding on what to think versus the givernment controlling what the citizens think?

To Chinese citizens - you guys do not want basic freedoms that should be considered a right inistead of a privilege? Well we in the West do believe in the freedom of the press. People in the East may not have been exposed to such ideals, but really, everyone deserves and should have a right to these freedoms.

As for the open house comment, why not? You are trying to sell a product, so why would it be bad for people to take pictures of a product you are trying to buy? That is part of the principles of a free-market society.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Joseph, Newbury Park, CA. — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:20:52 GMT

I find it amazing that we try to tell everyone what is right/wrong for themselves. In many aspects, we are no better, so how about we take care of our own here, and stock picking other's nose???

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

UK,cambridge — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:22:11 GMT

Please be forgiving, People are angry, distressed and in dispair. We can hardly understand those people's feeling!

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

E, Rockville, MD — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:22:29 GMT

One last thing, as someone mentioned before. Get ready to react to negative press coverage if your country wants to be a superpower. That comes with the territory. Hell the US has been experiencing it for a long time. Half the people in the world thought the US deserved 9/11. I know many Chinese did so too. Get used to it. :)

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

S. W., New York, NY — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:29:52 GMT

I think Mr. Gao should get his priorities straight, instead of worrying about Western or European media, he should worry more about all the victims. China has done a good job in sending in troops and firemen, but are they equipped to handle this level of devastation, NO!
They are just allowing Earthquake experts from nearby nations to enter, they need to open up and get more experts in there. They need more disaster & engineering experts to guide their troops and volunteers. They need more medical volunteers and medicine especially doctors who can treat physical injuries. Stop worrying about what the media is going to print, those victims don't have time on their side.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

HC, Toronto — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:30:18 GMT

As a Canadian who visited the US several times around the beginning of the Iraq War, I know how these reporters felt. The verbal violence against the French, the sheer hatred of Iraqis (there was a radio host in New York who encouraged everyone to lift the bottoms of their feet up and point them towards Arabs because it's considered an insult to show the bottom of your shoes).

The Chinese seem to be no less proud - and no less idiotic about their pride - as Americans are.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

dee, Toronto — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:34:40 GMT

To Cindy: it doesn't mean anything really. It's a riot, they are threatening the stability in ALL ways. Compare to US invading another country, China was minding it's own business... and I'm not sure what evidence is pointing me that states is doing theirs.

It's sad that there are casualties, but hell blame it on those who started it. The methods of Western Media coverage was just terrible even to oversea Chinese.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Yaoshi, Edmonton, Canada — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:46:34 GMT

Where are those so-called "human rights protectors" right now? where is Dailai? Do they really care about in China?

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

J. Wu, Houston, TX — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:48:10 GMT

Communist China is acting as a communist nation does: it censors what it doesn't like and attempt to only show what it wants its people to believe. With the embarrassment and disasters of several incidences this year (including the well-known Olympic protests, the heavy snow storm that left many people stranded, the train crash, and now this earth quake) they need to learn that although they may try to hide the ugly side from their own people through censorship, that it is impossible to hide the truth from the world.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

J. Wu, Houston, TX — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:48:22 GMT

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Lance J , Baton Rouge , LA — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:49:03 GMT

It doesn't matter , we need to start helping anyone in need , our President doesn't seem to even care about helping China , he's in Isreal giving a speech while oil prices and gas keep going up at the very moment , millions are homeless we should have a program here to help , I don't know what charities I can trust either here in the US. I feel terrible for those people in China and Myanmar .

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Olga Juarez, Perth Amboy, New Jersey — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:56:25 GMT

My heart crys for the families and children in China.
My tears falling down my cheek as I see the pictures of mothers & fathers holding their love ones wraped in their arms. May the lord give them strenth and help them in this time of need. Bless them Lord and give them shelter and guide them to safety.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Charles F, Phoenix, AZ — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:13:23 GMT

I too would like the West to stop using Communist China to define China. Nothing could be further from the truth. While there is a Communist Party, and China is a one party system, it is definitely a market economy and capitalism is everywhere. Compare the leadership of the China Quake in relation to the Katrina disaster. It's obvious to me, their priority is with the people. The Chinese people should proud of how they are handling this disaster. Outstanding leadership. Bush and his cronies could learn something.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Jane, SF, CA — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:14:44 GMT

In response to Gilbert's statement that journalists are guests and should respect China's wishes, I beg to differ. The public does have a 'right to know' - since we trade with China we have a right to know what our dollars support (and vice versa). But the German issue is bad - Journalists don't have time to fact check anymore and its our fault for demanding news in 5 minutes.

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Mike, Phoenix, AZ — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:16:23 GMT

To Tony in Memphis: You can't just report both rallies proportionally according to rally size...it's not a contest of who can bring the most people. It's also what the rally is about.

The pro-Tibetan rally was to protest brutality by the Chinese government towards a people, primarily based on their religion. The pro-China rallies were organized simply to attempt to drown out the pro-Tibetan rallies and make people ignore the brutality.

The Western media has done the correct thing by focusing on the brutality, which is really the news story. A government brutalizing and killing its own people simply to suppress them is far more newsworthy than "YAY China! Don't pay attention to the other rally!"

China’s Western media lovefest sours, again

Mike, Saratoga Springs, NY — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:17:31 GMT

Not to minimize or lose sight of the pain and anguish of those affected, but having been to Iraq and back, I can tell you from personal experience that the media only gives you one side of the so called truth. In my opinion much of what we hear and see has been edited, word smithed and twisted to such an extent that there is little truth left behind.
Which is not to say that something right or wrong is going on in China. Only that it's difficult to trust what you see on TV or hear in the news. Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear.
Otherwise, each country is responsible for doing the right thing for its people, and if they can't it is their responsibility to ask for help.