Cable News Program on HK Blogs Drew Criticisms
Last week, Hong Kong Cable TV News did a program on blogging in Hong Kong. The show talks about what blogging is (it defines blogging as web diary writing to some HK bloggers' dismay); how blogs are becoming popular among youth in Hong Kong, replacing the ICQ fad; the psychological benefits blogs bring to bloggers - allowing young people to express themselves and reveal their true inner thinking; its significance in Chinese cultural context; and a bit on how blogging is challenging mainstream media as well as politics in United States.
"Parents should read blogs to understand what their kids think", the program concludes.
Thanks to Deki for sharing the 40MB video on-line, I could watch it over the internet.
I watched it because I knew Yan (Glutter) was in the program. Knowing Yan's political views and having read about the thoughts she wanted to tell the television audience days before the show was aired, I was curious how much of her political opinions would be allowed on-air.
Well, not much - to my disappointment. She said:
Other Hong Kong bloggers too, are up in arms, criticizing the program. “Blog, more than JUST a Online Diary!” the bloggers said.
Hong Kong bloggers are now using hk_blog_discuss to tag their blog conversations about the TV show and materials that would correct public as well as mainstream media perception of what blogging is all about.
I am more of an optimist and think most internet users will be blogging in one way or another without even aware of the word "blogging".
"Parents should read blogs to understand what their kids think", the program concludes.
Thanks to Deki for sharing the 40MB video on-line, I could watch it over the internet.
I watched it because I knew Yan (Glutter) was in the program. Knowing Yan's political views and having read about the thoughts she wanted to tell the television audience days before the show was aired, I was curious how much of her political opinions would be allowed on-air.
Well, not much - to my disappointment. She said:
"My three minutes consisted of comments on the Global Culture of Blogging. And how the blog was the place I sort out my "thoughts," and help develop them. But I wasn't talking about "Thoughts in General," I was talking about "Political Thoughts," in particular, and I am amazed at the time they took to edit that segment to the point it was completely out of context. As a non-linear editor myself I know how they do it, and was suspicions they would try. So I purposely phrased what I said so it was difficult. They managed it, and I am not totally convinced they didn't remove parts of the soundtrack. What I plan to do it go through it slowly bit by bit on my editing software just to make sure they didn't.
And what makes me even more concerned is pretty much every Hong Kong person I spoke about this with doesn't feel like this is censorship at all.
I am going to put up the transcript of the interview in English, along with the segment itself. Then I will write down what I was asked and how I actually answered. Then I can let people decide what they think happened."
Other Hong Kong bloggers too, are up in arms, criticizing the program. “Blog, more than JUST a Online Diary!” the bloggers said.
Hong Kong bloggers are now using hk_blog_discuss to tag their blog conversations about the TV show and materials that would correct public as well as mainstream media perception of what blogging is all about.
I am more of an optimist and think most internet users will be blogging in one way or another without even aware of the word "blogging".
