It’s tough being a journalist in China
For a start you need to master the art of holding a microphone the right way round, especially when former Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has called on you for a question. We shouldn’t be too hard on the beleaguered Chinese press, though – they are, after all, still unfamiliar with the concept of challenging the party line and the workings of journalistic equipment.
I imagine the editors pep talk encouraged this guy to ‘ask a tough question’, which our hero of free speech clearly interpreted as an order to make life as difficult as possible for himself. Nobody has any idea what his question was, but the answer would certainly have been one of the following:
1. “We strongly condemn this action that has hurt the feelings of all Chinese people”
2. “We steadfastly refute the allegation that Chinese leaders use hair-dying products. Obama is turning grey because he lacks leadership skills with Chinese characteristics.”
3. “Tibetans are the happiest people on Earth; liberated, educated, fed, and only occasionally beaten or shot for not obeying our orders”
4. “We are a peace-loving, tolerant people who never interfere in the internal affairs of other countries”
5. “Freedom of expression is enshrined in the Chinese constitution; dissidents are enshrined in the gulag”
March 9th, 2009 at 9:47 am
That picture is priceless! Does anybody there even realize that he’s holding the microphone backwards?
March 10th, 2009 at 1:57 am
Hi Josh, thanks for stopping by.
Yeah, I couldn’t resist spreading a little mirth when I came across the picture. I think I can see a couple of wry smiles among his fellow journalists.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Strange enough, I have a sense of home after 4 years of not hearing these Party’s bullsh*ts. I can only contribute one British/American counterpart: international community. Wikipedia has a good explanation:
March 10th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Linan Wang, long time no visit. Welcome back.
Four years away from home? The Motherland is calling.
March 11th, 2009 at 5:44 am
Poor guy. He must suck at karaoke too.
March 11th, 2009 at 5:48 am
I like the black notebook too. There appears to be at least one other – identical – one in the shot. Do you suppose they’re issued with the press pack? Pre-approved questions and texts of the answers, so you don’t have to worry about taking shorthand (or having your MP3 recorder run out of battery power)!
And he’s having to read the question out because he can’t remember it – those fawning preambles can get very LONG, can’t they?
March 11th, 2009 at 7:02 am
“I like the black notebook too. There appears to be at least one other – identical – one in the shot. Do you suppose they’re issued with the press pack? ”
My guess is it’s an instuction manual on how to hold a microphone. Sadly for the poor chap, the manual was also upside down.
September 16th, 2009 at 1:12 am
A little bit entertainment about Her Majesty
http://www.xici.net/b504652/d33200623.htm