Saturday, April 17, 2010

Kunleng show

VOA Kunling is  extremely popular in exile and it is known to be watched by Tibetans in Tibet secretly. In times of such a crisis as the Jykundo earth quake, Tibetan people all over the world tune to more news and informations, from Tibetan media as such as RFA, VOA, VOT.  I watched the Kunling two hours special program with great care and attention.


I like to point out the strength and drawbacks of this particular show on Friday 18 .

The strength:  Good choice of guest speakers, ( exile Kalon, a Tibetan doctor and others  who are knowledgeable of the Jykundo regions and besides had contact with their relatives in the affected areas)
The program flowed smoothly and no technical glitch. The topics of the dicussion are very focused and  relevant. Good attempt to be balanced, by showing CCTV footage, and Chinese official's releases relating to the quake.

The weakness:  Inconsistent of death toll in your own reporting, for example, Pema Dechen's report says death toll at 600. And the two anchors give a different figures about 700, as well as the those guest put figures over thousands. As a matter of fact, when the showing is going on, the death toll has already reached 1484, reported in Chinese official media and quoted by BBC, CNN etc on Friday 18.
Also on Kunling reporting,  mentioned no international reporters were allowed on the scene, except Chinese media. This is not true, BBC, CNN, Aljazeera, and AFP, all reported from the scene in Jyekundo right after the quake. There might have been some restriction for the domestic media.
When showing footage, why rely only on Chinese official media.  BBC, CNN, and Ajazeera, and AFP has excellent video footage, that matches perfectly with the discussion for example . http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8626131.stm
When mentioning about the Jyekunda residents wishes and request for the Dalai lama to be allowed to visit. The host should have read out the entire letter as it is , that is posted on buxun.com and translated by ICT on their website http://www.savetibet.org/ under the title  petition to Hu and Wen calls for  Dala Lama to visit the Tibetan  quake area. This is also posted  before Kunling show started.
And then there was no mention of the Dalai Lama's second address to press, where  he mentioned that attempt is making for him to visit the affected area as per wishes of the local residents." "To fulfil the wishes of many of the people there, I am eager to go there myself to offer them comfort,"  This vital message by the Dalai lama is posted on your website http://www1.voanews.com/tibetan-english/news/tibet/Dalai-Lama-Eager-to-Visit-Earthquake-Affected-Area-91265549.html under a English article, but didnt show on Kunling. When one of the host asks Kalon .Talak what exile government or His Holiness the Dala doing in terms of going to visit the area, I feel the host is completely unaware of the second address by His Holiness, which is extremely important. Instead you have replayed the first address by His Holiness.

It is also important that the media should be objective and balanced. your anchors made no mention of the PM Wen's visit to the affected area and Hu's hasty return from abroad due to "Huge calamity of the quake " as reported in international media. Another important thing is the need for a Khampa speaker anchor, who will understand everything those Kham guest says and will be better interaction. Honestly, those Khamp who if watch Kunling will not understand much what both the anchors saying.  They understand Kham dialect better.

There is also overlapping of questions and the anchors need better coordination.

Over all, it was a long program and the anchors did pretty good job. I wish they are better prepared and be on top of what is happening around by learning the latest update news.  The single male host . interviews were often conducted very smoothly and I would say his preparations were excellent. He is able to ask what the listeners might be interested to learn or hear.

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