CNN accused of bending the truth about Tibet
This image is all over Chinese discussion boards. Web-users are saying that the photo, published by CNN, proves that the American channel is manipulating information about the Tibet crisis in order to cast China in a negative light.
In comments posted on Hong Kong and Chinese discussion forums like Shanghaining and 28discuss.com, Chinese Internet users accuse CNN of editing images of the unrest in Tibet in order to omit evidence of Tibetans acting violently. The critics say that in the version of the photo published by CNN (on the left), for example, CNN intentionally cropped out the Tibetan rioters who appear to be throwing stones at a military van. CNN denies the allegation, saying the image in question was cropped because of space constraints on the CNN Web site and that the organization's coverage has been impartial (see full statement below).
Comments about the image posted on the Hong Kong forum 28discuss.com
'Busted 10':
"CNN is known to bend the truth in its reports."
'Mancheonghoho':
"They did the same thing in Iraq."
'VIP':
"[The riots in Tibet] were orchestrated by the west."
'Yuenes1':
"There were nothing but vandals."
Comment from China specialist Cai Chongguo on the controversy:
The riots represented by the Chinese state TV channel CCTV.
The riots represented by CNN (with images taken from CCTV)
CNN sent the following statement
Having reviewed the vast content used on cnn.com to reflect the ongoing situation in Tibet, CNN not only stands by its decision to publish this particular image, but also refutes all allegations by bloggers that CNN distorts its coverage of the events in Tibet to portray either side in a more favourable light.
CNN's editorial mission is to report global news accurately and impartially and our online coverage through the use of words, images and video, always reflects a wide range of opinions and points of view.
We have published images showing violence by Tibetans against the Chinese -- see yesterday's story which shows Tibetan youths attacking a Chinese man:
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/18/tibet.unrest/index.html#cnnSTCText
We have also published video from the Chinese media apparently showing Tibetans attacking Chinese interests in Lhasa.
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/03/14/tibet.violence.cctv "
CNN"
Comments
Many western people,
Submitted by Anonyme (not verified) on Sat, 03/05/2008 - 11:16.Many western people, especially those young ones, have no clue about the fact in history.
http://kamsiufung.blogspot.com/
China implicated in staging violence in Tibet
Submitted by Bria (not verified) on Mon, 31/03/2008 - 12:39.If cropping an image is CNN's worst crime, then I'm not that worried. What about this story? China was framed for having a Chinese policeman dress in traditional Tibetan costume and wield a knife to incite violence during the riots. He was captured in photos that were sent around by the Chinese embassy. The "Tibetan" was later identified by a Chinese tourist from Thailand as a Chinese police officer. Once the man's true identity was learned, his image was mysteriously deleted from pro-CCP sites. You can see the photos for yourself here: http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-3-29/67906.html Tibetans will confirm that the sword this so called Tibetan is carrying is actually a Chinese military sword and that the way he wears his traditional dress, a chupa, and his green belt (kherag) are distinctly un-Tibetan. Furthermore, protestors will generally try to hide their face to avoid subsequent persecution. This man however purposely turned toward the camera in order to show the violence taking place.
Ruan Ming, former Chinese Communist Party to the Party Secretary backs up the claims that the riots were staged by the Chinese as a pretext for justifying a crackdown on Tibet: http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=20077&article=Former+Advisor+to+Party+General+Secretary+Claims+Regime+Staged+Lhasa+Inci...
Is China Evil Nation?
Submitted by Anonyme (not verified) on Sat, 03/05/2008 - 11:21.Many Western people, especially those young ones, have no clue about what happened in history. And they believed in what they've seen in CNN & BBC, that China is evil. In fact, many incident in history, it wasn't the case.
http://kamsiufung.blogspot.com/
That picture is just a
Submitted by Anonyme (not verified) on Tue, 15/04/2008 - 06:37.That picture is just a picture when they having a film. A lot of times, Chinese army are asked to became the actors in the movie. This movie was back in 2004. Plus, the uniforms on the picture is different from the current uniform. They've changed that ever since 2005. So who faked was the this stupid website. They always have fake info. Even I can found out that's fake. Most ppl don't even care what their newspaper and website talking.
Private censorship exist too
Submitted by Pierri (not verified) on Sat, 29/03/2008 - 12:05."You have to take into account that they don't have access to anything that contradicts this stuff," - as if everyone else has it.
I live in Brazil and ALL I see in the media coverage, TV, newspapers and internet, here and elsewhere, is "Communist China bad (always with emphasis on "communist"), Tibetans, good."
It is a lie to say that having access leads to a more valid opinion, because we do NOT spend our days searching the sources for something that contradicts what the TV set is showing. That´s the logical fallacy the defenders of "freedom of speech" (of the media corporations - what other exist?) always commit, and those corporations benefit from.
That´s what allow CNN to write it´s headlines in a way to direct the reader to condemn China, as well as to crop images to support them.
What leads to a more solid opinion on anything is having those media outlets show all the opinions about it, and not letting them display what they want, the way they want, and let the viewer look for the other sides somewhere else.
Few westerners can honestly say who is right and who is wrong re: Tibet riots, because we have only seen one side of the issue, and every mention of the other side is presented as an official apology from the Chinese government - which has always been portrayed as not trustworthy and whose accounts are to be taken with a ton of salt.
China specialist Cai Chongguo
Submitted by Mike (not verified) on Fri, 28/03/2008 - 04:38."...they don't have access to anything that contradicts this stuff,", so they could edited the pictures as they wanted? Such a illogical "China spcialist".
Did you watch the videos?
Submitted by Julie Phineas (not verified) on Wed, 26/03/2008 - 02:00.When I see the picture I see a handful of Tibetan protestors behaving as if they are extremely upset, AND I see a handful of bystanders, one person hurrying on a bike, and some people hurrying across the street as Chinese military trucks are driving by.
When fitting an image into the space for an article the most important aspect to keep is the message.
To me the message that the people are upset and the military is present in the area is shown in BOTH versions of the picture.
However if you watch the videos given here you will see the Chinese media only shows the protestors and not the military presence, when CNN showed both.
Who is really showing bias here?
CNN and the 'liberal' Western media
Submitted by Concerned Hong Konger (not verified) on Tue, 25/03/2008 - 18:07.First of all, I take issue with this glaring typo that nobody seemed to notice:
Comments about the image posted on the Honk Kong forum 28discuss.com
It's HonG Kong, not HonK Kong.
Secondly, I'm not sure how Mr. Cai Chongguo is supposed to be considered a 'specialist' in China. Is it by virtue of his having taught philosophy in the University of Wuhan? And that qualifies him how? He is making a sweeping generalization about people in China that they 'suck up' official Chinese propaganda. HELLO! 28discuss.com.hk is a Hong Kong forum and we in Hong Kong do not SUCK UP anything. But of course, Mr. Cai doesn't know this, he left China before Hong Kong returned.
I doubt that most Hong Kong people think that the Dalai Lama is behind the riots, and even if they did, it wouldn't be because of the official Chinese propaganda. Mr. Cai really underestimates the mental capacity of his FORMER fellow countrymen. Don't you think people wonder why the conflict is occuring and conclude that it must be ethnically related, especially if the government does not offer an explanation? Don't you think people can put one and one together? I am ashamed that you were once my countryman.
I think it's alarming that so many in the West believe that Chinese netizens are a part of an uncultured mass of babbling idiots who do not have an opinion on their own independent of the CCP's official stance on things. Many's opinion of the West are not good not because the CCP says so, but because of what we perceive to be injustices. As one of the comments on the forum indicates, one netizen felt that the "Free Tibet" comment by Bjork earlier this year was somehow related to a wider Western conspiracy to stir up trouble during the Olympic year. Do you think the CCP allowed coverage of Bjork's comment so that this netizen could come to the conclusion that Westerners were conspiring against China? Give me a break! The CCP, if it were as characterized by the West and Americans, would opt to censor that comment altogether!
And to all you Westerners who talk about censorship in China. Yes, it exists, and Yes, people are not happy about it. But consider what is happening in your own homes. Do any of you "supporters of Tibet" actually know what is going on in Tibet? Have you spoken to a real Tibetan? Why do so many people blindly call for a "free Tibet" when you have no idea what the situation is? All the information you get is one-sided and you summarily dismiss anything that the Chinese side has to offer. In fact, everything is from your 'liberal media.' Go ask someone who has visited Tibet and ask them for their honest assessment.
Don't you guys ever find it interesting that non of China's other minority areas are ever brought up by the Western media? Is China also "cracking down" on those areas or is China only focused on "eradicating" the Tibetans? Could it be that the Dalai Lama clique is a little clever in their PR efforts and able to draw in brainwashed idiot celebrities like Stephen Seagal and Richard Gere so that you will also support "Free Tibet"
Finally, in response to CNN's response. They know better than anyone that a 'picture is worth a thousand words' and yet they defend their cropped picture with "Oh, and we included a comment below". Most people will not pay attention to the comment, and they know it. Also, the links that CNN points to were published after the fact. Look at the dates...
Take a look at some 'inaccuracies' here:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/23/content_7841316.htm
Typo
Submitted by Team Observers on Wed, 26/03/2008 - 08:33.Thanks for alerting us on this typo. We've corrected it.
I'm a native Chinese so
Submitted by Anonyme (not verified) on Sun, 23/03/2008 - 11:04.I'm a native Chinese so please forgive my imperfect english.
I dont see any relation between the accuse and the writer's comment.
simply: the accuse-CNN used a pic which was cut, and with the crucial part. (there're also other pics like that on BBC and some german sites, though not typically cut-they are usually with odd comments attached).
the comment: chinese net users believe the authorities are right in every scene. and there are tibet supporters...
the writer seems to be blind to all the attacks on chinese net against its own authorities before. it's usually politically incorrect to support the authorities in forums like tianya. and one of the most focused target of the users is that the govt is too weak to the outside, say, Japan; and too repressive inside.
in fact, before this I even had little knowledge on the negative attitude to CNN, including my own. as far as I know it's no agency of CIA-well VOA may be closer, and you can get the record of VOA in china more easily in the us.