Hong Kong Protests Day 9 - The Media

“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire." ~Ferdinand Foch, French military leader

Chris and I watch CNN International regularly while over on this side of the world. It’s our link to what’s going on and we find it an essential component of our life here, even more so than when we’re back in the States. Maybe it’s because we’re “out in the world” these days and knowing what’s going on does, many times, help to keep us safe. (Now I could be doing a promo for CNN!)

For the last two weeks, our own corner of the world has been on the international stage: Hong Kong has suddenly exploded onto the news scene because of the pro-democracy protests and subsequent police violence that followed. Of course, CNN’s Hong Kong correspondents raced right to the middle of things and have been keeping the world apprised of what’s going on for the last ten days. We often joke that CNN stands for Catastrophe News Network – a moniker that’s hard to dispute given their propensity for dramatic news coverage. Certainly, this week the demonstrations in Hong Kong fit the bill!

The truth is, we were in Hong Kong when the riots happened a week ago, but knew nothing about it until we started getting texts and emails from friends back home asking if we were OK! Chris had seen dozens of police vans rushing toward Central, but neither of us thought to follow up on what was happening until the next day when the coverage was all over the news. By then the demonstrations were so large we could see them from our window and knew the only way we were going to participate was through the eyes of our local CNN correspondents!

In many ways we feel fortunate that we were in Hong Kong when the demonstrations began and the rioting broke out. If we had been in China, we would have been cut off from the news coverage altogether. In fact, although CNN is broadcast throughout most of China, when anything comes on air that is not approved by the censors, the television instantly goes black. Coverage of the protests and police action have been effectively “blacked out” throughout China since they began - the Chinese censors have been hard at work making sure the country doesn’t get wind of what’s happening with its “little sister” to the south.

I read a quote about “the umbrella movement” this week and why China is so determined that news doesn’t get out to the public on the Mainland. It said, “If China is the tinderbox, then Hong Kong is the match.” Perhaps that’s true in many respects; certainly, it’s not something Beijing is going to chance. The heavy-handed censorship simply confirms their understanding of the media’s power and it’s ability to fan the flames of change.

Things have started to calm down in Hong Kong this weekend and one is led to wonder if the lack of drama will affect the news coverage - CNN doesn’t stand for “Calm” News Network, afterall. It will be interesting to see what happens with the protestors and their ongoing stand for democracy when the cameras stop rolling and the media turns its attention to the next “news drama.” Will they carry on with their cause? Will they continue to fight? Will they still be able to stand strong - even when the world stops watching?