About This Project
PROJECT SUMMARY
International Reporting: Destination China
Directed by Professor Nancy Benson
University of Illinois Department of Journalism
The ten participating students spent the 2007 Spring Semester in weekly lectures and discussion focused on the culture, economy and politics of China – within the context of globalization. The students have been challenged to understand the connections between China and the U.S. and examine how these two economic powerhouses interact with the rest of the world. Seeing connections is what New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman says is the real value added provided by a journalist these days.
Throughout the semester students interacted with journalists who have traveled to China, Chinese experts and natives. The capstone to the course is a 15-day reporting expedition to China. During their travel the students will post daily blogs, photos and video and audio clips as they interview sources and gather data for stories they have researched all semester.
The students will collaborate with journalism students at Tsinghua and Beijing Universities. They will tour factories, talk to migrant workers, meet with Olympic officials, discuss journalism with Chinese Central Television reporters, learn from NBC correspondents and Chicago Tribune researchers, and share their work with documentary producers. Many of the sources and contacts for the student stories are University of Illinois alumni, or former visiting scholars.
This is Professor Nancy Benson’s second International Reporting course. In 2005 she took ten journalism students on a reporting expedition to Peru. Her goal is to have journalism student report from every region of the developing world.
Participating Students and Their Story Summaries
John Paul (graduate student)
The Chinese economy is "white hot" with annual growth averaging 10%. That's more than double average global economic growth. The buying power of the Chinese workers is growing too. More and more U.S. companies want to take advantage of the surging Chinese economy by selling their products there, by manufacturing in mainland China or by buying raw materials from the Chinese. In this report you'll hear why China is so attractive to businesses in Illinois and how much Illinois trades with China. The report will profile three Illinois companies--big and small: Caterpillar, Cim-Tek and Littelfuse. Each of the trio is finding a way to make China a part of its daily operations.
Maria Zamudio (undergrad)
My story examines the changes in the political landscape since events leading up to Tiananmen Square. I want to find out how students view the political changes taking place in their country. Are they even interested in politics? Or like U.S. students are they mostly concerned about getting a good education and good job. I also want to know how they view the face that China will present to the world in the 2008 Olympics.
Ted Land (undegrad)
The city of Taizhou is fast becoming an environmental tragedy where poor farmers-turned-scrappers make a living by melting circuit boards and other discarded computer parts in order to extract bits of metal. My story traces how discarded computers in Central Illinois end up in one of the most polluted and poverty-stricken regions in China. There are companies that purchase old computers from businesses and then ship them overseas to China where they end up in places like Taizhou where women and children strip the computers down with their bare hands. The toll this is taking on the environment and public health is devastating.
Sam Unger (undergrad)
My story will focus on the growing problem of air pollution plaguing many of China's larger cities and the impact it is having on the people, economy and the environment. In Beijing, I want to explain how pollution could impact the 2008 Olympics, and what measures are being taken to control pollution for the Olympics. Additionally, I want to report on the main causes of air pollution in China along with future methods for controlling pollution, including cleaner burning fuels and renewable energy.
Julian Scharman (undergrad)
I will examine the effects of US labor outsourcing in the northern illinois suburbs, where a predicted multi-million dollar Motorola Assembly and Development Plant would have been developed , resulting in a low-level unemployment vacuum. I will also examine the overseas development of outsourced labor on the coast of china as well as it's shift to the in-land. Other research areas will include: Motorola's decision to develop an in-house education system to train and prepare overseas workers for higher-level management and technician positions; the future of Chinese involvement in US-labor relatoins (are there other countries in runner-up positions to offer the United States cheap forms of labor?).
Christine Won (undergrad)
China is at the forefront of trying to control “Internet addiction” but how much of that is a certifiable mental disorder? I want to talk with students who have been diagnosed with internet addiction and Chinese psychologists who are treating it. I will also examine the use of developing technology by China’s University students differs from University of Illinois students.
Lauren Thorbjornson (undergrad)
Millions of workers move from the Chinese countryside to the cities to make a living. They are faced with poor living conditions, virtually no health care possibilities, limited employment opportunities, and lack of education for their children. With an increase in construction in Beijing for the Olympics and other needs in Shanghai, there is an ever increasing demand for workers. The goal of my story is to better understand how these people play a role in China's economy and how their work is valued.
Elizabeth Murray (undergrad)
Over the past two decades China as a country has dealt with a government that strongly encourages, and in some cases strictly enforces family birth control policy. How do Chinese citizens view the policy? How are the parents of these only children going to fare in retirement? Is there a generation clash?
Liz Reising (undergrad)
My story will attempt to contrast the efforts in Chicago to obtain an Olympic Bid with what Beijing has done to receive its first ever Olympic Bid. I hope to speak with Olympic Officials, city planners, journalists and local students in an effort to understand the planning, excitement, and impression the Olympics have made on cities like Beijing and Chicago. I also hope to contrast the passion of Midwest/Chicago sports fans with those in Beijing: do the Olympics “stir the soul” and what will they bring to the city of Chicago?
Michael Koliska (graduate student)
Story One:The importance of soybeans. Originally from China soybeans are now a vital U.S. export item to China. I am looking at how Illinois is helping China to increase soybean production. Story Two: China is helping some African states economically by engaging in deals without strings attached. Yet some of these arrangements cause political tensions because the leaders of African states like Sudan show a disregard concerning human rights.
DESTINATION CHINA ITINERARY
- May 15 ~ Depart Illinois for China
- May 16 ~ Arrive Shanghai
- May 17-22
- Shanghai: Reporting
- Dinner with UI alumni and Chancellor Richard Herman
- Trip to Suzhou, visits to Old Shanghai, Bund and Nanjing Shopping district
- May 23 ~ Depart Shanghai by train for Beijing
- May 15 ~ Depart Illinois for China
- May 24-30
- Beijing: Reporting
- Meet with Chinese Olympic officials
- Dinner with Tribune researcher
- meet journalism students at Tsinghua University
- visit with Chinese documentary producers
- Tour China Central Television
- visit to NBC News bureau
- Visit to Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City
- May 31 ~ Depart Beijing for Illinois
Shanghai Hotel: Bailemen http://cbw.com/hotel/bailemen/
Beijing Hotel: Beijing Institute of Technology: http://english.bit.edu.cn/
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