Citizen reporter Media whore VS Google receptionist

Let's blow up Google's office!

Mr. Tan,

I must respectfully disagree with the sentiments of your article, and your unfounded efforts to dismiss Zola Zhou.

But before I tell you why, I would like to suggest that you develop a literary voice of your own. Regurgitating the "wisdom" of Imagethief (his name is William Moss, I believe) in this and other Web 2.0 matters is a suspect decision at best. You should think for yourself, Mr. Tan.

Imagethief is applying an older (some would argue antequated) perspective on communication in the public sphere. His kind of journalism has a long and troublesome attachment to monied-interests, among other ethical inconsistencies. Frankly speaking, it wreaks of big-business, corporate media elitism. It shouldn't surprise you to learn, therefore, that Imagethief has blogged for C/NET Asia, a subsidiary of C/NET Networks, Inc., and a public company listed on NASDAQ. This is hardly legitimate grounds for representing the common man. No citizen (in China or elsewhere), as far as I know, is publicly traded on the stock market.

"It's not about you," Imagethief says, in bold type, advising Zola to remove himself from the investigation. What?!? Does he understand nothing of the current generation of new media (read: internet), citizen journalists? Or is he simply trying to protect his collective, corporate, dare I say, establishment media-whoring identity?

In any case, Imagethief, and now you, just don't get it. This is the first time in human history when the individual is, I repeat, is a part of the story. Perhaps that leaves much to be desired regarding quality or craft, but participatory media is the future. I refer you to the corporate New York Times' sliding subscription base, and the subsequent rapid rise in community-led information sites like the nonprofit Wikipedia. Only one of which is currently GFW-d in China. Guess which one, Mr. Tan. Looks like Imagethief has established his allegiance. Only room in this town for one media-whore, I suppose.

Mr. Tan, you have simply repackaged Imagethief's misguided words (what you lauded as "really excellent advice") for Shanghaiist, and with the tone of a sarcastic child (something Imagethief has advised against, by the way). Bad form, my friend.

Regardless, and to return to my original position, I am somewhat perplexed as to why you care what Chinese netizens, and PR lackeys alike, feel about politically charged web video like that of Zola's. This is Zola's story and his alone. This is the story of one citizen in China. His desire to become famous is a moot point, I'm afraid. Were it not so then we would certainly have to go back and reconsider the original motivation for every significant figure in human history.

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., for example, perhaps the most important public personae in the American civil rights movement and a source of inspiration for similar activists around the world, was also a well known adulterer and, according to his own colleagues, an especially arrogant individual. He also received ample scorn from both the public and those claiming to be his allies (read: Letters from a Birmingham Jail). But does this lessen his contribution to social justice? Does this make his efforts inconsequential? I think not.

I am most definitely not trying to equate Zola with MLK, Jr., but I am keenly aware of Chinese history, current Chinese public policy, and the rarity of those individuals willing to take an active role in deciding the path to Chinese future. Zola is not graceful or elegant, I'll grant you that, and certainly not humble or idol-worthy. But he is a citizen with a story, and he represents a country that so infrequently offers citizen stories, despite its massive population and remarkable literary history. Zola Zhou is a rough but rare stone in a media stream of countless polished and pretty TV shows, commercials, and neo-capitalist propaganda pieces disguised as "journalism." He may be one of the first to do something different, but he won't be the last.

So give the dude a break, will ya?