Anti-CNN to drop name, change identity

• Source: The Global Times
• [20:50 May 25 2009]
• Comments

Overseas Chinese gather at CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta on April 26, 2008, to protest alleged bias and also to denounce commentator Jack Cafferty. Photo: ACCN

Anger as an energy

"Anger is the most valuable quality of the website. Engaging with the west is where Anti-CNN should stand and develop," wrote a website member with the ID "Mian Qin".

Born last March, Anti-CNN became famous for its aggressive rebuttal of perceived bias in the international media and a base of operations for patriotic young Chinese living both home and abroad.

Wearing Olympic shirts and waving Chinese national flags, thousands of overseas Chinese students crowded in front of CNN's Atlanta headquarters and chanted, "Stop lying about Tibet!"

"From this moment, 'April Youth', a brand new type of Chinese patriot, was born," according to the website's own promotional blurb. "No matter where you are, which industry you're working in, as long as you can stand up when our motherland is facing troubles and humiliation, you are part of us."

More than a year later, sitting in the comfy chair of his own company office in Beijing, Rao still got excited when talking about the "passionate" days.

"That's one of the most memorable moments of my life," said Rao. "All the April youth, home and abroad, united together and forced hundreds of foreign media and organizations, including CNN and BBC, to either apologize or silently correct their reports."

Said Rao, "Anger doesn't necessarily contradict with rationality. We showed our inner anger politely and lawfully. We even smiled bravely when encountering misunderstandings."

With five full-time employees and 400-plus volunteers, Anti-CNN became a symbol for Chinese citizens fighting what they perceived as biased reports by the international media during the 2008 Olympic torch relay.

Starting as just one shabby web page, a rich collection of comparative pictures and videos posted on the website targeted mistakes by global media, including mis-identifying Nepalese as Chinese soldiers, using out-dated photos to match news situations and the alleged manipulative cropping of photos.

CNN issued a statement last April after its commentator Jack Cafferty called the Chinese "goons and thugs" and products manufactured in China "junk", saying it was not CNN's intent to offend the Chinese people. No specific explanation was offered about specific complaints or specific reports.

"Their aggressive fight back against the western media overthrew traditional Chinese defensive concepts, drawing lots of attention to the website," said Liu Xiaoying, a professor of international communication at the Communication University of China in Beijing.

CNN employee Ms Yang at the Beijing office requested that the Global Times e-mail an interview outline for her to forward to bureau chief Jaime Flora-Cruz. Ms Yang confirmed receiving the question list and said she would ask Flora-Cruz, whom she said was "very busy".

Despite repeated requests and deadline extensions, the Global Times received no reply from CNN.