[Swprograms] Fwd: [ODXA] Fluff Programming on CRI

["Richard Cuff" <rdcuff@xxxxxxxxx>]

An interesting take from Roger Chambers in the ODXA group...

I would add that I believe "China Drive" airs primarily on the
domestic FM service serving Bejing -- branded "Easy FM".  As such, it
serves the needs of the traditional vacuous (love that word) FM
listener.

It is only within the past few months that this program -- which I
believe used to exist as "RealTime Beijing" -- began gracing the SW
lineup.

I agree with Roger that Radio Japan has perfected this type of bland
programming, with the annoying "A Song For You" stuffed between two
news segments.

Deutsche Welle strayed into this fluff-laden turf with their midday
program, "Update Europe", which has since (thankfully) left the
airwaves.

I will say that CRI produces some interesting feature programming, but
-- since China remains a society still with controlled media -- CRI
should be viewed skeptically as a source of unbiased news.  Shame on
us for expecting anything different.

Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA  USA

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Roger Chambers <mvswlc@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sep 30, 2007 8:40 AM
Subject: [ODXA] Fluff Programming on CRI
To: ODXA <odxa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Fred Waterer <fwaterer@xxxxxxxxx>


China Radio International and Fluff Programming

A few years ago, I recall comparing the programs of
CRI favorably with those of the BBC or Radio
Netherlands.  That is certainly not the case today.

First, the news.  While the world news has been
dominated by the situation in Myanmar (or Burma --
just what is the politically correct name these
days?), on CRI at 1000 UTC on September 29th and 1100
UTC on the 30th, there was no mention of the situation
in Rangoon (Yangon).  This is curious, in that a main
point in much of the news from domestic tv and foreign
radio (Australia, DW, RN, and BBC) was the important
role that China plays in the situation, economically
and politically.

Now to general programming.  The seemingly ubiquitous
"China Drive" is terrible.  (The title alone implies a
disastrous American influence on transportation
expectations of middle class Chinese).  It follows a
pattern of "fluff" programming that is as vacuous as
Vanna White.  This is a type of program "perfected" to
the point of near complete irrelevance by such
stations as Radio Japan, Radio Korea, and Radio Taiwan
International. (Curiously, all Asian Rim countries).

As an infrequent, weekly feature, fluff works well (I
would put the old "His and Hers" program with Jerry
and Dody Cowen on Radio Netherlands in the 70s into
that category.  How's that for nostalgia?).  However a
daily dose is too much.  A male and female, chatting
back and forth over the weather or beach holiday
interspersed with bubble gum music ...... who cares?
The local FM bands are full of this baloney.  On a
public broadcaster, I would expect something better.

China certainly has a very important role to play in
coming decades with issues of development, political
development, but even more important, energy use,
global warming, abuse of the Mekong River,  and the
limits of environmental constraints.  If CRI is really
interested in getting its message out, just what is
the message?  A China expecting to live like affluent
suburban Americans and Europeans? If they really want
to "reach" the short wave enthusiast, or more
generally and more importantly listeners  on the
Internet or rebroadcasts, they need better news and
better programs than "China Drive." They could do far
better than emulate the worst of the fluff as heard
every day on domestic commercial AM and FM.  Give us
some programs with some relevance and substance.

Roger Chambers
Utica, New York



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-- 
Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA  USA

International broadcasting / shortwave blog:
http://www.intlradio.blogspot.com
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