DATELINE: HONG KONG
Many people in mainland China do not understand very much about the nature of China's resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong. They think that after the transition, Hong Kong will look like the mainland, and that they will be able to come here to make a living. Worst of all, some legends have been spreading. Hong Kong will become a battlefield!. . . Ridiculous!: "Old Timer", a diarist on the Web site, Hong Kong Lives in Transition.
Clark: 14 people involved in this one (you can get the full list with job titles in the "about" section of the Hong Kong site.
Knight: How did you select your diarists?
Clark: Associate Producer Hilary Klotz went to Hong Kong for about a week,utilizing many contacts she had acquired previously in her work with Ambrica Productions. Our initial plans were to assemble as diverse a group as possible: we have a translater in Hong Kong who handles Cantonese entries on the project, as we didn't want that to be a barrier to participation. We've made particular effort balance perspectives on the handover.
Knight: Are they statistically representative of Hong Kong?
Clark: Hmmm... haven't really considered that, so that means it probably isn't. Ourapproach is much more ancedotal than statistical.
Knight: How do they communicate with you?
Clark: Some submit their diary entries directly via email. Others fax their entries in English or submit them in Cantonese to our representative in Hong Kong (who translates them and emails them on to us). The number of people whohave direct contact with the diarists is kept to a minimum (as several arecontributing pseudonymously).
Knight:Where is your operation located?
Clark: Principle design staff is in Orlando, Florida ... diary editing taking place in New York, software development in Greensboro, North Carolina ... HongKong representative. We really use the Internet to network our own operations.
Knight: Is this a new use of internet technology?
Clark: Probably not, but I do believe it's framed in a unique manner: first-person,multiple perspective coverage much more akin to a documentary film than to"news" coverage, but with the ability to tell the story as it is happening (rather than a year or more after footage is shot).
Knight: Who is funding your operation?
Clark: The most significant operating funds have come from PBS Online, although theAmerican Documentary, Inc. and GlobalMedia Design have provided significantservice contributions.
Knight: What do you hope to achieve?
Clark: To provide website visitors with a broader, deeper understanding of thetransition in Hong Kong. We approached this site with the knowledge that thenews will be filled with HK transition "news". Few give the opportunity for the "point of view" coverage that provides historical and cultural contextto history unfolding.