Rethinking News: Get an International Source

This is right up there with get a passport and border-hop. Now, some folks follow a little BBC and some Al Jazeera. I don't really know the difference between them and CNN, but here's a website dedicated to the issue if anyone is curious (thanks Carl). Personally, I follow China in a host of American and English published Chinese sources.

Now take this difference in two coverages, the first from Huffpost Hill 8 July:

TREASURY GOES WOBBLY ON CHINA - Treasury's statement today that China is not manipulating its currency didn't sit well with American workers and others who operate in reality. "Claiming China doesn't manipulate its currency makes about as much sense as saying LeBron James doesn't play basketball," says Steven Capozzola, spokesman for the Alliance for American Manufacturing. "It's clear that China's announcement before the G-20 last month was nothing more than a charade, but the Administration seems to have fallen for this rather unbelievable promise."

Chuck Schumer's statement on Treasury's report: "This report is as disappointing as it is unsurprising. It's clear it will take an act of Congress to do the obvious and call China out for its currency manipulation."

Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee: "As expected, the Administration has again failed to identify China as a currency manipulator...If the President continues to avoid acknowledging China's currency manipulation and fails to address it in a meaningful way, Congress will have to act."

Meanwhile, the CCP writes, "US Treasury: China not manipulating yuan". The point being, do we really need to be told that China is manipulating its currency? Do we really care what Capozzola is playing at? Or what some senators are blustering Congress is gonna do? Since neither side is gonna give you decent coverage, might as well enjoy the differences. Albeit, it's not just about the laughs; more importantly it gives you a taste of exposure which equips you to immediately recognize media constructs of foreign societies. By paying attention to say a Chinese voice, even one tailored to manipulate English speaking audience, you'll get more a sense of some of the CCP's national concerns, their views of other nations, and how they perceive other nations view of them than by some "expert" commenting on an excerpted statement or soundbite. There are tons of great papers out there, Israeli, Austrian, etc, of various stripes with completely fresh takes on everything.

While we're on the subject of difference in Chinese coverage, lately we've heard plenty of firing squads and the Supreme Court's review of defense lawyer's incompetence in GA and GA's incompetence at paying the defense. When though was the last time you saw a death-sentence case like this?: "Wen Qiang spent last days watching World Cup matches". I don't know about you. People say I'm a heartless bastard, but this story has warmed even my the innermost of my being a little.

FYI - as virtual media doesn't carry sarcasm, that last statement was a tasteless joke. They're some of my endearing qualities. Don't worry, this series will end soon.