media - Phoenix TV: a better prepared operation

Luqiu Luwei of Phoenix TV reported on the efforts of her company to report on disasters and wars. The ambition is to become the CNN for the Chinese speaking world and direct reports from flashpoints is an obvious task.
Reporting started with the floodings in the Yangtze Delta, when the reporters still had to borrow equipment. The war in Iraq was the first major event for other mainland journalists to report about a conflict in large numbers, followed by the tsunami in December last year.
"We missed an opportunity to go with the Chinese rescue team," said Luqiu. "And still on December 28/29 we were discussing whether we should go or not, since not that many foreigners or Chinese were involved. But when the number reached 400,000 deaths, we decided to go."
Phoenix was much better prepared than many of its Chinese colleagues. "Total coordination was much better," said Luqiu. "In Afghanistan we already discovered it was not enough to have food, drugs and how to protects ourselves. Lack of preparation can only be your own fault." First thing she did in Indonesia was to secure she could report also her stories on in a timely way. "Otherwise it is a huge loss of resources."