Media Monitoring 1

1 Summary
The story of HK today is covered in some different kinds of media. This essay analyzes how the story is treated in radio, newspaper & online, and makes a comparison.

2 Background & Introduction
Hong Kong, the financial centre of Asia, one of the greatest cities of the world, was handed back to China from Britain on a rainy night between June 30 and July 1 1997. Ten years on, what has changed and hasn’t in HK? What do HK people think about HK?

All documentary and audio sources are from internet. A radio clip of BBC World Service first broadcasted in July 2007, one article of Financial Times published on June 30, and one article of BBC online uploaded on June 21, are samples of my research.

3 Radio
As the story is a history-made political issue, this two-part radio Hong Kong ten years on, each has a little more than 22 minutes airtime, is designed in a style, pace and rhythm way. It is very clear and definite what the reporter meant – to find out how much has changed in one of the world's most dynamic cities.

3.1 Opening
It is very important to win the audience at the beginning.

At the opening of radio part one, with the sound of wind, the reporter begins to describe the Victoria Harbor scene, recalls the days ten years ago in HK. Then live clips of the handover ceremony insert, as well as the voice of Christopher Patten, the last British governor of HK. After which, what HK feared at that time are illustrated, and then story begins.

To be honest, this is an absolutely attractive, emotional and powerful opening recalling the historical moment which will and should impress listeners.

The live sound clips of the big protest march of 2003 against a controversial anti-subversion law fill the first ten seconds of radio part two, and then turn to a background sound when interviewee’s voice sounds. The march of people’s calling for personal freedoms is one defining moment in democratization progress, which will be discussed later in radio.