More details about the Mandarin Oriental Hotel accident below from the New York Times. Apparently the Hotel was engulfed in flames due to fireworks that were allowed by CCTV but not sanctioned to be set off within such dangerous proximity to the building. The fire started when shells from the fireworks landed on the roof of the hotel.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/world/asia/11beijing.html?_r=1&ref=world
The New York Times article has pointed out that CCTV news did little to cover the accident while it was happening and in the early aftermath. What is interesting, is that this is one of the first cases where witnesses, (or what a popular Chinese blogger called "the citizen media"), provided immediate, continuous, and widely-watched coverage of the event themselves via the internet.
Certainly the blogosphere has been continuously growing in China and has gained influence as a second source of [sometimes more reliable] news media, however the burning of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is one of the first incidents that has made it clear just how powerful this "citizen media" can be. Plus it hits close to home as CCTV employees have been named responsible for the fire.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/world/asia/11beijing.html?_r=1&ref=world
The New York Times article has pointed out that CCTV news did little to cover the accident while it was happening and in the early aftermath. What is interesting, is that this is one of the first cases where witnesses, (or what a popular Chinese blogger called "the citizen media"), provided immediate, continuous, and widely-watched coverage of the event themselves via the internet.
Certainly the blogosphere has been continuously growing in China and has gained influence as a second source of [sometimes more reliable] news media, however the burning of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is one of the first incidents that has made it clear just how powerful this "citizen media" can be. Plus it hits close to home as CCTV employees have been named responsible for the fire.
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