Robert,

Thx for this chance to talk about ChinesePod. I hope to conduct some more interviews myself for the Praxis Language site. http://praxislanguage.com/blog/ Maybe we can interview you chaps at Dan Wei for that.

Ken Carroll

Now, here's some objective reporting: thanks to the subject of the story for allowing you to use their equipment which, of course, yields some great sound--indeed, "the best sounding...to date".

A rather interesting exercise in advertising--um, journalism.

Yes, SinaSource,

Chinesepod paid both Danwei and Danwei's podcast correspondent Robert Ness millions of dollars for this interview.

In fact, both Robert and I are just now deciding whether to spend our ill gotten advertising gains from Chinesepod on a BMW or Ferrari. I am thinking a red Ferrari, because I am a flashy kind of guy while Robert is a little classier, and will probably go for something understated.

Life is indeed sweet when you're on the secret payroll of Chinesepod, the Google of Chinese language learning.

Now excuse me, I have a cigar to smoke, and some bling to buy for my mistresses (there are several of them, and they are all expensive).

Also got to stitch up a few more "content" deals with some web startup companies — it's the web 2.0 era, and they are all handing money out to Danwei like it was 1999.

Laid back.

But oil is expensive these days, and you know how a Ferrari can chew through the gas, so I better get back to work.

ROBERT and JEREMY,

This is a mere TASTER of what could be done. Give me a DAILY INTERVIEW and I'll make Danwei sound STUNNING. I'm talking POTS OF MONEY for yourselves as well. BLING and FERRARIs coming out YOUR ARSE. (Unless you forget to MENTION THE EQUIPMENT, in which case there'll be a REDUCTION.) The world of journalism is THE WORLD OF THE TOMBOLA. Never forget that.

The public isn't yet ON TO US so let's MILK this baby for a FEW HUNDRED MILL. (I'm writing IN CODE in order to THROW the unsuspecting public OFF THE SCENT.)

Ken

That is a most interesting reply.

But do any of you not wonder a bit at the mix of commerce and reporting here? This is not a matter of how much you make--or do not. It is matter of mixing news with advertising, reporting with oblique sponsorship. I mean, you must know the difference, right?

I wonder.

SinaSource

There is nothing oblique about the sponsorships on Danwei. In fact, the advertising, when it appears, is quite in your face.

There are five types of advertising:

1. Google ads and banner ads;
2. Ads inserted into our RSS feed;
3. Some of our videos have scrolling text sponsorships and commercial messages embedded at the end of the episode;
4. Jobs ads appear on the main blog and are marked as such;
5. Occasionally, sponsored content appears in the main blog; it is always clearly marked as such.

When it not obvious that something is an advertisement, it is always marked as such.

The ChinesePod interview was arranged and produced by Robert Ness, and had no connection whatsoever to any commercial transaction.

If your sensitive soul is in danger of being corrupted by the commercial messages that appear on Danwei, I can recommend a nice Taoist monastery in Henan where you'll be safe.

Hey can someone answer my question:

Is there a web resource for learning how to read and write Chinese. I can speak Chinese but I can barely read and write it.

Anyone?

I wonder how hard would it be to develop a website (with all the web 2.0 jazz) that caters to this type of learning. Given the right pointers I can certainly implement this web site. I have a degree in Computer Science (double majoring in math).

Arggh I should google first before asking right...
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I forgot to mention.

When learning from a resource like ChinesePod does it imply that one learns how to read and write Chinese along the way?

Perhaps I should sign up to ChinesePod and check it out myself.
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Sorry about the multiple post.

On second thought I doubt there is a big market for something like this. You never know but to me if one is seriously enough to want to learn how to read and write Chinese they would utilize a language school.

Like the podcast mentioned Chinesepod has a lot of casual Chinese learners.

[joined multiple posts --JM]

Thank you very much for your reply.

It is clear to me now and I am grateful: where there is journalism reporting on a business and an article about a company that supplies you with the very material you are writing about and which you then praise, you do not know the difference.

And when one questions this issue from the standpoint of the need for distinguishing between reporting on a company from pimping a product of the very company you are writing about, the best tactic is attack the questioner.

Yes, it is quite clear now, and I tender my thanks.

SinaSource

You seem to be confused: Chinesepod does not sell audio recording equipment.

Confused?

Your website reads as follows: "Much thanks to ChinesePod for letting us record with their equipment, making this the best sounding China Businesscast to date."

And so, you employ the equipment used by the company that is the subject of your story, and go on to not only express gratitude but praise for their assistance and assets.

But I do understand that you do not understand that this sort of thing looks bad, unprofessional at the least, and possibly unethical--where your "reporting" is very much an advertisement.

No one is saying you are taking payoffs. What is being said here is that this sort of journalism smacks of unprofessionalism.

The confusion--if there is such--is yours.

Jay the buddah man:

I think this site may be good for your purpose: ChineseSavvy.com. They seem to be about serious learning.

i think sinasource called jeremy a pimp!