Meeting China's 'Netizens'

In a compact Beijing studio on Monday, Li Xing, the International News Editor of China Daily had questions for me. She asked me about meeting a little girl in western China who had contracted the H5N1 avian influenza virus. We then talked about import-safety agreements with the Chinese governments and the availability of health insurance to U.S. citizens. The questions she asked for more than a half-hour were not just her curiosities, but rather questions e-mailed from China Daily’s online readers whom she refer to as netizens.

I like the concept of netizens. I have to admit, I hadn’t thought much about the term until Li Xing used it. We are citizens of nations but also find ourselves members of global communities connected not by geographic boundaries but our collective interests and passions. When I saw a stream of questions filling Li Xing’s computer screen from some of the estimated 10 million China Daily-reading netizens located all over the world, the term was abruptly given more meaning.

As we talked, two studio-quality digital video cameras streamed our conversation over the Web. Our words were simultaneously transcribed into text. The next day China Daily’s print edition published an article summarizing our interview. That is a combination of digital mediums with serious reach and the capacity to interactively engage people.

I’ve become a novice blogger. I started a few months ago. My first effort was a blog related to pandemic flu. The input we received from netizens (though we didn’t refer to them as such) was remarkably good and persuaded me to spend more time exploring different combinations of media as public policy tools.

In the space of an hour, my encounter with Li Xing and her colleagues at China Daily elevated my thinking some. It seems possible I should be embarrassed not to have realized this before. I suspect there are 26-year-old netizens reading this saying, “Where has this guy been?” Well, despite what most would call a pretty good technology pedigree, the term netizen and its sociologic potential just eluded me.

During our conversation I told Li Xing about my blogging adventure. She volunteered to tell China Daily’s netizens about it. I hope she will because I want to continue the discussion I started with Li Xing and her ten million friends. I have a lot to learn about good netizenship.

For those who linked here through China Daily, it might be helpful for me to tell you about my blog.

First, I am committed to write it myself. For better or worse, what you get are my words, not the product of my staff. They manage the blog and occasionally clean up the postings some but I write the content. I also attempt to read the comments. Time simply doesn’t permit me to regularly respond to the comments. However, once in a while I’m inspired or agitated enough to respond. But time is a real issue. I was the first U.S. Cabinet Secretary to use a blog. So far, I’ve enjoyed it and I find it helpful in hearing different points.

I aspire to write a couple times a week. Lately it’s been more like once a week. Most of the posts are written on my laptop while I’m sitting on an airplane or in a hotel room. Tonight, as I write, I’m on an airplane winging my way back from Beijing.

I’m learning about the blog culture as I go. So, occasionally I make errors, but readers have been good-natured in pointing out my mistakes. For example, when I get on a roll and I tend to be too long. A couple of readers pointed out it would be better to break it up some with subheadings or even individual posts. I’m working on that.

My blog also serves as a combination journal and sounding board. However, I confess to being a little bit circumspect at times given the nature of my responsibilities.

I hope you enjoy occasionally reading my thoughts. I’ll look forward to hearing the reaction of my fellow netizens.

Comments

Secretary Leavitt,
I am a big fan of your blog! I appreciate your candor and your writing style. It's as though I'm sitting next to you on the plane and hearing first-hand your thoughts about the visit.
We Americans can learn a lot from our brothers and sisters around the world. And your story about Li Xing is a perfect example.
Thanks for reminding me of that larger perspective as we approach the Christmas season.
Best, Holly

Posted by: Holly in McLean | December 14, 2007 at 03:32 PM

Good Afternoon, Mr Secretary. Since you mentioned H5N1, please comment on the current situation in Pakistan, and the possibility that an infected brother of two of the deceased flew back to the US. Thank you.

Posted by: NawtyBits | December 14, 2007 at 05:01 PM

Glad to meet you here,Secretary Leavitt
I am a college student from Beijing. And Ms. Li Xing also gave us a lecture a few months ago.
I will be a regular visitor to your blog~

Posted by: Jiang Hang | December 16, 2007 at 06:58 AM

Mr. Leavitt, I am an editor of Chinadaily.com.cn. I am glad to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Chinadaily.com.cn and I also enjoyed the visits both by you and your wife.

we have also realized the importance of combination of different mediums. Currently we are actively promoting cooperation between China Daily the newspaper and chinadaily.com.cn. Strength comes through partnership!

Posted by: Kitty | December 17, 2007 at 03:07 AM

Wow,it's our pleasure to offer you questions! I'm the moderator of chinadaily forum and collected some questions from netizens for you. I'm working in front of my computer when you were being interviewed upstairs!

Posted by: Jessie | December 17, 2007 at 03:36 AM

gentle voice,it's sound so beautiful .Then,in honest ,you are really a humorous and wise person .What's more you have a far-reaching insight into the problem we two countries are facing.And I can not agree whit you more that the health problem is really an important problem which we must handle seriously.Finlly I hope you everyting goes well and I will be a regular visitor to your blog

Posted by: zhuzengcheng | December 17, 2007 at 06:20 AM

Honorable Secretary, it is a great honor and privilege to have witnessed many times your interest in working with China on health issues. Thank you. By working together, all nations contribute to better health and welfare of the mankind. Best wishes to you and your wife for the coming new year!
----An interpreter

Posted by: Han Jianli | December 17, 2007 at 09:09 PM

aha!i am a 'Netizens' from china,glad to hear that you enjoy the interview of chinadaily.your blog is intresting,i will keep on viewing it.welcome back to china!

Posted by: sherry | December 18, 2007 at 04:31 AM

Good afternoon Secretary Leavitt,

I'm a 25-year individual, new to the healthcare industry. Through research, I came upon your blog and have diligently read every post you've made. First, I would like to compliment you on your decision to venture out into the realms of the Internet. This action displays you are interested in furthering awareness regarding healthcare by meeting the people where they communicate. You have contributed to heightening my awareness on many issues. Furthermore, I utilize your blog as a tool for discussion within my group of friends and colleagues (of all ages).

With the presidential elections in sight, one of the primary topics I expect to see come forth is the idea of a Universal Healthcare program. As I progress through the process of forming an opinion, I continually come across the view that while this is a nobel idea, the consequences outweigh the benefits - that government-managed healthcare is inferior to individual choice and free markets. I would love to hear more as you encounter this topic.

Secondly, another topic of great interest to myself is legislation against physician-owned hospitals. Should physicians not have the right to have majority ownership in the facilities they work in every day? It seems there are entities in the healthcare marketplace that are determined to prevent physician majority ownership which seems counter-intuitive. What makes a businessperson more qualified than a physician to run a healthcare facility?

In any case, I appreciate you taking the time to post your thoughts and experiences and hope you continue to have the ability to do so. I would very much appreciate you covering either of the topics above as you encounter them.

Regards,

Andrew

Posted by: Andrew Warnes | December 18, 2007 at 02:09 PM

Good afternoon Secretary Leavitt,
It's my great honor to communicate with you as a Chinese netizen . Can you remember the guy named Bill that served as a translator in the 5th floor in Zheng'an Palace Hotel during the 3th US-China Strategic Economic Dialog ? Yeah , it is me! As a college student, it was really a good opportuniny to serve as a volunteer and made contact with you!I can also remember the time I made brief introduction to your wife about the Grand Epoch City.It was great!She is a kind and warm-hearted madam.I also really appreciate your temperament and the way you communnicate with other people.I think maybe it's the need of your work because as a secretary in this department you need to contact with the people who are in different area around the world not only in the US!
I think using the internet for communication has shortened the distance between you and the netizens. I can hardly imagine how I can communicate with you without your blog.Wow```I'll keep on viewing it.
Best wishes to you and your wife !
Welcome to China again!
Bill

Posted by: Chen liang(Bill) | December 21, 2007 at 12:01 PM