by Dzudzie Faith Netshisaulu
Photojournalist and Administrator of South African National Editors’ Forum, South Africa
It is 03:00am on a cold winter morning in South Africa, I am sitting in my home office deep in thought of my upcoming trip to China. Yes, I have been afforded an opportunity to visit China on a learning journey, great news. Such great news I have been hiding from my family and friends since finding out in May 2024, one may ask why the secrecy.
This is my very first international trip, and it affords me an opportunity to tap into other media landscapes, both photography and journalism, I finally have an opportunity to learn more about how media from over the seas work, if they come across challenges and difficulties we have had to endure here in South Africa.
I have been a photojournalist for well over 15 years, and only a handful beautiful memories are safely kept in my heart, most of the 15 years were either struggles to survive community media, break into mainstream media, have resources mainstream media has and some readership.
And just as one is seemingly on the verge of making it, a pandemic hits, the media industry, just like many out there is shaken and weakened to its knees, there goes the hope of one finally being recognised as part of the so called “mainstream media”.
Now back to why I have managed to contain my excitement about my eminent China visit, I mean who wouldn’t be excited to visit one of the biggest economies in the world, at this point. My lack of excitement comes from this very piece I am penning, and this is not because I do not want to go to China, it is simply because this will be my very first time visiting the People’s Republic of China and as part of my application, I am tasked with writing my “First impressions of China”, I do not have any first impressions, I have never been.
As I try to gather my thoughts on what I will be saying about China, and my impressions of the country, I am reminded of all the things I have heard about China in the media, all the developments that are said to be happening in this country.
Still deep in thoughts, I chuckle about childhood memories of watching Chinese Kung Fu movies that featured my favourite actors, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, and Bruce Lee. I burst into laughter thinking about how I grew up watching the famous “Drunken Master”, a martial arts comedy film released in 1978, how I still watch it in 2024, this time with my children.
These thoughts evoke my younger self thinkings and perception about China, if both their men and women fight the way they do, if they are as fast in movement and if their children are taught martial arts from a young age. Are Chinese streets and corners made up of chains of martial arts schools and if their women run as fast as the leading lady in the Drunken Master.
Of course, I am older now, and with the internet and google accessible everywhere around me, my thinking has changed, I immediately manage my thoughts and expectations about all I have learnt through movies.
I am however eager to learn if there is any truth around an article reporting of a 12-day traffic jam back in 2022, could this be true, and what had caused this jam?
I have always read that China has the biggest population in the world, until recently, where China was reportedly dethroned by India.
I am now channelling my thoughts to the news I am now exposed to about all the technology that comes from China, how China leads the global markets in terms of technology, innovation and invention. Now this I would like to see, I would like to know how the Chinese do it, I would like to know what Chinese children and taught and how they are taught.
While I have never been to China, I am fascinated by all the tech, buildings, and all the gadgets that are invented to make people’s lives easy. I am looking forward to seeing the airports in China, I am told China has some of the best in the world, I would like to experience them myself.
Our world is rapidly evolving, with AI and ChatGPT taking over, I would like to learn how the Chinese people use these tools to enhance their tech and daily lives.
I am also looking forward to learning from fellow media colleagues how they have managed to navigate the tough terrains our industry has had to endure in recent years. I would like to learn how the Chinese media and the public deal with misinformation and disinformation that is easily spready via social media.
I am also eager to learn about the different Chinese culture, indulge in their food, the street food and the “Asian cuisine” if you may, that we see many chefs locally try to recreate.
I would also like to see the public transport system which I have read that is one of the best, clean and safe.
As a photographer, I have always heard that the best tech gear like cameras, laptops and any other work equipment we use are found in China and at affordable prices.
I have been quite impressed with what I have read and seen on TV’s, online about China, I look at this opportunity as a way for me to go learn more about China, their government’s willingness to always help African countries like ours, South Africa.
The South Africa-China relationship has always been reported to be good, we have seen the work China has done for our country and other African countries.
I go to China with an open mind of learning new things, unlearning all untrue reports, perceptions and negative information I have consumed over the years. I am looking forward to learning about China’s policies, key economic, business, social and political factors that shpe China.
From where I sit as I write this, the excitement that is now oozing as I conclude is preparing me for a beautiful trip to go explore China, its people, its diversity, culture, food, landscape, and of course the media and how they work and how they lead the pack.
*The views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the individual authors and do not reflect the position of the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Journalist Network.