Foreign journalists in Beijing are gathering at the Great Hall of the People to cover what they can of the proceedings of the 18th Party Congress. A few expressed some trepidation:
Is there a risk that live tweeting the 18th PC could be akin to giving readers high-dosage Ambien pills?
— Edward Wong (@comradewong) November 7, 2012
but many live-tweeted every step of the event.
The coverage started when journalists visited the press center to receive a swag bag from organizers:
picking up China 18th party congress creds+swag bag (hat, pen, diary, backpack). Unlike Hollywood, no cosmetics, DVDs. ow.ly/i/15lAs
— Julie Makinen (@JulieMakLAT) November 2, 2012
I know US elex more important but I’vejust picked up my Chinese Communist Party 18th Congress free backpack. Blue and grey not red.
— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) November 7, 2012
Thursday morning, under blue skies, journalists went to Tiananmen Square:
Almost every journalist in Beijing heading now to Great Hall of the People. First day of 18th Party Congress.
— Edward Wong (@comradewong) November 7, 2012
On the way to the Great Hall for opening of the 18th Party Congress. Police cars every few dozen yards along Changan Avenue, tight security
— Ananth Krishnan (@ananthkrishnan) November 7, 2012
Can reliably report that sky is blue at Great Hall of the People twitter.com/TomLasseter/st…
— Tom Lasseter (@TomLasseter) November 7, 2012
Good morning from the 18th Party Congress twitter.com/MalcolmMoore/s…
— malcolmmoore (@MalcolmMoore) November 7, 2012
At the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, curious to hear what the Party Congress work report will say about the economy.
— Keith Bradsher (@KeithBradsher) November 7, 2012
Journalists waiting in line to enter Tiananmen Square. Will then wait in line at Great Hall of the People. twitter.com/TomLasseter/st…
— Tom Lasseter (@TomLasseter) November 7, 2012
Journalists in second line for 18th Party Congress. Stay tuned for more excitement. twitter.com/TomLasseter/st…
— Tom Lasseter (@TomLasseter) November 7, 2012
Given # of tweetpics coming from T Square, you’d think National Geographic had commissioned a special on 18th PC.
— Edward Wong (@comradewong) November 8, 2012
Real Tibetans?RT@meta_lab: Tibetan delegates arrive at 18th National Congress to watch decisions be made for them bit.ly/YMgpaJ
— dgatterdam (@dgatterdam) November 7, 2012
Once they entered the Great Hall of the People, before the proceedings began, the main attraction was watching attendants pour tea on stage:
A dozen women pour hot water in tea cups in unison on stage at Party Congress — quite choreographed.
— Keith Bradsher (@KeithBradsher) November 8, 2012
Attendants line up to pour tea at 18th Party Congress twitter.com/TomLasseter/st…
— Tom Lasseter (@TomLasseter) November 8, 2012
Tea … still being poured twitter.com/TomLasseter/st…
— Tom Lasseter (@TomLasseter) November 8, 2012
Meanwhile, watching from the sidelines, Adam Minter asks:
When is the last time a group of reporters publicly denounced an event as boring before it even started? #18pc Super Bowl XXIX?
— Adam Minter (@AdamMinter) November 8, 2012
Stay tuned for regular updates.
