What is Chengdu Diary?
Chengdu Diary is the blog companion to All Things Considered's week of programming originating May 19 - 23 from Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Listen for stories and interviews by hosts Melissa Block and Robert Siegel Monday through Friday on the air and watch this blog to read about other topics and about the process of gathering information for those stories.
What is All Things Considered?
All Things Considered is a daily newsmagazine program that has been the flagship program of NPR since it began in 1971. The show is hosted by Robert Siegel, Melissa Block and Michele Norris.
What is the purpose of the blog?
Chengdu Diary is a place for anyone curious about the process of gathering facts, names, stories to create news and features for radio to come. It's also a way to learn about an extraordinary part of the world. And it will provide a place to talk back to our staff as they assemble the material for broadcast. We welcome both questions about China, our program and this blog. If you have insight into the places we are exploring or China as a whole, this is where you let that be known.
Who can comment?
Anyone, anywhere.
Can I only comment about Chengdu and China?
Please keep it to those topics or the editorial process involved in our work in China.
Do you have rules about what can or cannot be said in the comments?
We sure do. Please see our guidelines for comments.
Who writes the blog?
You'll mostly see comments from our hosts, who will be in China between now and the end of May. Sometimes our producers — who are arranging the interviews for our stories — will contribute too.
How often do you post new entries to the blog?
We post at least once a day whenever possible, maybe more frequently. We'll try to include as many photos as well can, too.
Can I suggest show topics on the blog?
We welcome suggestions, especially from people with experience in China and particularly Chengdu.
What if I want to email the show privately?
The best way to email the show is to use the "Contact Us" form. You can use it to give us general input, ask us questions that don't pertain to specific posts, and offer comments that you'd rather keep off the blog itself.
Will blog comments be read on the air?
It's possible — all public comments are fair game for air. If you'd like your comment to be kept private, send it to us via the "Contact Us" form and specify that it's not for air.
Can I link to your blog?
Absolutely!
Will you link to my blog?
Probably not, unless it's related to something we're doing on the show.
Do I need to sign up to be eligible to post comments?
No.
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