The 25th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Incident is upon us. The world watched weeks of student protests against corruption and calls for political reform. The bloody military crackdown on the night of 3-4 June 1989 had far-reaching consequences, not only for China's development, but for its relations with the rest of the world.The Tiananmen Incident is a watershed moment in the history of media because it generated unparalleled international coverage. It became a defining moment in the Information Age – the first time a popular uprising in an authoritarian state was broadcast live globally. The images from that time – the Goddess of Democracy and the Tank Man are enduring symbols of popular resistance to injustice. The coverage of Tiananmen redefined the relationship among the press, public opinion and foreign policy making. The Tiananmen Incident continues to impact Chinese politics and international perceptions of China today.

The US-China Institute at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism has released "Assignment China: Tiananmen Square" which tells the behind-the-scenes story of the reporters who covered the dramatic events in Beijing that spring.

Reported and narrated by Institute Senior Fellow Mike Chinoy, CNN's then Beijing Bureau Chief, "Assignment China: Tiananmen Square" contains interviews with most of the leading American and other journalists who played a role in the media coverage including: Dan Southerland of the Washington Post, Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wu Dunn of the New York  Times, John Pomfret of the AP, Jeff Widener, the AP photographer who took the picture of the man in front of the tank, Al Pessin of VOA, Dan Rather, John Sheahan, and Richard Roth of CBS News, Bernard Shaw, Alec Miran, Jonathan Schaer  (who shot the CNN tank man video) and Mike Chinoy from CNN, Jim Laurie of ABC, Jaime FlorCruz of Time, Adi Ignatius of the Wall St. Journal, Dorinda Elliot of Newsweek, plus many others. Non-media interviewees include former US Secretary of State James Baker, former American ambassadors to China Winston Lord and James Lilley, Tiananmen student leader Wang Dan, and others.

With video footage and still photos, some never shown in public before, "Assignment China: Tiananmen Square" tells a largely unknown side of a story about the tumultuous events in the spring of 1989.

Note that only American Club members may park in the club parking lot. If parking service is required, the American Club may issue up to 30 parking permits in the lot of Radio Taiwan International (RTI, located next door). Parking permits may be obtained from the security guard at the front door of American Club.

Cost: NT$1,000 per member; NT$1,200 for member's guests

To cancel without penalty, written cancellations must be received 24 hours prior to the event.
Contact: Cathy Huang / Tel 2740-0236 ext. 219 / cathy.huang@ecct.com.tw / www.ecct.com.tw