WSJ 2007 Pulitzer Prize winning China stories
When I was with Columbia University in 1995-2003, I designed and created the Pulitzer.org web site, and help craft the first Pulitzer guidelines for online submissions.
So I put on that hat again, and give you links to the Wall Street Journal’s 2007 Pulitzer Prize winning stories on China.
The Wall Street Journal chronicled the effects of China’s rush to capitalism in a series of front page articles in 2006. (taken from the WSJ site, merged with additional summaries)
• Blogger Hits Home by Urging Boycott of Chinese Property, “Bubbling Anger: Blogger Hits Home By Urging Boycott Of Chinese Property — Campaign Against High Prices Garners Mr. Zou Support From Middle-Class Buyers — A Grilling by Security Agents,†Andrew Browne, A1, 6/12/06. How rising property prices are sparking growing discontent even among the middle class of the boomtown of Shenzhen.
• As China’s Auto Market Booms, Leaders Clash Over Heavy Toll, “Bumpy Ride: As China’s Auto Market Booms, Leaders Clash Over Heavy Toll — Vehicles Foul Air, Jam Streets But Plump Local Coffers; Restrictions Remain Few — McDonald’s Targets a Niche,†Gordon Fairclough and Shai Oster, A1, 6/13/06. China’s air grows more polluted as its government encourages an auto revolution
• In Booming China, a Doctor Battles a Polluting Factory, “River of Tears: In Booming China, A Doctor Battles A Polluting Factory — Fouled Waters Lead to Flood Of Protests Nationwide; Officials’ Mixed Messages — Inspired by Erin Brockovich,†Shai Oster and Mei Fong, A1, 7/19/06. Why China isn’t shutting down the factories that pollute its water – a disconnect between China’s central government and its local provinces.
• China’s Big Push to Stoke Economy Rattles Rural Tibet, “Western Frontier: China’s Big Push To Stoke Economy Rattles Rural Tibet — Meatpacking Modernization Threatens Beloved Yaks; New Train Brings Suspicion — Ni Ma’s Quiet Resistance,†James T. Areddy, A1, 8/24/06. China’s capitalist push reaches Tibet and challenges basic Buddhist practices.
• Booming Municipalities Defy China’s Effort to Cool Economy, “Growing Pains: Booming Municipalities Defy China’s Effort to Cool Economy — Hyper-Investment a Worry; A Monumental Pagoda For Once-Sleepy Zhengzhou — Satellites Spying on Bulldozers,†Andrew Browne, A1, 9/15/06. Why even Beijing’s top leaders have little control over its economy.
• A Poison Spreads Amid China’s Boom, “A Poison Spreads Amid China’s Boom — Dangerously high levels of lead are discovered in many children; ground zero is Xinsi Village — An imported charm proves deadly in Minneapolis,†Shai Oster and Jane Spencer, A1, 9/30/06. How lead contaminated the children of a Chinese village – and beyond.
• It May Be Too Late for China to Save the Yangtze Goddess, “It May Be Too Late For China to Save The Yangtze Goddess — Scientists Track the Dolphins But Might Have to Settle For Finding Them Extinct,†Shai Oster, A1, 12/6/06. We break the news, announced a week later, that China’s polluted Yangtze has caused the almost certain extinction of the baiji dolphin, the first extinction of a mammal in decades.
• How Capitalist Transformation Exposes Holes in China’s Government, “How Capitalist Transformation Exposes Holes in China’s Government,†By Jason Dean, 12/18/06, A2. A column outlining the challenges China faces after shifting from one extreme to the other, from Communism to a form of extreme capitalism that provides few protections for its people or its workers.
• So Much Work, So Little Time, “With so much work, so little time, an invisible army builds Beijing. As 2008 Olympics approach, migrants like Wei Zhongwen combat injuries, loneliness,†Mei Fong, A1, 12/23/06. How the migrants behind Beijing’s reconstruction, which now number two million, lack basic protections, and heat in the bitter cold – and often pay for their work.
• Illegal Power Plants, Coal Mines in China Pose Challenge for Beijing, “Illegal Power Plants, Coal Mines Plague China,†Shai Oster, A1, 12/27/06. How one-fifth of China’s power plants are illegal, increasing demand for polluting coal and making it hard to close dangerous mines that kill thousands.
