Readers show their solidarity with Tibetans

How to combine the best features of a physical printed newspaper and online communication tools? Look at this interactive campaign run by Poland’s Gazeta Wyborcza.

In March 2008, a week of protests against China’s 57-year rule of Tibet erupted into rioting in the region’s capital Lhasa. On March 20, huge military convoys were heading to Tibet through mountain passes in western China.

The news made the next day’s newspapers’ headlines and Poland’s Gazeta Wyborcza was no exception to cover Tibetan uprising on the front page. Gazeta’s online edition immediately created a special report on Tibet. You could call these activities: a traditional approach.

So what’s new?

1. Blog aggregating news and comments on Tibet and protests against Chinese policies

The blog is called “Tibet Watch.” It is a non-commercial venture and it’s written by volunteer journalists with different media background (Gazeta, free newspaper Metro, web portal Gazeta.pl and a radio station TOK FM) accompanied by human rights activists (Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights).

They cover both online and real-world protests or activities connected with Tibet and Summer Olympics in China.

 

 

2. Gazeta invited readers to show their solidarity with Tibetans

The newspaper devoted the front and back page of its Monday feature supplement Duzy Format (Large Format) to print the flag of Tibet (paper size: 2 x A3 page or 841 x 297 mm).

Readers could use this flag when demonstrating their support for Tibetans or their disappointment with Chinese policies there. And many used the flag. They put it on windows of their cars, on message boards at school. They marched with them, met with friends. They even organized flash mobs: gatherings of anonymous people called to a public place by a text message on the mobile phone or an e-mail.

 

 

 

 

3. Readers documented their actions by themselves

Gazeta encouraged readers to take photos of themselves with the Tibetan flag and upload them to our web portal Gazeta.pl. Within a week we got over 1000 photos. And we printed some of them in the next issue of Duzy Format.




Gazeta's web photo board

On the streets

At an elementary school

At a secondary school

With tulips

In the mountains

If you would like to see more photos submitted by Gazeta’s readers, please go to its photo board.

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