Thanks so much for your comment. I understand your confusion, and I’ve heard other people express similar feelings.

However, are you sure that the NYTimes always reports the “awful side of China”? Does the article about people purchasing tickets really represent “the awful side of China”? I don’t think so. In fact, the New York Times and other newspapers and magazine report on a variety of different aspects of China, and they tell a lot of interesting stories. I would encourage you to read more articles in the Western media about China.

Of course, there are times when the the Western media does do a poor job of reporting about China. For instance, there were several news sites that used pictures from Nepal of monks being arrested and insinuated that they were from China. But most of the time I think that most of the Western media tries very hard to present a balanced view of China.

Remember that it’s hard to write about an unfamiliar culture, and that many of the reporters are actually doing a lot to help the world better understand China.

Also, I think it’s important to remember that the Western news media generally reports more “bad” news than “good” news. It’s not news to them if ticket sales go smoothly, but it is news if there are problems. This is true not just for China but for almost every subject!

Finally, I do think that trouble with ticket sales is newsworthy, especially given that there were troubles with the previous rounds of sales as well (computer crashes, etc.). The Olympics is such a huge logistical challenge that it’s important to report on any logistical problems that Beijing is having. You’re right that with China’s huge population it’s an extra-difficult challenge!

Thanks again for your comment!

John