Pollution video reminder of the work to be done

Chai Jing, former presenter and journalist with China Central Television, presents a self-funded documentary about smog in Beijing, Feb 28, 2015. [Photo/CFP]

Chai Jing, a former journalist with China Central Television, has made a documentary on China's air pollution that has won both applause and criticism. Comments:

In her documentary, Chai both tells emotional stories and rationally analyzes the root problems with China's air pollution, such as regional governments protecting polluting industries and environmental protection agencies being entrusted with insufficient power. While the emotional stories have spread widely online, the cold analysis is simply forgotten by viewers. A tragic reality for domestic WeMedia.

Xie Diandi, a senior journalist, Feb 28

Chai made the video independently, by selecting the topic, doing the research and organizing the reports at her own expense. Only those who have done such self-reporting know how much effort and risks it takes to produce such a documentary; these efforts make the documentary more appealing than traditional reporting.

Luo Changping, former deputy editor-in-chief of Caijing magazine, March 1

What is smog? Where does it come from? What can we do? These are questions asked by everybody who has suffered from it, and the government agencies and researchers are responsible of answering them. Sadly none of them has done so; Chai, as a journalist and a citizen, has done it. We expect the documentary to encourage government agencies and researchers to act more positively.

people.com.cn, Feb 28

In the documentary, Chai has tried to research all aspects of unsustainable development, including its causes, current situation, influence and reactions; but she is not a professional researcher and these results are not so important in terms of science. However, her efforts have successfully solicited public attention on the issue of air pollution, and its importance in terms of influencing policy should not be underestimated.

Zhu Dajian, a senior researcher on sustainable development at Tongji University, March 2