Zhang Zhaohong: My Story with CCTV-4 (Picture)

Zhang Zhaohong: My Story with CCTV-4 (Picture) Phoenix Zhang Zhaohong "My Story with CCTV-4" is a program of China Central Television Chinese International...

Phoenix City Zhang Zhaohong

"My Story with CCTV-4" is an event organized by the Chinese International Channel of China Central Television for overseas loyal audiences. As long as the audience writes down touching stories and submits, they may win prizes and receive a free trip to Beijing and visit CCTV. The prizes are quite attractive. I wrote the following story but did not send the letter….

On October 1, 1992, the Chinese International Channel of China Central Television (CCTV-4) was launched in North America, setting off a wave of Chinese people installing satellite TV. At that time, I was a satellite TV agent in Arizona. Sometimes I would go to two or three Chinese homes a day to install satellite TV equipment. I had been to remote areas such as the U.S.-Mexico border, the Grand Canyon, and even Las Vegas far away from Phoenix, Alberta, for installation. Over the years, CCTV-4 has continuously conveyed the care of the motherland to the vast number of overseas Chinese compatriots, making the overseas Chinese feel closer to the motherland and witness the earth-shaking changes in their hometown. The extensive and profound Chinese culture has also attracted many Chinese and foreign friends to watch it.

Back then, many local Chinese students would apply to their parents to travel or settle in the United States after graduating and working. Young people work hard outside, and the elderly who stay at home often feel lonely. Therefore, installing a CCTV-4 satellite TV at home can shorten the distance halfway around the world. You can see your hometown and listen to the local accent, and your parents can smile from frown to smile.

During the installation and service process, I came into contact with different compatriots from all over the country. Alberta is sparsely populated, and some large households don't even have neighbors. I visited a large house where two old men had been here from Shenyang for a while. The summer sun in Phoenix was so blazing that they couldn't go out because they couldn't speak the language. Later, I found out that there was a Chinese satellite TV watching, so I called and asked me to install it. When they saw me, they were like old friends from another country. They kept talking while watching my installation, and they enthusiastically offered famous tea and various snacks. Once the satellite TV is installed, you can watch it. As soon as you hear the friendly voice of "China Central Television Chinese International Channel", the old man is as happy as a child, with tears filling his frame! CCTV-4 is as kind as their own children!

CCTV-4 has interacted with Phoenix in the United States. On September 3, 2006, the overseas Chinese community in Arizona held the "2006 Meet in Phoenix" large-scale Mid-Autumn Festival party. The party was held at the newly completed Mesa Art Center, which cost 100 million U.S. dollars. This is a theater with a dreamy latest lighting and sound combination. It is a three-story semi-circular theater, and every seat of the audience can enjoy a perfect view. The program that night was very exciting, and the invitation of the famous CCTV-4 anchor Ms. Meng Tong to Phoenix to host the party allowed the Chinese in Arizona to have a glimpse of the CCTV anchor star.

Meng Tong, a famous CCTV-4 anchor who has been to Phoenix, USA

I have more stories with CCTV-4. A few years ago, I went to the local home of an old overseas Chinese to repair satellite TV equipment and found that he had different opinions on a CCTV-4 program. This program introduced the story of Huang Jinbo, the first Chinese mayor of the City of Cerritos, California. The story was very touching, but they believed that the "first" Chinese mayor was not from California, but from our City of Peoria, Arizona! And gave me some relevant information.

There were no Chinese newspapers in the early days of Alberta, so the old overseas Chinese would cut out various overseas Chinese community materials, photos, and relevant content from foreign newspapers and keep them. Among the materials provided to me, there is information about the Chinese mayor of Arizona. It was confirmed that the Chinese-American Deng Daming of Peoria was elected mayor earlier than Huang Jinbo. Therefore, CCTV-4 not only introduced Huang Jinbo, but also introduced more Chinese mayors who participated in politics in the United States earlier!

Huang Jinbo was elected mayor of Cerritos, California County in 1983. He has returned to the motherland for more than 100 visits, becoming the overseas Chinese who has shaken hands with Chinese leaders the most and visited disaster-stricken areas in China the most. Through CCTV-4’s Spring Festival Gala and various activities, Huang Jinbo’s deeds spread throughout mainland China and overseas. At that time, all one had to do was go online and search for "Who was the first Chinese-American mayor in the United States?" Then, whether it was China CCTV, the United Nations Congressional Network, Xinhuanet, People's Daily Online, or China Overseas Chinese Network, the linked answer would be "Huang Jinbo, Mayor of Cerritos, Los Angeles County, California." China's authoritative media such as "People Weekly" and "China Digest" have also published relevant articles, because all the information has been quoted from each other and has become a conclusion.

After verification, I published an article on the Internet: "Who is the first Chinese-American mayor in the United States?", pointing out that if you search Google for "US mayor Edmund Tang", the conclusion of the first Chinese-American mayor in the United States will be different. Among the documents in English, there is information proving that Deng Daming, the former mayor of Peoria, Arizona, USA, has "sealed the coffin". The area of ​​Peoria is more than ten times that of Cerritos, California, and its population is three times larger. Deng Daming began his career in politics in 1955, running for election as a city councilor in Piola, and was re-elected for 18 years. In 1979, he successfully ran for mayor and was re-elected for three terms until 1985. Deng Daming has been in politics for longer than Huang Jinbo. Therefore, Deng Daming is more qualified than Huang Jinbo to become the earliest Chinese-American mayor in the United States.

I emailed this information to CCTV-4, well-known domestic websites and authoritative media. In addition, because I know that the Chinese in California are currently writing the history of overseas Chinese in California, in order to ensure the accuracy of the "first" historical data, I also attach this article as a reference. At the time, I thought I was just doing what I should do. If this information is true, it will lead to many revisions. However, due to the mutual citation and identification of official websites and multiple authoritative media, it will be difficult to correct the real facts. I don't expect that the information on the Internet will change much.

However, it is indeed a stone that stirs up thousands of waves. Although we have not received a definite response from CCTV-4, many videos that originally broadcast this aspect have been deleted! I also gradually saw that previous reports and papers on the Internet about the first Chinese-American city in the United States had disappeared, and some websites displayed text such as: "Sorry, no relevant content was found." If you search on Google "Who is the first Chinese-American mayor in the United States?", you will be directly linked to the article "Information Errors and Omissions in the Internet Age." True information has been disseminated!

I think that although Huang Jinbo and Deng Daming are the pride of our overseas Chinese, history should pursue truth. The history of overseas Chinese must be discovered and organized by ourselves. If historical facts are not made public to the world, then correct information will be missed in the Internet age.

My story with CCTV-4 continues with "My Story with CCTV-4". "My Story with CCTV-4" is an awards event organized by the Chinese International Channel of China Central Television for overseas audiences. Audiences only need to write "My Story with CCTV-4" and submit. CCTV will select 15 special prize viewers to travel to Beijing for free, visit CCTV, have face-to-face discussions with the host of the Chinese International Channel, and record the awards night for loyal overseas audiences. The award was quite attractive, so I started to organize the information myself and write "My Story with CCTV-4". Over the years, I have installed countless CCTV-4 satellite TVs and witnessed the increasing number of overseas Chinese watching CCTV-4, and there are many touching stories among them. However, until the deadline for submission, I still have not sent the letter. Why? Sometimes I dream that I have won an award, but when I go on stage to have a face-to-face discussion with the host, what should I say and what should I not say?

Over the years, CCTV-4 has been one of our family's favorite TV channels, especially programs such as "Chinese Literature and Art", "Chinese Love", and "Chinese Medicine". In recent years, with the launch of CNTV online television, CCTV-4 has always been the most favorite TV channel among overseas Chinese. On the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the launch of the Chinese International Channel of China Central Television, I wish CCTV-4 to keep pace with the times and create greater glories!

Information: Information errors in the Internet age: Who was the earliest Chinese American mayor? http://www.paaca.us/new_page_3-55.htm