How Global Voices Changed My Life

I have been delivering this story of my encounter with Global Voices for 10 years, but I feel excited every time I talk about it.

Back in 2005, I was a graduate student majoring in Journalism who found himself lost in the terrible performance of media industry in Taiwan. I didn't know if I should continue pursuing my goal to become a journalist in traditional media or…I don't know what is the other option.

I started to write blog(s) and learned that there was a brand new world out there. I accidentally found Global Voices, read some posts, and was surprised by its novelty and network. Without any hesitation, I just begun to translate interesting posts I read from GV. My first translation was this one, and I added my personal comment to share it with my blogging friends in Taiwan. I didn't know who might read them, but with each translation I did, I felt connected with someone on the globe, and I was not alone. I loved the stories that reflected the similar situation in Taiwan, because it made me reflect upon my bias and blindness. I kept on translating posts until some day I receive a message from Rebecca MacKinnon, our dearest co-founder, who read Chinese and invited me to join GV. That was how everything begun. I am now managing several new media projects in Taiwan, trying to challenge the walking dead media world in Taiwan. I am fully confident that I will change the media and therefore rebuild a democratic media sphere because of what I learned from GV.

3 comments

  • Funny Portnoy, I’ve been telling your story for years too, all over the world. Love the way you tell it too – it’s been such an inspiration for the idea that when we want to change something, we just start!

  • […] Portnoy (Taiwan): “I started to write blog(s) and learned that there was a brand new world out there. I accidentally found Global Voices, read some posts, and was surprised by its novelty and network. Without any hesitation, I began to translate interesting posts I read from GV. My first translation was this one, and I added my personal comment to share it with my blogging friends in Taiwan. I didn't know who might read them, but with each translation I did, I felt connected with someone on the globe…. I kept on translating posts until one day I received a message from Rebecca MacKinnon, our dearest co-founder, who read Chinese and invited me to join GV…. I am now managing several new media projects in Taiwan, trying to challenge the walking dead media world in Taiwan.” (Read full post here) […]

  • […] “I started to write blog(s) and learned that there was a brand new world out there. I accidentally found Global Voices, read some posts, and was surprised by its novelty and network. Without any hesitation, I began to translate interesting posts I read from GV. My first translation was this one, and I added my personal comment to share it with my blogging friends in Taiwan. I didn't know who might read them, but with each translation I did, I felt connected with someone on the globe…. I kept on translating posts until one day I received a message from Rebecca MacKinnon, our dearest co-founder, who read Chinese and invited me to join GV…. I am now managing several new media projects in Taiwan, trying to challenge the walking dead media world in Taiwan.” (Read full post here) […]

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