About Harish Damodaran
Bai Yansong, 40, is ethnically Mongolian. Mr. Bai is the best-known TV news anchor and commentator in China. He is as renowned and influential in China as Dan Rather and Larry King in the US.
Because of his prestige in media and his contributions to helping solve public problems, Mr. Bai was selected as “Global Youth Leader” by Davos World Economic Forum 2007
Bai Yansong has gradually become China’s most influential host and producer of TV news programs since the early 1990s. He is a co-founder of a series of most innovative programs for a decade in China Central Television (CCTV), including “Oriental Horizon”, “News Probe” and “Newsweek”. The program “News 1+1”, which he established and where he works as the commentator, has become China’s most influential and powerful daily news commentary program. His commentary on issues in the areas of politics, culture and economic structural reform has an enormous impact on public opinions.
As a senior journalist, Bai Yansong has hosted almost all the live TV programs on all key events over the past 15 years in China, such as the live broadcasting of Hong Kong’s return to China in 1997, the live broadcasting of the closure of Three Gorges Dam on Yangtze River in 1998, the live broadcasting of Sichuan earthquake and the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. He also hosted CCTV’s live broadcasting of former President Bill Clinton’s visit to Beijing University in 1998.
Mr. Bai is keen to promote China’s communication with other countries and its process of internationalization. As a member of “Chinese-Japanese 21st Century Friendship Committee”, Mr. Bai played a significant role in promoting Sino-Japanese non-governmental exchanges and media communications. In 2007, Mr. Bai and his team went to Japan carrying out a 22-day filming, covering the entire territory of Japan and interviewing a number of VIPs such as Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe, former prime minister Yasuo Fukuda, former prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone , former Japanese Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, and Canon’s President and CEO Fujio Mitarai.
The documentary “Yansong Japan Close-up” displays Japanese people’s diverse views on history and their different interpretations on Sino-Japanese relations, as well as various tendencies in economic and cultural development.
In 2008, Mr. Bai presided over “Critical Point: a Round-Table Forum of Sino-Japanese Relations”, a program in which four ministerial-level diplomats from China and Japan were invited to discuss face–to-face a series of sensitive and controversial issues including the Olympic Games, military expenditure, Tibet and food safety. The program was broadcast both in CCTV and Asahi TV of Japan.
And, In 2005, Mr. Bai and his team went to Taiwan for a 20-day shooting for documentary “Yansong Taiwan Close-up”. The documentary covers many significant political and cultural figures in Taiwan. It’s the first time media of the Chinese mainland has conducted an in-depth interview and observation on Taiwan.
In addition, Mr. Bai is very concerned about environmental protection and charity. He is honored as “Image Ambassador of China Environmental Protection” and “Image Ambassador of Volunteers”. He is employed by the Chinese government as a trainer for the “Government Spokesman Training Scheme”. In 2008, Mr. Bai participated in the Beijing Olympic Games torch relay, and it was him who handed over the torch to basketball superstar Yao Ming at the Tian’anmen Square.
Mr. Bai has a great interest in music and has developed a deep understanding about it. He continues to love football despite the disappointing performance of China men’s football team. Mr. Bai is married and has a lovely son, whom he named Butty after his favorite star Batistuta of Argentina.