Japanese TV looking for a few people to interview

Date: Monday, October 15, 2007 7:20 PM

<<<<< JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER No. 1770 -- 10/15/2007

I was recently contacted by a reporter for NHK: Japanese Public TV. NHK is
looking for a few US people to interview and unfortunately they haven't had
much luck finding a candidate that meets their criterion. The purpose of this
newsletter is to reach out to all of you to see if there is someone out there
that might fit their needs. This is a very good opportunity to showcase to the
world how H-1B, outsourcing, or other types of white collar job loss affects
Americans.

NHK is backing up against a deadline, which explains why they would be
desperate enough to contact me!

I had an interesting conversation with the reporter, and then I got hit with a
question that's still gnawing at me -- "if there are so many high-tech
American workers that have been forced into a downward economic spiral, then
why can't we find one to go on Japanese television?"

OUCH! That was a tough one! About the only plausible theory I could come up
with is that there are a lot of Americans who fear going on camera to tell
their stories. Or perhaps it's a cultural thing -- Americans don't like to go
public with their failures. Or perhaps NHK just doesn't know how to reach out
for stories like this.

Of course it could be that there really aren't that many Americans that have
been really pushed down in the way NHK is looking for. Personally I have a
tough time believing that to be true.

I'm not including contact information for the reporter for a very good reason
-- because I want to screen out those of you that would try to contact NHK
without reading this entire newsletter first. Please folks, if you don't have
the time or desire to read everything below, delete this email and move on. I
really don't enjoy being the point person for efforts like this because they
usually end up taking lots of my time while providing disappointing results.
Please save your time and mine by taking the time to study all the details
about what is required to be on their documentary.

STOP HERE AND READ VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE GETTING STARSTRUCK WITH THE IDEA OF
BEING ON TELEVISION!

Doing an interview with NHK is more like doing a reality TV show so please
don't think all that will be involved is driving to a studio for a short
interview. They will practically live with you and your family for a few days.
If you can't make that kind of commitment, or your family can't, don't go any
further because NHK probably won't be interested in talking to you.

I have been told by a person who went through a similar documentary with NHK
who said that the Japanese TV crews are top notch, and are totally respectful.
He said the video crews were more like family friends than reporters.

One more qualifier -- please do not contact me until you have watched the
entire NHK documentary on my website, and until you have thoughtfully read the
email below. Before you get stars in your eyes the video will give you a very
good idea what their style of reporting is and what will be required of you.

To watch the NHK video go to this page and scroll down to this video:

2004 -- Worldwide Unemployment
http://www.jobdestruction.info/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm

The email I received below by the NHK reporter refers to "IT or high tech
worker". After some questioning the reporter clarified the term to a broader
category -- ideally it could be almost anyone in Computer/IT, science, and
engineering -- or maybe even academia. What they really are looking for is a
geek!

Probably the most important thing they are looking for is somebody who has
been forced out of their field into a "blue collar" type of job. They are
television, after all, so they would much rather see a former computer geek
digging ditches than working an $8 office job, although without doubt both
stories could be equally tragic. They are definitely looking more towards
somebody with a family that is having money and/or psychological problems as a
result of declining income and status.

If any of you out there are interested, send me a brief email explaining why
you think you would qualify to be on NHK along with your contact info.
I'll pass all good cases to the NHK reporter. Filming will probably start
within days or a week.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:59:53 -0400

I thought I'd ask to see, if you know of anyone who might be a face of the
Working Poor. We are trying to get in touch with American IT workers who
cannot make ends meet with what they can earn, due to the global
competition.

What for?

I am contacting you on behalf of a Japanese Public TV's documentary program
called "NHK Special". My name is RI and I am a NY based field producer. We
are aware that you are actively involved with high tech labor issues, and I
would like to ask your help with getting in touch with people who are
currently out of work or being laid off with no fault of their own. First,
we want to learn about cases where IT workers, the educated segment of
American middle class, is even not immune to falling down to precarious
employment.

Why high tech industry?

People generally think non-manufacturing jobs are still safe from
unemployment or wage decrease, because of their specialized skills. We
thought of highlighting the case of IT sector, so that viewers see the
problem as being one that can affect the educated middle class, not in
certain segment of less educated population.

Who we are looking for?

Particularly, we are interested in people whose income had been
significantly reduced. We would also like to see some American cases, where
there is no language or cultural obstacles other than simple employment
issues. Specifically, I am looking at the of US population who works hard
but can hardly raise a family on the wages they can earn on whatever the
job available.

For an example?

(Squeezed Middle Class, easy fall of the Middle Class, broken American
Dream, etc...)

An IT or high tech worker or some other support personnel in a related
field, with a college degree. Used to have a solid middle class life. Lost
a job or business due to the volatility with employment/market or the work
duties were shipped off shore. Currently suffering from much lower income
perhaps due to the competition with foreign work force (H1-b or off shore).
Working wife, childcare, healthcare, mortgage, all adds up to his current
circumstances. Living from day to day is the best he can reach, worried
about children's future, any catastrophic medical expenses, maybe leave the
business altogether, and settle for something of an downgrade, etc...

I just jotted down some fictional character that might highlight such
hardship. As I said, this would be anywhere in the US, just as long as it
is American workforce problem and not too complicated by other factors like
language or race.

Any pointer you may have to give me in locating such individuals will be
very much appreciated. I would like to maybe speak with a few families on
the phone as soon as possible, and later on, determine whether we can plan
a filming or not.

Thank you.

RI
NHK, Japan Broadcasting Corp.

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