“It’s impossible not to feel connected with these guys and this movie.”
— Beth Carter, Wired

High Tech Low Life premieres July 22, 2013 at 10 PM on PBS stations. (Check local listings.) The film will be available for streaming on the POV website from July 23, 2013 to August 21, 2013.

High Tech, Low Life follows two of China’s first citizen-reporters as they document the underside of the country’s rapid economic development. A search for truth and fame inspires young vegetable seller “Zola” to report on censored news stories from the cities, while retired businessman “Tiger Temple” makes sense of the past by chronicling the struggles of rural villagers. Land grabs, pollution, rising poverty, local corruption and the growing willingness of ordinary people to speak out are grist for these two bloggers who navigate China’s evolving censorship regulations and challenge the boundaries of free speech. A co-production of ITVS and the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM). A co-presentation with CAAM.

After the broadcast, you can visit the High Tech Low Life companion site to view a video interview with the director, download a discussion guide and other viewing resources, navigate the Great Firewall of China, and find out what’s happened to the bloggers since the cameras stopped rolling.

For updates on the 2013 season of POV, subscribe to POV’s documentary blog, like POV on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @povdocs.

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POV Staff
POV (a cinema term for "point of view") is television's longest-running showcase for independent non-fiction films. POV premieres 14-16 of the best, boldest and most innovative programs every year on PBS. Since 1988, POV has presented over 400 films to public television audiences across the country. POV films are known for their intimacy, their unforgettable storytelling and their timeliness, putting a human face on contemporary social issues.