Analysis of the Research Archive

Photo: Phil Borges Archived Research Projects

 10 annual surveys with refugees and travelers (2001-2011) – Media use and public opinion – Conducted outside Tibet – Comprehensive surveys of recent refugees/travelers aged 15+

– January-December 2011 (n=1,332) Photo: AFP – Not representative of Tibetans in Tibet – Respondent groups varied by year — demographics, size of group shaped by outflow from Tibet

 Dozens of qualitative projects conducted in India and Nepal

3 4 RFA graphic

5 2011 Wikimedia Commons

6 Self immolation map here

7 Refugee/Traveler Survey: Region of Tibet

100%

13% 16% 15% 17% 16% 19% 18% 20% 22% 18% 27% 80% 17% 22% 19% 24% 21% 20% 20% 16% 38% 28% 60% 21% Utsang Amdo 40% Kham 68% 59% 59% 62% 62% 62% 62% 63% 55% 47% 51% 20%

0% 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

8 Refugee/Traveler Survey: Demographics

100%

80% 73%

60% 41% 40% 26% 28% 19% 20% 12%

0% Male Female 15 to 29 30 to 44 45 to 59 60+ Gender Age 100% 80% 62% 60% 44% 40% 26% 31% 16% 20% 11% 8% 1% 0% Village City Nomadic No Elementary Secondary Higher Informal education levels Where lived in Tibet Secular education N=1,332

9 Refugee/Traveler Survey: Occupation

Monk/Nun/Lama 33%

Business 12%

Farmer 27%

Nomad 14%

Student 3%

Photo: AFP

Other 8%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% N=1,332

10 Traditional Media Inside Tibet

Photo: AFP

11 Regular Use of Television Growing

100%

80%

61% 62% 58% 60% 54% TV 42% 40% 37% Radio 33% 31%

19% 18% 19% 20% 15% 14% 14% 13% 12%

0% 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

. 2011 TV regular use: Utsang 72%, Amdo 73%, Kham 56% . 2011 Radio regular use: Utsang 19%, Amdo 15%, Kham 9%

12 Satellite Dish Ownership by Tibetan Refugees and Travelers (2005-2011)

100%

80%

60% 52% 54% 46% 40% 36% 36% 31%

20% 18%

0% 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

13 Tibetan Refugees and Travelers’ Satellite Ownership by Region

100%

80% 72%

64% 61% 62% 60% 57% 59% 54% Photo: AFP 52% 51%

39% 40% 40% Kham 30% 28%

19% 21% 20% 17% 16% Amdo 10% 5% 3% 3% Utsang 0% 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

14 Satellite Dish Ownership by Tibetan Refugees and Travelers (2005-2011)

100%

80% Any dish Large dish

60% 52% 54% 46%

40% 36% 36% 31%

18% 20% 20% 16% 14% 15% 14% 7% 9%

0% 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

15 Satellite Ownership by Tibetan Refugees and Travelers by Region

Amdo Kham 100% 100%

80% 72% 80% 64% 61% 62% 57% 59% 60% 52% 54% 60% 51% 40% 39% 40% 40% 33% 40% 30% 31% 28% 24% 22% 20% 19% 22% 20% 16% 20% 13% 13% 14% 16% 7% 8% 0% 0% 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Utsang 100%

80%

60% Any dish 40% Large dish 21% 17% 16% 20% 10% 3% 5% 3% 3% 3% 1% 2% 1% 2% 0% 0% 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

16 New Media Inside Tibet

Photos: AFP

17 Regular Use of New Media Among Recent Refugees and Travelers from Tibet

100%

80% 70%

60% 52% Computer 42% Internet 40% Mobile phone 33%

22% 20% 18%

7%7% 4% 5% 5% 6% 6% 3% 3% 2% 5% 4% 0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

18 New Media Use Higher Among Amdowas

 Amdo: – 9% regular Internet use – 88% regular mobile phone use

 Kham: – 3% regular Internet use – 66% regular mobile use

 Utsang: – 4% regular Internet use – 66% regular mobile use

Photo: AFP

19 Primary Language of New Media: Chinese

% Web % SMS

100% 92%94%

80%

60% 44% 40%

19% 20% 10% Photo: AFP 6% 0% Chinese Tibetan English

. Less than 5% of users had used circumvention techniques to get around China’s Web Firewall.

20 Information Inside Tibet

Photo: Free Tibet

21 Top Source of Reliable Information in Tibet Among Tibetan Refugees and Travelers

100%

80% 77%

60%

40%

20%

7% 6% 6% 2% 1% 1% 0% Friends None Foreign International Community Internet Domestic & family radio TV elders TV

22 Percent of Tibetan Refugees and Travelers Whose Top Source of News Is Word-of-Mouth (2004-2011)

100%

86% 83% 79% 79% 79% 80% 78% 73% 65%

60%

40%

20%

0% 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

23 Reliance on WOM Shows Regional Variation

 Utsang: – 76% WOM – 11% None

 Kham: – 88% WOM – 8% None

 Amdo: – 71% WOM – 3% None

Photo: Alexander Bubb

24 Top Source of Reliable Information in Tibet: Regional Variation in Non-WOM Sources

100%

80%

60% Kham

40% Amdo

Utsang 20% 16% 11% 7% 7%8% 3% 5% 4% 3% 1% 0%1%0% 1% 1% 0% None Foreign International Internet Domestic radio TV TV

25 Top Source of Reliable Information in Tibet: Foreign Media Audiences vs. Others

100% 89% No Foreign Broadcasts

80% Foreign Radio Audience 67% 66%

60% International TV Audience

40%

26% 22% 20% 11% 6% 8% 0%0% 0% 0% 0%2%1% 2%0% 0% 0% WOM None Foreign International Internet Domestic sources radio TV TV

26 Research Questions for Bodhgaya

 What are the dynamics of  What role does new media word-of-mouth? play? – How is information shared? – Who shares?  How have WOM dynamics played out in recent events?

– Self-immolations – Exile government elections

Photo: AFP

27 Methodology – Bodhgaya Travelers Survey

Quantitative Non-probability sample of Tibetan travelers to India

 Coverage: Travelers coming from Amdo, Kham, and Utsang regions

 Eligibility criteria: Age range of 20-50, use of mobile phones beyond voice, planning to return home

 Sample size: 117

 Methodology: Face-to-face

 Field period: Dec. 25, 2011 – Jan. 15, 2012

Qualitative 12, media/technology savvy Tibetan travelers to India, aged 20 to 50 and planning to return home

28 Research Objectives

Quantitative

 Understand general media habits

 Understand role played by international media in reporting news

 Learn about the spread of news and information through word- of-mouth and digital networks

 Identify key information nodes for news about Tibet

 Role of mobile phones in news sharing

Qualitative

 In addition to all of the above, deeper insights about Tibetans’ media use and experience with international media

29 Television Is the Dominant Media

 Television is the most widely used media among this population – 9 out of 10 interviewed reported watching it at least once last month

 Visual appeal a key reason – Satellite dishes are the dominant way of receiving television signal in rural areas

 Cable more prevalent in urban areas

 Different channels for different needs – Chinese channels are largely reserved for entertainment

 Distrust the news on most Chinese television channels

 Local dialect programming important (Amke, Khamke, or Uke) – No single dialect is dominant across all regions – Chinese and English broadcasting has limited audience

30 Digital Modes of Sharing Information is Popular

 Texting has become a common mode of communication in Tibet – More than 4 out of 10 (44%) report sending and receiving texts on their mobile phones

 Web-based instant messaging program like QQ or SMS-based programs like Caixin or Xinxin remain popular for sharing news and information

 Sharing sensitive news is, however, limited; barriers include – Need for registering SIM cards – Web blocking – Extensive café monitoring

 Individuals find ways around these obstacles – Unregistered SIM cards – Thumb drives – VCD/DVD

31 Users of International Media More Likely to Be Seen as Information Nodes Within Tibet

 More than one in five (21%) of those interviewed report being seen as a source of news and information in their communities

 Almost two-thirds of these self-reported “information nodes” claim using international media at least occasionally – Mostly men

 Higher proportion of monks

 Disseminators of accurate and unbiased information

 Well educated

 Skilled in the use of technology

 More likely to report having consumed international media

 Willing to share information with trusted members in the community – A majority report being able to understand all or most of the newscast in Amke dialect

“Monks and lamas hear a lot of news about Tibetan issues from RFA and VOA Tibetan TV. Tibetans inside Tibet ask the monks about news on Tibetan issues.”

32 Potential Use of Mobile Phone for News Sharing Remains Untapped

100% At least once a week Less than once a week

80%

60%

37%

40% 17% 22%

16% 20% 30% 27% 22% 5% 15% 5% 3% 5% 3% 3% 9% 6% 5% 3% 0% 3% 2% 2% 1% Taking Sending/ Sending a Sending/ Accessing Sending/ Sending/ Sending Downloading Using Listening a photo Receiving photo Receiving the Receiving Receiving an video to and viewing an app to the text messages to other an MMS Internet an email instant other a video clip (software radio people message people program) N=117

33 Besides Word-of-Mouth, International TV and Radio Are Seen as Reliable Sources of Information

100% 94%

80%

60%

40%

20% 14% 8% 6% 6% 3% 0% Friends/ International International International VCD/ Internet relatives/ TV radio 1 radio 2 DVD word-of-mouth

N=117

34 Word-of-Mouth Continues to Be the Most Reliable Source of and Mode of Sharing Information

 Word-of-mouth among friends and relatives is perceived universally as the main source of information about current events – news shared actively within trusted social circles – news travels fast, as most Tibetans belong to several social networks – take pride in sharing news – events within Tibet a key reason for the younger generation to keep information flows alive – A majority reported hearing news about “self-immolations” and Lobsang Sangay’s election first from close friends and relatives

“I trust the news only if I think it is true and can be trusted. I share the news with pride if I think I have such a piece of news to share. We talk mainly about Tibetan issues. We talk about HHDL, Sino-Tibet dialogue, and international news. We share news wherever we meet.”

35 Word-of-Mouth Continues to Be the Most Reliable Source of and Mode of Sharing Information

 Several respondents reported sharing news that they heard through international broadcasters

– Whether it is news about the Dalai Lama

– Breaking news about the self-immolations

– Lobsang Sangay’s election in April 2011

36 Q. “In Tibet, did you ever share what you had heard on RFA/VOA with others?”

RFA 92%

VOA 86%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Base: Past month audience RFA (n=80) and VOA-TV (n=90) ; figures show percentages of users who shared RFA/VOA information with others

37 Q. “… how many others did you share what you heard on RFA/VOA on a regular basis?”

32% 1 to 10 people 33%

34% 11 to 50 people RFA 27% VOA

26% 51 or more people 26%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Base: past month audiences to RFA and VOA-TV; figures show percentages of each station’s audience sharing information with number of people indicated.

38 Q. “… how often did you share what you heard/saw on RFA/VOA with others?”

3% Every day/almost 3%

48% Once a week RFA 51% VOA

41% Less than once a week 31%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Base: past month audiences to RFA and VOA-TV; figures show percentages of each station’s audience sharing information with frequency indicated

39 Q. “… in what way did you share what you heard on RFA/VOA with others?”

90% In-person conversation 94%

RFA VOA

13% Phone conversation 15%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Base: Past month audience for each station. Figures show percentages of each station’s audience sharing information via means shown. (Multiple responses allowed; no other methods of sharing mentioned by more than 2 percent)

40 Q. “Did you hear about the elections held by the Tibetan government in exile while in Tibet?”

Heard about elections

Yes 50%

No 50%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Base: All respondents (n=1,332)

41 Q. “From where did you first hear about (the elections)?”

How first heard

Close friends 43%

VCD/DVD 18%

BBG (VOA and/or RFA) 13%

Lamas/Monks/Nuns 11%

Close relatives 8%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Base: All who had heard about the elections while in Tibet (n=663)

42 Q. “With how many people did you share this story?”

1 to 10 people 39%

11 to 50 people 45%

51 or more people 16%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Base: All who heard elections story on BBG outlet and shared with others (n=89)

43 Conclusions

 Television use has grown with the rapid increase in official Tibetan broadcasts. The attractiveness of the visual medium is clear in the success of VOA-TV where it is accessible. International media remains a valuable source of unbiased news and information

 Media access and information sources vary by region, with Amdo ahead of other Tibetan regions

 Word-of-mouth is a critical source for Tibetans to receive and share news and information; Domestic media is valued but not trusted for news.

 Many Tibetans consider U.S. broadcasts their only media source for reliable information inside Tibet

– Audiences report sharing information widely

44 Conclusions

 Direct access to international media is limited by state controls:

– Radio jamming

– Replacement with satellite dishes that are unable to pick up international broadcasting

– SIM card registration

– Café monitoring/Web blocking

 “Information nodes” play key role in spreading information

 Mobile phones and other digital media provide new possibilities for disseminating news and information.

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