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@ 2012/03/20Foxconn, which helps to make Apple iPhones and iPads, said that it will not sue a US radio channel about its work practices in China.
The company said the broadcast, which has generated public debate on journalistic ethics in the United States, hurt its reputation by claiming that it was a sweatshop making expensive toys for westerners who did not care about the conditions at the plant.
According to Reuters, "This American Life" retracted an episode critical of working conditions at a Chinese factory of Foxconn, saying it had contained "numerous fabrications".
The problem was that the show was based heavily on a one-man theatrical show by actor Mike Daisey: "The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs."
Simon Hsing, Foxconn's spokesman said that Foxconn's corporate image has been totally ruined. The point is whatever media that cited the program should not have reported it without confirming things with the company.
Over the weekend, the retraction was being seen in the Apple fanboy community as "proof" that everything was OK with the Foxconn plant. Fanboys have been desperate to prove that they are not buying their shiny toys from blood soaked Chinese sweatshops.
One Apple fanboy waded into yours truly on Facebook for publishing lies about Apple's Chinese operations. The proof he cited was the fact that Daisey was "proven to be a big fat liar."
Daisey's play was important in forcing Apple to allow outside inspectors at its contract manufacturing facilities in China.
Reuters said that "This American Life" said in a broadcast last week that most of the retracted program's content was true and corroborated by independent investigation. The only inaccuracies were linked to Daisey's account of his trip to China.
From what we saw, it appears that only part of that account were not true either with some points being glossed over for the sake of drama.
Although we have been printing information about the Chinese operations long before Daisey appeared on the scene, as far as the Apple fanboys are concerned, it is all proof that Steve Jobs was right and that Foxconn was a much better place for Chinese to work than anywhere else.
The company said the broadcast, which has generated public debate on journalistic ethics in the United States, hurt its reputation by claiming that it was a sweatshop making expensive toys for westerners who did not care about the conditions at the plant.
According to Reuters, "This American Life" retracted an episode critical of working conditions at a Chinese factory of Foxconn, saying it had contained "numerous fabrications".
The problem was that the show was based heavily on a one-man theatrical show by actor Mike Daisey: "The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs."
Simon Hsing, Foxconn's spokesman said that Foxconn's corporate image has been totally ruined. The point is whatever media that cited the program should not have reported it without confirming things with the company.
Over the weekend, the retraction was being seen in the Apple fanboy community as "proof" that everything was OK with the Foxconn plant. Fanboys have been desperate to prove that they are not buying their shiny toys from blood soaked Chinese sweatshops.
One Apple fanboy waded into yours truly on Facebook for publishing lies about Apple's Chinese operations. The proof he cited was the fact that Daisey was "proven to be a big fat liar."
Daisey's play was important in forcing Apple to allow outside inspectors at its contract manufacturing facilities in China.
Reuters said that "This American Life" said in a broadcast last week that most of the retracted program's content was true and corroborated by independent investigation. The only inaccuracies were linked to Daisey's account of his trip to China.
From what we saw, it appears that only part of that account were not true either with some points being glossed over for the sake of drama.
Although we have been printing information about the Chinese operations long before Daisey appeared on the scene, as far as the Apple fanboys are concerned, it is all proof that Steve Jobs was right and that Foxconn was a much better place for Chinese to work than anywhere else.
