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CNA producer Jonathan Chia explains the challenges of making the documentary series Walk The Line and the importance of protecting sources at the 2024 Global Journalism Forum’s Investigative Journalism Showcase.
The documentary tells the story of Chinese immigrants trying to enter the United States illegally through Ecuador, which was the closest Latin American country to the United States at the time and offered visa-free entry to Chinese citizens.
“While many documentaries have covered the journey of illegal Chinese immigration to the United States, we hope that ‘Song of the Frontline’ will be different because of its unique scale, in-depth approach, and personalized, human portrayal of Chinese immigrants,” said Jonathan.
He revealed that the original idea for the documentary was that CNA reporter Wei Du saw some videos on social media showing Chinese people hiking through the dense jungle of the Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama. These videos have a Mandarin label that translates to “walk this line.”
Research, planning and training
The team spent a lot of time scouring social media, using their language skills and knowledge of China to find support groups and guides on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Telegram. Using this information, they planned a route from Ecuador that included buses, domestic flights, and via the Darien Pass.
Research and planning include establishing a network of trusted sources (Doctors Without Borders in Colombia, UNHCR in Panama and the UN migration agency, the International Organization for Migration), hiring security teams for hostile environment training, developing safety protocols and escorting them across Latin America, including areas controlled by drug cartels and gangs. Local security advisers and mediators will also provide important advice on avoiding danger.
Build rapport and protect sources
In Ecuador, the crew stayed in a guesthouse and served Singaporean snacks, including Chinese barbecue (Bak wa). “It didn’t take long for us to win the trust of four people who agreed to be guests on our show,” said Jonathan. “We realized that these Chinese immigrants who had made the biggest decision of their lives had been isolated during this journey, keeping everything secret before leaving China and had no one to talk to. So on the one hand, they were isolated from the world, and on the other hand, they finally met someone who would not exploit them and was interested in their stories, so they opened up and told their stories. With the help of these initial participants, more and more immigrants gradually came forward to share their stories.”
He added: “Our research and reporting revealed several key insights for the documentary series. We heard directly from migrants about their motivations for making the dangerous journey, which ranged from lack of free speech to religious persecution, but mostly economic reasons. We heard many stories about how businesses never fully recovered from zero COVID policies at home.”
“For a show like this, keeping our sources safe and anonymous is a top priority. For those who do not wish to be identified, we have strict blacklisting measures in place.”
“Raw and Unfiltered”
Another element was documenting the migrants’ reactions when they realised the journey was far more difficult and deadly than they had imagined. “Several of them almost died,” Jonathan said.
The team captured “raw and unfiltered” footage of the migrants’ journey, including extortion by Mexican government officials and smuggling gangs. They also spoke with U.S. residents living along the Mexican border who highlighted the social and political tensions the influx of migrants has created.
Jonathan said the team adhered to the highest ethical standards throughout the reporting process. This meant obtaining informed consent from interviewees, making interview intentions clear, and avoiding anything that could compromise the integrity of the documentary. “We made it clear to the migrants from the beginning that we could not provide them with any material assistance for legal and ethical reasons. This included not letting them ride in our vehicles, not lending them any money, and not exchanging any currency with them,” he said.
“By offering a nuanced and empathetic portrayal of Chinese immigrants, we believe this documentary can encourage viewers to rethink their preconceived notions and promote a more compassionate public discussion of this issue.”
Walk The Line is available on YouTube. Since July, Ecuador has suspended visa-free entry for Chinese citizens, the United States has deported a group of Chinese immigrants who entered the country illegally, and the United States and Panama have signed an agreement to prevent illegal immigration through the Darien Gap..
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