April 01, 1986 by

Jim Ziervogel, director of the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS), has gathered a group of people who help him locate information about China. His "China Clippers" hunt for articles that in some way touch on the subject of life in China.

"People think they have to subscribe to big name newspapers before they can be of service to us," he said. "That is not the case at all. It's amazing how much solid news is reported in smalltown papers, news that is not reported by the 'big boys.' Even when an article originates from a major publication, it does not mean that the full relevant text was printed there,"

"We aren't even covering all the major papers and magazines," Ziervogel said, "but even if we were, we still have a great need for Clippers."

In a letter to a new Clipper, Ziervogel wrote: "Once you start looking for them, you might be surprised where you will find articles on China and Chinese peoples. You will find them in almost any kind of magazine,"

Ziervogel requests that new Clippers inform him of what magazines they receive before beginning to clip. "We will tell you if someone is already clipping from that source." But from those not yet being clipped, he says he wants Clippers to "clip all articles on China and Chinese peoples worldwide. Sometimes, some useful facts on Chinese peoples will be hidden even in the midst of a political article. We will monitor the articles for the Chinese people group data,"

Ziervogel tells his Clippers to mark articles with the date (including the year) and source of news (name of newspaper or magazine). As articles are clipped, "fasten together pages that belong together," he says. "As a pile mounts up, you will see the wisdom of this."

He suggests that Clippers should malt the fruits of their labors at least twice a month. "Once a week would be more desirable to us, but more trouble to the Clippers and, perhaps, more expensive."

When expenses nit involved whether photocopying or postage .Ziervoget says his organization is willing to reimburse the costs, though especially in the area of pho tocopying ' 'most articles would probably not be worth the expense unless they contain some profiling of Chinese peoples."

Once the ICS receives articles, they are put in order, cataloged, and filed. The information is then avialable for use in creating profiles of Chinese peoples.

Right now, the ICS clippings tile is broken down into over 30 sub units.

Topics include:

1. Peoples Republic of China (PRC): arts, entertainment, sports.
2. PRC: business, economics, resources, conservation.
3. PRC: hunger, poverty.
4. PRC: law, crime, punishment, human rights.
5. PRC: international relations with countries other than U.S. (including defense).
6. PRC: ideology, propaganda (i.e., "the Chinese mind"),
7. PRC: opportunities for ministry and witnessing.
8. PRC: lifestyle overview.
9. PRC: demography.
10. PRC: personalities (in leadership, etc.).
11. PRC: religious life (including Christianity).
12. PRO science, technology, medicine.
13. PRC: Westerners living, working, touring.
14. PRC: youth: education, etc.
15. PRC: regional news: North; Central; South: Xinjiang; Xizang (Tibet); Nemenggu (Inner Mongolia); Northeast (Manchuria).
16. PEC: people groups: socio-economic; peasants; minorities ....
17. Chinese peoples in Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, Korea.
18. Chinese peoples in Taiwan (ROC).
19. Chinese peoples in Southeast Asia
20. U.S. relations with PRC and ROC (see also #2).
21. Chinese peoples in the Americas,
22. Chinese peoples in other areas of the world.
23. PRC history and archeology.
24. Geography of China.
25. China studies/China language.
26. China bibliography.

Beyond the clippings themselves, ICS also receives close to 200 specialized publications.

With all the work involved in sorting, filing, ordering and maintaining the clippings tile, let alone keeping subscriptions up to date, Ziervoget commented, "I must say, we have a tremendous need for people who can serve as librarians and work with us in the area of tile maintenance! We could use several people from the local area a couple of mornings or afterncoos a week"

For more information about "China Clippers" or other ways you might help any of the research institutes at the US Center for World Mission Chinese Studies, Hindu Studies, Global Urban Studies, Tribal Studies. Muslim Studies, Japanese Studies, Latin American Studies, Korean Studies, Native American Studies call or write the institute of your choice do the U.S. Center for World Mission. 1605 Elizabeth Street. Pasadena, CA 91104; (8/8) 797.1111 (24'/tours a day). Or fill in the appropriate blank on the Order Page, inside back cover.