Jeremy Goldkorn at Danwei.org Photo provided by Jeremy Goldkorn
Jeremy Goldkorn is known for his blog Danwei.org, which quickly translates into English topics from the Chinese media that interests foreigners, and shows a different aspect of things that happen in China.
Standing on the balcony of his apartment in Qijiayuan Diplomatic Compound, Jeremy Goldkorn drinks a cup of morning coffee and enjoys the view of Chang’anjie. It’s a very modern and civilized viewf Beijing.
English listings magazine
Goldkorn is from South Africa and came to China in 1995. “My major in university was literature and I like writing,” Goldkorn said.Early in 1997, Goldkorn was the executive editor of the first-ever free English listings magazine Beijing Scene. “I worked a lot at that time but I loved it. I love meeting new people every week, writing things and publishing them on Wedneday, em or Thursday?”Even so, Goldkorn felt more passionate about writing things that people would read than doing other things. Beijing Scene was closed down for a variety of reasons. Goldkorn said, “You know, printe publications cost a lot of money, and it had many problems both in terms of finance and management.” After that, Goldkorn helped establish other English magazines like Er, a bilingual listing magazine, as well as making documenaries. He was also caught up in the dotcom investment buzz.
In 2001, he and his friends rented a courtyard near Houhai, which was not as popular as it is today. When Mart Kitto, the founder of That’s Shnghai, launched its Beijing edition, Goldkorn promised to help for the first two months. Goldkorn said he was sick of doing listings magazines after that and left for New York. However, New York was suffering after 9/11 and it was hard for Americans or foreigners to find a job.
