American journalist documenting China’s Reform and Opening up

Since China’s land was undergoing a vigorous process of transformation, Leonard, who was sensitive to this change, decided to record all of this in real time with video. In 1987, Leonard, the then executive director of the Asian Broadcasting Corporation of America’s National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), successfully convinced NBC's management to personally lead a special program team from US headquarters to mainland China. Co-produced with CCTV and Shanghai TV, they made a 12.5-hour live show "Changing China". This was the first time the global mainstream media had visited China. In the form of documentary and field interview, it reflected China, which had just begun the process of reform and opening up.

He talks about the original conception for the program,“China’s opening just starts and it is a very mysterious event for the entire world. So I wanted to introduce people to this extraordinary change, and introduce them to the history of China, the changes it is experiencing and the future things that are to happen.”

Comments and wishes from Leonard for China to deepen its opening up

In-depth shooting allowed Leonard to know more about the life of the Chinese.“I remember one time I interviewed a man and we went to his home. There was a tree growing in the middle of his living room. His home had been built around the tree. That was pretty rough. Especially in inland cities, the living standard is much lower. But now even in cities like Chengdu, there are tall buildings and bright lights. I don’t think there is one country that has changed as much as China has changed.”