CCTV Discovery. 2

Author: Xue Jijun, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: What does "Journey of Discovery" hope to bring to the audience? What have the creators gained from this journey of discovery? The answer is not immediate. A new program format must go through stages of creation, growth, and maturity. Therefore, the positioning and target audience of the program, including its presentation methods and unique charm that distinguishes it from similar programs, are all gradually clarified through exploration. For young program creators, as a popular saying goes in society, they naturally hope to satisfy themselves while contributing to others. If this can be achieved, it can become a passionate and fulfilling era. In fact, these are the inner thoughts of the program creators, rarely shared openly. As mentioned earlier, the creation of the program was also a trial-and-error process, but it did not mean that there was no original concept from the beginning. To better explain "Journey of Discovery," it is necessary to first discuss what we did not want the program to be. First, it is not a traditional science and education program; it cannot dive headfirst into the ocean of knowledge and lose itself. Second, it is not an elite documentary; it does not blindly follow sensational statements, which is indeed too risky. Last, it is definitely not a news-style documentary; it is superficial and lacks depth. So, what kind of program is "Journey of Discovery," or where does its value lie?
First and foremost, a program should realize its artistic value. Compared to other programs, "Journey of Discovery" has very distinct features. Its appeal lies in its emphasis on storytelling. It starts with a story, then explores the connections between events, and finally, it provides the scientific key to solving the mystery. Here, knowledge is pushed into the background, with stories driving the knowledge and science integrated into the plot to achieve the goal of education through entertainment. This entertainment-oriented creative approach is not our invention, but we were indeed pioneers in science programs in China.
Second, the media value of the program. A good program, especially one with artistic value, must inevitably fulfill the roles of education and promotion. Education and promotion can take various forms—shouting from the rooftops or expressing oneself directly, or calmly and objectively disseminating the spirit of science. We chose the latter.
Third, the social value of the program. At this level, it primarily reflects a cognitive value. Science itself is a clear stance—seeking truth, being practical, and being realistic. It gradually imbues the audience with the spirit and attitude of science, naturally leading to social value. In my opinion, this is precisely what is missing in our national spirit today.
"Journey of Discovery" is the only science exploration documentary program on China Central Television (CCTV). It examines the progress of human civilization from a scientific perspective and pursues the truth with a spirit of discovery. Four years after its launch, it gained widespread popularity and was hailed as "China's Discovery." Compared to other programs, "Journey of Discovery" has very distinct features. Its appeal lies in its emphasis on storytelling. It starts with a story, then explores the connections between events, and finally, it provides the scientific key to solving the mystery. Here, knowledge is pushed into the background, with stories driving the knowledge and science integrated into the plot to achieve the goal of education through entertainment. This entertainment-oriented creative approach is not our invention, but we were indeed pioneers in science programs in China.
Second, the media value of the program. A good program, especially one with artistic value, must inevitably fulfill the roles of education and promotion. Education and promotion can take various forms—shouting from the rooftops or expressing oneself directly, or calmly and objectively disseminating the spirit of science. We chose the latter.
Third, the social value of the program. At this level, it primarily reflects a cognitive value. Science itself is a clear stance—seeking truth, being practical, and being realistic. It gradually imbues the audience with the spirit and attitude of science, naturally leading to social value. In my opinion, this is precisely what is missing in our national spirit today.
"Journey of Discovery" will take readers on a journey of scientific revelation and mystery-solving. It pushes aside the layers of fog in various fields such as archaeology, biology, architecture, medicine, and geography. This series of books uses a suspenseful storytelling approach to showcase the process of unraveling mysteries, revealing the wonders of the world with a scientific attitude and perspective. Each chapter begins with a story, then explores the connections between events, and finally, it provides the scientific key to solving the mystery. Knowledge is pushed into the background, suspense triggers the readers, stories introduce the knowledge, and science is integrated into the plot.
One of the key features of "Journey of Discovery" is its consistent blend of suspense and entertainment. While calmly and objectively digging deeper into the scientific significance behind the surface, it allows readers to truly experience the charm of discovery, feel the rigor of exploring the unknown, and enjoy the pleasure of reading. Various types of knowledge are integrated into a series of progressively unfolding stories. Through reading, not only do readers gain scientific knowledge, but more importantly, they acquire the thinking methods for exploring the unknown and experience the joy of scientific discovery.
Another key feature of "Journey of Discovery" is that the mysteries and mysterious places explored are basically unique to China. Chinese readers can feel this and participate in experiencing it in real life. For example, chapters like "The Mystery of the Wild Man," "Unidentified Flying Objects in Chinese Skies," "Will the Giant Panda Become Extinct?" and "The Legend of the Falcon" all narrate unsolved mysteries within China. For readers who have the opportunity to witness them firsthand, there is also the possibility of personally uncovering these mysteries.