Western Media Teaches China a 'Lesson'

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The People's Daily, People's Republic of China

Western Media Teaches China a 'Lesson'

One must hand it to the Beijing authorities. It takes tremendous gall for a regime that outlaws press freedom or open criticism of any kind, to lecture others on press freedom.

According to Shen Xinggeng, senior Desk Editor at the strictly state-controlled People's Daily:

"If news reporters don't respect basic facts, how can they talk so glibly about 'objectivity and fairness'? During their news coverage, Western media regularly underscore objectivity and fairness; whereas in China there is said to be only propaganda or preaching. ... It seems that in the West, 'press freedom' means the 'freedom to spread rumors,' the 'freedom to tell lies,' the 'freedom to make distortions,' the freedom to 'vilify' and the freedom to 'spread slander.'"

Ironically, Mr. Shen ends by saying that thanks to the West's perceived lack of journalistic ethics, 'even average people, let alone students of journalism' received a lesson in true journalistic objectivity.

By Shen Xinggeng

April 29, 2008

People's Republic of China - People's Daily - Original Article (English)

Western media have been "lecturing" us of late. On March 14, an act of serial criminality involving assaults, the destruction of property, looting and arson took place in Lhasa, with Western media paying extraordinary attention. These media outlets are, among others, Agence France Presse, RTL and NTL of Germany, the British Broadcasting Corporation of Britain, and the Washington Post and CNN of the United States.

The mass of readers and viewers, nevertheless, can hardly fathom these lengthy reports: How can obvious homicide and arson committed by a few law-breakers be cited as "peaceful protest," and how can the frenzied assault on law-enforcement personnel who failed to hit back when attacked be called the suppression of Tibetans by the Chinese government?

Even worse, CNN host Jack Cafferty maliciously attacked Chinese products as "junk," and the Chinese people as, "basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years." He simply curses and swears, "like a shrew letting loose a stream of abuse in the street." [Editor's Note: A shrew is defined as an ill-tempered woman.]

Therefore, ordinary people in China can no longer stand what Western media have been doing. Hence, Chinese have been quietly collecting and sifting through huge amounts of ironclad proof, and have replied with a forceful rebuttal that has exposed the false reports of the Western media. Meanwhile, nationals of Chinese origin and Chinese expatriates and students have held mammoth but peaceful and virtuous protests and demonstrations in the United States, Britain, Germany and France to protests the distorted reporting of Western media.

The rebuttal by Chinese Netizens and the protests of Chinese expats (and students) around the world have been unprecedented, both in terms of scale and effect - and they far-exceeded the expectations of those cocky, arrogant media people in the West. That said, I would very much like to raise two questions for people to dwell upon.

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

First, how is one to recognize the much vaunted and flaunted objectivity and fairness said to be so important to freedom of the press? It is a question of theory. People with journalism careers in the West have claimed all along that they practice press freedom, whereas no such freedom exists China. During their news coverage, Western media regularly underscore objectivity and fairness; whereas in China there is said to be only propaganda or preaching. So over the passage of time, some of my colleagues find it difficult to boldly and confidently give their views, which are that theory should guide practice.

In the light of some mainstream Western media reports on the incident that occurred in Lhasa on March 14, one must conclude that there is a world of difference between what they say and what they do. It seems that in the West, "press freedom" means the "freedom to spread rumors," the "freedom to tell lies," the "freedom to make distortions," the "freedom to "vilify" and the freedom to "spread slander." If news reporters don't respect basic facts, how can they talk so glibly about "objectivity and fairness"?

Secondly, when comparing China's news reports to their American counterparts, which get closer to objective reality? We often hear friends from the West say that what they see in China differs tremendously from media reports in their own countries. This too, is used as of form of evidence by some Western politicians, who often attack China during election races, but when in power, they draw much closer to China.

Apparently in regard to the March 14 incident, there is a striking contrast between reports in the West and in China, and ours are much closer to being based on the evidence. Which is why we say that China's media reports are much closer to the objective reality than those in the West. This is a judgment based entirely on the facts.

When I was a university professor of professional journalism, I tried hard to discuss this subject [objectivity], but found it difficult to approach it in-depth. I also discovered that most of my students had an inadequate understanding in this regard. But what we learned over the Internet on this occasion has enabled even average people, let alone students of journalism, to acquire an in-depth understanding. Indeed, this gives me joy from the bottom of my heart.

And this achievement must be ascribed to some Western media, as they have given us such a varied, lively and incisive "lesson," and given it free of charge.

*By Shen Xinggeng, Senior Desk Editor

[Editor's Note: Reporters Without Borders rates China's media as "Situation Very Serious "].