China: Now with 10% more freedom for journalists!
Just because this sort of nonsense deserves to reach as many people as possible so everyone can collectively be annoyed or have a jolly good laugh, I’m reposting an article fresh off Danwei here:
CCTV is making up news stories again with a report titled Olympic press freedom hailed by foreign media:
It’s been a year since the government issued regulations giving foreign journalists more freedom to cover stories in the country.
China will provide better assistance, a better environment, and better access for foreign reporters to work in the country. Senior officials reiterated this commitment at an annual reception for journalists from around the world.
Liu Jianchao, Foreign Ministry Spokesman said “Throughout the year, we’ve found the journalists have enjoyed better access to information. We expect more journalists to come to China provide better assistance for them.”
Read the rest here.
Many foreigners might read that and think the Chinese government must think we’re all idiots. Not exactly. This sort of nonsense, albeit digested by you in English, is all available first in Chinese where it is read by, well, the Chinese. Duh, you say, right? Well, wait a second there. The import of that fairly obvious statement is that the vast majority of the Chinese honestly don’t have much exposure or experience with information and opinions that differ from what is fed by the government and the government controlled media. Moreover, do you think there are more Chinese people reading that report (in Chinese) or foreigners (in English)?
Tell enough lies…
That said, don’t mistake the Chinese for all being ignorant fools. A healthy amount of them (possibly even a majority) maintain a basic level of skepticism and distrust of their government and the official lines that are thrown out. So why does this sort of ridiculous bullshit persist? Because the validity and veracity of information is only part of the equation of belief. Another part is the willingness to believe. For that, most Chinese are a nationalistic sort and they love their country…like most citizens of most countries. For all the flaws they know to be true within every fiber of their being, it is too difficult to imagine the CCP government as separate from the nation of China. As far as the people are concerned–and much to the joy of the CCP–the two are one and the same. That, and most people have more important things to worry about than political science.
If you make a wholly valid and well-reasoned comment that is critical about China, many Chinese will politely express that they accept your observation before quickly saying, “but China is improving.” This is where propaganda, such as the great example above, comes in. That constant stream of official (mis)information bolsters the notion and enables the Chinee people to say exactly that: “but China is improving.” It gives the appearance that the government has acknowledged a problem and is doing something. Combined with wholly understandable nationalism and a populace that has better things to do, that’s all you need to keep the masses docile and, critically, unreceptive to foreign criticisms and influence.
You didn’t really think the Chinese government gives a damn about what some over-political foreigners think, right? The Chinese government (like most governments) only needs the approval and acquiescing consent of its own people. Now be a good foreigner and get back to things that concern you: earning your living and mind-numbing entertainment.
Tags: access, cctv, foreigner, freedom, improving, information, journalism, journalist, misinformation, press, propaganda, report, reporting