Real reporters can't be celebrity cheerleaders
- Source: Global Times
- [02:32 March 12 2010]
- Comments
By Shastri Ramachandaran
Media coverage of the two sessions has attracted almost as much attention as the proposals and personalities involved in the NPC and the CPPCC proceedings.
There has been criticism of excessive media spotlight on celebrity delegates at the expense of authentic voices. There have also been complaints of a star-struck media not paying attention to representatives of farmers, workers and the generally unfashionable "great unwashed" masses.
The most shocking aspect is reporters openly paying too much attention to certain officials. It's bad enough reporters should indulge in such brazen behavior. It is worse when such unethical conduct is reported with celebratory aplomb.
A report headlined "Chongqing chief gets star treatment" in an English daily gushed: "The charismatic leader of China's largest municipality found himself at center stage on Saturday surrounded by close to 200 cheering reporters at the Great Hall of the People."
This is an excellent example of how not to write a news report. It raises uncomfortable questions that China's editors may ponder as the media braces for bigger events like the World Expo 2010 and the Asian Games later this year.
Is "center stage" the NPC and its proceedings, or the scene of being ringed by 200 reporters? Why were 200 reporters waiting out there? For the official's arrival? Were they assigned to cover the NPC or hang out as cheerleaders for him? If there were 200 reporters involved in this side-show of cheering him, how many were there covering the NPC?
Far from these questions being answered, I may be flayed for raising them and confronted with counter questions. After what he has done to rid Chongqing of criminals, does he not deserve a hero's welcome? Aren't reporters also citizens? As citizens, do they not have a right to cheer their hero? Does objectivity mean being unaffected? Is it not for media to build public opinion on who should be cheered and who should be jeered? In that case, why shouldn't media root for the official?
