Chinese Media Power and Control

• SHI SHANGYUN

Abstract

Taking Chinese media power and control as the research objective and project title. This research paper analyzes the Chinese media status quo in modernization society and the relationship between government and media in China. Then the Chinese media development trend and the Chinese people’s idea of media are discussed in this paper.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Type of project : research paper

Subject : Chinese media power and control

Research questions:

What is the relationship between Chinese media and government?

What is media current situation in China?

Background of Chinese media

China is glamoured through its governance of a socialism , making it a unique structure among its surrounding partners in the global map. With its rich history , the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is committed to the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist emphasis on the central control of the press as a tool for public education, propaganda, and mass mobilization. The entire operation of China’s modern media is based upon the foundation of “mass line” governing theory.

Significance of study:

The significant element of this research is to seek the fact masked behind face of media in China. Chinese media is closely related to the government; Therefore the Chinese media is changing, because the economic and political system of China is continuing towards reform. But it is impossible that Chinese government loosen the macro control for media, because in modern politics the government engages through media to connect people. The real innovation of Chinese media is extremely difficult to do. In most countrys’ , the media covers an extreme level of morality, freedom of press and unification of thoughts, but Chinese news is based on secrecy and power politics which is driven through governmental controls. .

Get Help With Your Essay

If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help!
Find out more about our Essay Writing Service

Even so, Chinese new media power cannot be ignored. The Chinese new media industry has experienced strong growth in the recent years, hence creating a breakthrough point for modern Chinese media vehicles. Nowadays information is transmitted in numerous ways through high speed technology developed network. New media can do lots of different things that the traditional media cannot do in China. This project is through the basic research aspect to find significant information to define the form and direction of Chinese media. The main direction will be associated with the government and media in China.

Scope and Limitation of Project:

The research objective of this project is probing into the Chinese media in relation to government. I will describe and analyze five articles and retrospective news information through literature review to make the reader conscious of the particularity of Chinese media. Pertaining to government control and effect to media changes. In addition, this paper also use qualitative research via interview a newspaper editor in chief and a ordinary citizen who is not very care about political and media. It can understand the perspective on Chinese media and government control of personal opinions from two kinds of people in China. They will provide different interview content in this research paper.

Chapter 2: Literature Review

2.1 Introduction

In this chapter, I will do the literature review. The current situation of Chinese media is introduced in first article. The second article provides the condition of control of traditional media in China. And then I will explain the control of new media in third article. The next is the query to government and media from Chinese people. Finally, the article evaluate some development trends of Chinese media.

2.2

Wang (2014) written about the Chinese media status quo in his article, “ A Brief Guide to China’s Media Landscape – February 2014.” Wang in this article use some date show that the traditional media did not occupy the main steam. The most famous newspaper People’s Daily in China is 2.8 million copies sold a year. Growing number of people do not like the official of speech in the traditional media. In China, the development of online media almost completely limited the prospects for traditional media. And the number of Internet users in China had hit 604 million with mobile phones becoming the favored means of accessing the web until now. The author Wang said that Sina Weibo is one of the most popular Chinese social network sites. It is a micro blog has over 500 million registered users and 65 million active users daily. According to recent reports released by China Internet Network Information Center, 22.8% netizens reduced their usage of Weibo, including visits from mobile devices. It can be caused by many different reasons. But a significant reason is government combined with Sina to repress the dissidents and restrict the free speech in 2013. This behavior caused the majority of Internet users dissatisfaction. Many users feel very disappointed for Weibo. China is still has control over freedom of speech.

2.3

An online editor Xu (2014) explained lots of useful knowledge about Chinese new media in his article called “ Media censorship in China.” he did a very detailed briefing. The Chinese government has long kept tight reins on both traditional and new media to avoid potential subversion of its authority. This often entails strict media controls using monitoring systems, shuttering publications or websites, and jailing dissident journalists, bloggers, and activists. Xu argues that the freedom of Chinese media is at the bottom of list in the countries all over the world. China is almost one of the most countries without freedom of speech. The Chinese government is hope to take control of the new media very much. Chinese government always use their own monitors to guarantee political acceptability of the content for the new media. Because the Chinese authorities want to control the access of their citizens. Xu gave some example, on the network some words are involved in politically sensitive are masked. If you search something in politically sensitive, most websites will not come out. Some words such as the Falun Gong cult and Tiananmen Square Indecent. They also established what is known as the great firewall to impeding many foreign sites. It is including many news sites, Facebook and so on. I began to use Facebook and Youtube after I arrived in Singapore. I knew and understood many things which in China can not see in Singapore. Chinese people are in some places to offline the world because of the closure of media information.

2.4 Freedom House is an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world. They put an article titled “ Media Control in China: A Model of Complexity and Thoroughness ” in their website. This article detailedly defines the traditional media control in China. The article describe that the traditional media must reflexively defer to government. It’s almost impossible to publish sensitive articles in traditional media. The traditional media such as television, newspaper and radio are the propaganda tools controlled by all levels of government. Chinese state leaders utilize control of the media to publicize positive views of the political party and government and vilify those who are considered be their enemies. The CCP maintains direct control over news media coverage through its Central Propaganda Department. For example, a newspaper chief editor usually receive some messages about what cannot be reported on newspaper from propaganda department of the city. And the official news in China central television that usually strives to downplay bad new and tell the good news. Generally prohibited topics include larger autonomy in Xinjiang and Tibet, relations with Taiwan, the prominent dissident writings and so on. Traditional media is more closed and limited compared to new media.

2.5

In a news article which written by a former editor Keatley (2013), we can found that the perspective of Chinese citizens on the media in his article “ Press Freedom and Reform in China.” Keatley argues that some government behaviors has given rise to many discontent. In fact, Chinese people very hate government do content examination to print media, movies and TV program. They want to expose the truth of society and history, rather than always conceal various misbehavior of government. For instance, Southern Weekly known as one of most daring publications in China. It planned a New Year’s editorial calling for something the ruling party finds dangerous—letting people enjoy the many freedoms guaranteed by the state constitution but never permitted in real life in 2013. Because of this bold statement, the chief editor of Southern Weekly detained by the police after few days. Many people protest this government action. A well-known film actress who blogged stand for protesting journalists was examined. Although increasingly violent official purging, people have lots of complaints about party and state malpractice. I think many normal people has grown even more cynical about self-interested bureaucrats who too usually use high position to enrich themselves, friends and relatives. More citizens require open and serious economic and political reforms. Chinese government face huge pressure from public opinion in network. I believe that most Chinese people thinking is free, just the party want to control people’s mind.

2.6

Dalusong (2012) defined China media system in his article titled “Media System in China and Philippines, the difference, and similarities.” Dalusong has some thoughts for the development trend of China.

References

http://www.pressreference.com/Be-Co/China.html

http://www.danwei.com/a-brief-guide-to-chinas-media-landscape-february-2014/

http://www.freedomhouse.org/blog/media-control-china-model-complexity-and-thoroughness#.U2yFDvnUMkI

http://www.cfr.org/china/media-censorship-china/p11515

http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/press-freedom-reform-china-7999

http://eijie09.tumblr.com/post/18985129114

http://westernexperience.wordpress.com/2010/05/17/typical-hand-ringing-and-liberal-moral-relativism-on-full-international-display/