Background: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) created the new leadership.
When it comes to this kind of political news, the international media would like to show their own views on the same issue. However, some media act as the tools for their countries while others might "criticise" it by themselves.
A basic notion in Chinese journalism theory is that the official media should guarantee they stand by the same line of the government when they make voices for the international political issue. Therefore, like the two stories from the official media Xinhua news agency said, they delivered the official opinions from the leaders, such as the President Hu - "CPC (Communist Party of China) to strengthen ties with DPRK's new leadership", and the senior official of the CPC - "China ready to work with new leadership of DPRK ruling party".
In western media, the situation does not look like the same. The Voice of American dug the inside and outside of North Korea about the next leader, and concluded that North Korea already "clears way for a third-generation Kim". The Reuters deeply analysed the issue by asking question like "what role might the conference accord Kim" and "how will North Koreans react" to the new leader's rise. Similarly, the Guardian explained why the former leader choose his "youngest son as successor" and how the Workers' party impacts on this issue. All kinds of opinions are gathered on media from the western countries, no matter they are the attitudes of their own countries.
As a Chinese, I admit the journalists of the official media tend to lose their own voices in this kind of political issue because of the control of the government and party. In spite of that, it does not mean they cannot be the independent observer as a journalist. They just stand by the neutral position at this moment, and they will post their own views in the future. Believe it or not? Let's wait and see.
Related links:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-10/02/c_13540074.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-10/01/c_13538842.htm
http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/North-Korea-Clears-Way-for-a-Third-Generation-Kim-as-Leader--104186829.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68Q0UW20100927
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/21/north-korea-kim-jong-un
I admit as well. But I still believe that our journalists are changing today and try to speak up. And, I find that when you need to give a position, it is hard to be neutral.
ReplyDeleteBias exists and is kinda inevitable especially in political reporting? Though there may not be direct government control on most of the Western media, I believe the governments do have a certain level of influence on media organizations.
ReplyDeleteyeah~ it is hard to be without objective, even it is harder within media industry.
ReplyDeleteI think the problem is we Chinese people write in Chinese. we have only a couple of people working in translate our Chinese news to Western world. That is why many western news misinterprete our news.
ReplyDeleteNot only because of the language proble. I think there are something more than politics..... more about interests or profit..... the complicatied relationship with the world
ReplyDeletebaoweiwen，装13
ReplyDelete