THE MEDIA SHOULD BE POLITICALLY SOUND

THE MEDIA SHOULD BE POLITICALLY SOUND*

February 19, 2016

In the new era, the Party-led media and communication sector has the following responsibilities:

• upholding socialism and guiding public opinion;
• focusing on our central task and serving the overall interests of the country;
• uniting the people and boosting their morale;
• fostering social ethics and forging cohesion among the people;
• refuting mistaken ideas and discerning between truth and falsehood;
• connecting the country with the outside world as a conduit of communication. 

To fulfill these responsibilities, the sector must above all be politically sound, and work on the following:

First, affirm commitment to the Party.

This is fundamental to the Party’s media and communication sector. Leadership over public communication, ideology, and the media is an important part of Party leadership. We must speak of this with conviction, rather than avoiding or evading it. When I was working in Zhejiang Province in 2006, I raised requirements for the media: “serving the Party and the people, exalting virtue and denouncing vice, basing your reports on what you see and hear”. I put “serving the Party and the people” first. 

To affirm commitment to the Party, the fundamental prerequisite is upholding the Party’s leadership over the media. The media run by the Party and the government are their voice to the public; they must therefore be under the leadership of the Party and act as the spokespersons for the Party and the people. “Party newspapers and journals must in all circumstances publicize the Party’s views.” The principle of Party leadership over the media and the mechanisms to ensure its implementation shall not change, no matter how the times evolve and how the media landscape changes.

To affirm commitment to the Party, we must keep in line with the Party’s central leadership in thinking, action and political commitment. Newspapers, periodicals, news agencies, radio and TV stations, and news websites must represent the Party’s will and views, safeguard the authority of the CPC Central Committee and the unity of the Party, and respect, protect and serve the Party. They must keep in alignment with the central Party leadership and act in accordance with its theories, guidelines, principles, policies, decisions and plans. They should maintain strategic resolve and take a firm political stance. In the face of distractions and disturbances that can “dazzle the eye like a riot of blooms”, they should remain steadfast while “riotous clouds sweep past”. They must neither make comments contradicting the Central Committee’s decisions nor provide channels for the spread of erroneous ideas or observations.

To affirm commitment to the Party, we must have a deeper understanding of the relationship between commitment to the Party and commitment to the people. I highlighted this relationship at the National Conference on Public Communication. In socialist China under the leadership of the CPC, commitment to the Party and commitment to the people are consistent with each other and unified. Our Party aims to serve the people wholeheartedly and has no special interests of its own. To represent the will of the Party is to represent that of the people; to publicize the propositions of the Party is to publicize those of the people; and to remain committed to the Party is to remain committed to the people. Commitment to the Party is embodied in commitment to the people; the two cannot be separated. Some asked, “Are you speaking for the Party or the people? Are you siding with the Party or the people?” These questions, regarding the Party as distinct from the people, are erroneous in theory and harmful in practice. This shows that those who asked the questions are ideologically confused.

Commitment to the Party provides our media with a clear stance and direction; commitment to the people is the source of vitality and strength of our media. Only with commitment to the Party and the people-centered philosophy can we ensure that the media always serves the people rather than a selected few. The media should be responsible both to the Party and the people; they should serve and guide the public, meet public needs, and improve their moral attainment. They should turn the Party’s theories, guidelines, principles and policies into people’s conscious action, reflect people’s experience in their creation and the actual problems they face, enrich their inner world, and increase their mental fortitude. 

To uphold Party leadership over the media, we still have some important matters to study and a lot of work to do. 

I have said on many occasions that if we fail to adapt to the internet, we will not be in power for long. The Party’s leadership over the media covers more than those that fall under its direct remit – it covers all types of media at all levels. This leadership is not ineffective management over trivial matters. The ways of leadership may vary, but the principle must be applied in practice.

Proper management and use of the internet is vital for us to keep the edge in public communication in the new era. The key is who will manage it and how to manage it. Some people are attempting to turn the internet into the biggest game changer in contemporary China. In response, we must ensure Party leadership over new media. All communication platforms that provide news services, have the attributes of media agencies, and play a part in shaping public opinion must be under Party leadership. All news and information services and the personnel engaged in relevant businesses must meet the industry access requirements. The departments concerned must study this issue and take effective measures.

Second, adhere to the Marxist perspective on journalism. 

A correct approach to journalism is the soul of news media. A mountain of sand has no roots, and a person without a spine cannot stand upright. The Party’s news media must also have a “spine”. Mencius said, “When we focus on the most important thing, other worldly temptations will not distract us.” For the Party’s media work, the “most important thing” is the Marxist approach to journalism. We should improve education in this regard, making the Marxist approach to journalism the compass of the Party’s media work. We should encourage journalists to report on the Party’s ideas and policies, record major events of our time, promote social progress, and exercise public supervision for fairness and justice.

Some advocate the Western approach to journalism. They tout Western media as a “public instrument”, the “fourth estate” or an “uncrowned monarch”, and demand abstract, absolute “freedom of the press”. A small number, under the banner of “freedom of the press”, focus their criticism on major political principles, openly criticizing the CPC leadership and socialist system. Some ignore right and wrong, take pleasure in and make a habit of criticizing mainstream values, adopt a cynical attitude, or even tell lies.

The Western media operate on the principle that “bad news sells”. Reading their stories carefully, one will find that there are three basic types. The first comprises negative reports about other countries; the second comprises sensational reports about scandals, pornography, murders, violence, celebrities, private lives, gambling, drug abuse, and sex; and the third comprises exaggerating reports, or perfunctory criticism masquerading as genuine exposure of real problems. There are very few reports or discussions on serious topics, such as the nature and root problems of capitalism. When there are protests or even terrorist activities in other countries, particularly those with different ideologies, Western media describe them as movements fighting for “democracy”, “freedom”, or “human rights”, or opposing “tyranny”, and splash coverage over as many pages as possible. They take a relentlessly negative view of socialist China and try every means to smear, vilify and demonize us.

The truth is that all media have a distinct ideological viewpoint; there is no abstract, absolute freedom. We must perceive the nature of the “freedom of the press” advocated by the West and consciously oppose the Western approach to journalism and other erroneous ideas.

Third, maintain the right tone in public opinion. 

The right tone in public opinion helps to unite minds and forces and advance our cause; the wrong tone unsettles the morale and will of the people and undermines the cause of the Party and the people. All Party members, especially those working in the media, must bear this in mind. We must use the right tone in guiding public opinion to ensure that all of our work helps to uphold CPC leadership and our socialist system, to promote reform and development, to strengthen ethnic unity, and to safeguard social harmony and stability. This is the most important and essential orientation.

Some people believe that the media are only about publishing and disseminating information; they report only what have happened and have nothing to do with orientation. This is wrong. An ancient Chinese once said, “Literature is the channel by which ideas are disseminated.” Every report has its own orientation; its content, style and tone represent a stance, viewpoint, or attitude. In addition to covering events around the world, the media should advocate correct stances, viewpoints and attitudes, guide the public in discerning right from wrong, good from bad, virtue from evil, and beauty from ugliness, and inspire positive mental strength that will drive people towards goodness and excellence.

We must maintain the right tone in all aspects of the media including news gathering, writing, editing, proofreading and publishing, and ensure that this applies to all staff. All persons at all levels involved should perform their duties according to the strictest standards. Party newspapers, periodicals, radio and TV stations at all levels should follow this principle, as should local newspapers and periodicals and new media. News reports should follow this principle, as should supplements, features and advertisements. Reports on politics and news should follow this principle, as should entertainment and social reports. Domestic reports should follow this principle, as should international reports. 

There is a view that this principle can be flexible when reporting on entertainment and social topics. This view is wrong, at least incomplete. If such reports are all about extravagance, debauchery, intrigue and rivalry, ostentation, infidelity, crime, or gossip about the rich and celebrities, the media cannot provide positive guidance for the public. Mainstream values and positive energy must be the main focus in newspapers, periodicals, radio and TV programs, cyberspace and mobile platforms. The same criteria must be applied to entertainment reporting as to serious social reporting.

Fourth, focus on constructive reporting.

Maintaining unity and stability, boosting morale, and encouraging constructive reporting is at the core of the Party’s media work. Without unity and stability, we will achieve nothing. We emphasize this principle for two reasons: 

On the one hand, the active and positive is the mainstream of our society, while the negative is at the fringes. We should have a fair understanding of the relationship between the mainstream and tributaries, between achievements and problems, and between the whole and the part. We should report healthy and positive social trends, and coordinate the whole picture of social progress with the momentum of our reform and development. 

On the other hand, we are carrying out a great struggle with many new features and face unprecedented challenges and difficulties. We must motivate the whole Party and society to unite and overcome difficulties, and mobilize the enthusiasm, initiative and creativity of all sectors. To this end, the Party’s media must play its due role. 

Constructive reporting requires higher quality and standards and should be attractive and appealing. Some people think that constructive reporting is easy to produce with ready-made materials. Others think it is a hard job and unpopular among the public. This is not true. Many of our news programs that promote positive energy are influential and their audience ratings are high. Constructive reporting requires sincere and concerted efforts to captivate the audience. Stories that are not based on facts, without substance, full of exaggeration and repeated and empty political slogans, and written in a monotonous style that fails to differentiate readers cannot achieve the intended results. 

Focusing on constructive reporting, so as to unite the people, maintain stability, and boost morale, requires us to have a proper understanding of truth. “Loyalty, credibility and prudence are the basis of morality and justice; fantasy and absurdity lead people astray.” Truth is the lifeblood of news reporting; facts are the essence, while falsehood is the natural enemy. In news reporting, no negligence in the principle of truth is tolerable, otherwise even what is most authentic might lose credibility. Journalists should base their stories faithfully on facts, rather than their own wishes. At the same time, they should adhere to the Marxist stance, viewpoint and methodology, and find out whether the reporting presents a truthful picture of the whole event or it is just a ragtag collection of some facts. 

In a country as large as ours with more than 1.3 billion people, many events and problems occur every day. The media is the generator and amplifier of public opinion. If they observe only the dark and negative while neglecting the bright and positive, their reports will not be able to reflect the complete true picture, even though what is reported is based on facts.

Some cannot see the forest for the trees. Some seize upon one point and ignore the whole picture. Although the trees do exist, they do not reflect the forest, that is, the wider truth. At the same time, in order to avoid being subjective, one-sided, or taking a part for the whole, in addition to one cause and one effect we should pay more attention to complex situations, including one cause and many effects, many causes and one effect, many causes and many effects, reciprocal causation, and the fact that cause and effect can be reversed.

Some incidents, especially those of little significance, will not have any social impact if they are not reported. However, once disseminated and amplified by the media, they can cause considerable impact on society. Continuous and repeated reporting of negative information will damage the morale and cohesion of society.

This does not mean that the media only report the positive, not the negative. The key is to ensure an overall balance. Public oversight through the mass media is consistent with constructive reporting; they are not contradictory. News media should confront problems and social evils, denounce vice and exalt virtue, and condemn unhealthy tendencies. We should pay attention to issues of widespread public concern and report on them, respond to questions promptly in order to dispel doubts and misunderstandings, guide public expectations, and improve our work.

There are some problems in our current approach to critical reporting. Some media agencies are inept at writing reports of criticism, while those subject to criticism, including some leadership bodies and leading officials, are not accustomed to being criticized. When confronted with sensitive or complex problems, some local authorities and central departments have a tendency to cover them up or even try to put a gloss on them through their public communication departments. Their conduct is like burying their heads in the sand in this information society.

We must adapt ourselves to scrutiny of public opinion, rather than restricting media interviews and coverage for fear of damage to our “image” or “interests”. At the same time, the media must base their criticism on truth and accuracy and their analyses on objectivity, rather than regarding themselves as “judges”. Criticism of major policy issues should be submitted to the higher-level authorities through internal channels, rather than being made public in the media.

To uphold constructive reporting does not mean the media should act as “nice guys”, or be over-charitable or soft-pedaling when dealing with evil people or things. When addressing political and ideological misconceptions in society, the media should reinforce positive guidance. They can present the facts and reason things out to help the public discern right from wrong and gain a clear understanding. When it comes to major political issues and matters of principle, the media should take an unequivocal stance. In the face of malicious criticism or rumors aimed at creating trouble, the media must fight back and set the record straight.

Not long ago, there was an online surge of comments denigrating, ridiculing and smearing our national heroes. Our mainstream media responded immediately, defending and championing the heroes with solid facts. This fostered positive public opinion.

As I said before, all our colleagues working in public communication should fight for what is right rather than taking a nice-guy approach. They should never sit on the fence, trim their sails with every passing breeze, or be too concerned with their own reputation. They must carry out their noble duties and glorious missions, and work hard in the forefront of public communication with readiness for combat and a sense of responsibility.

This is exactly what Mao Zedong said, “We must firmly uphold the truth, and truth requires a clear-cut stand. We Communists have always disdained to conceal our views. Newspapers run by our Party and all the propaganda work of our Party should be vivid, clear-cut and sharp and should never mutter and mumble. That is the militant style proper to us, the revolutionary proletariat. Since we want to teach the people to know the truth and arouse them to fight for their own emancipation, we need this militant style.”

* Part of the speech at a meeting on the Party’s media and communication work.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)