Fake news of a man robbing and injuring several passengers at knifepoint in Shanghai's subway line 3 was widely reprinted in the media. This has raised a vital question: How can the media guarantee the authenticity of news in this age of fierce competition, says an article in Liberation Daily. Expert:

The media play a constructive role in society as the source of information, and provider of education and entertainment, and thus enjoy strong public trust. They promote science and culture, widen people's perception and make them more innovative. So it is important that the media are fair and socially responsible.

But in the race to survive and excel in the fiercely competitive market, some online media would rather abandon their professional ethics to sensationalize news or even fabricate events to draw more public attention.

People engaged in the media should be more self-disciplined, follow professional ethics strictly and verify news sources and report them objectively. And publicity authorities should intensify their monitoring on dissemination of information and news to ensure people are not fed fake news.

(China Daily August 27, 2009)