Government officials are being urged to fully cooperate with
foreign journalists, who are flooding in to quench the thirst for
information on China with the Beijing Olympics round the
corner.
Compared to the longstanding practice of "managing the media",
governments at various levels are preparing to serve, instead of
shying away from, journalists, following a new regulation which
took effect on Monday.
The message was delivered by Wang Guoqing, vice-minister of the
State Council Information Office, the chief information office of
the Chinese Cabinet.
"In the relationship between government and the media, we are
promoting a shift from managing the press to serving it, treating
reporters as 'clients'," Wang told China Daily.
From this year, government information offices throughout the
country are implementing a reporters' assistance project, designed
to help international media by compiling information about the
people and places they may want to cover, and providing logistics
services, he said.
The idea is to have each region come up with a general handbook
for overseas reporters and produce special pamphlets for any
projects that are of interest to journalists, he said.
The project also requires foreign affairs departments at the
provincial or local level to ease the way for the anticipated
influx of overseas reporters by producing info DVDs, interpreters,
travel tips and other logistical support, Wang said.
The official said his office requires government spokespersons
as well as other officials to release "timely, accurate and
newsworthy" information to reporters, try their best to be
accessible and not deny interview requests.
The number of overseas journalists is expected to rise sharply
this year now that the new media regulation which gives
unprecedented access to overseas media is in effect.
The rule prescribes that foreign journalists need only the
consent of people or organizations for interviews in the run-up to,
and during, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Estimates about the number of overseas journalists visiting the
mainland this year are not immediately available, but Wang said at
least 30,000 are expected during the Games next year.
However, Wang cautioned that while overseas reporters may not
have any difficulty reporting in Beijing, he was "not quite
optimistic" about the implementation of the rule outside major
cities, where the news release and spokesperson system is just
beginning to take shape.
The officials there are used to the management scheme set up 16
years ago, he said, referring to the Regulations on the Supervision
of Foreign Journalists and Resident Foreign News Organs, enacted in
1990.
They are encouraged to discard the previous mentality, and face
the media in an open and honest way, he said.
"I will not be surprised if foreign reporters encounter some
difficulties in obtaining news," Wang said. "Their Chinese
counterparts, too, have similar experiences in some regions.
"But changes will take place because we are pushing for
them."
In fact, better serving the media has improved government
accountability and governance, Wang said, adding his office had
been pushing for the establishment of a government news release and
spokesperson system for local government for the past three
years.
"We want spokespersons to be true 'insiders' of government
decision-making and other affairs so that they can better fulfil
their duties," he said.
Wang, who was a reporter himself for 25 years, said he has
instructed spokespersons mostly government officials never to treat
reporters as subordinates or adversaries, but as partners who will
often challenge with pointed questions.
There are perhaps "100 advantages and not a single disadvantage"
in dealing with the press in a friendly and frank manner, meeting
their demands by providing authoritative information, he said.
"Besides informing the public, the media act as a watchdog of
government activities," he said.
"We sometimes complain that some Western reports about China
lack objectivity, but at times I'm afraid our nonfeasance could be
one of the factors," Vice-Minister Wang said.
"If in the course or wake of emergencies, relevant authorities
refuse to give, or can't give, timely information, how can you
expect objective and reliable reporting?"
(China Daily January 4, 2007)
