The Chinese Media Tends - Term Paper Example

Substantive events by the Chinese media This report illustrates how the media contributes to the sustenance of authoritarian rule in China. It illustrates how the media contributes to the stabilization of different regimes in authoritarian contexts. The media has normally been used by authoritarian leaders to boost legitimacy. The Chinese media is seen to make a contribution to the legitimacy of different regimes. It also contributes to effective rule by different leaders through propaganda given to the citizens concerning experiences in some legal systems. Compared to the communist regimes that were used earlier, the Chinese media is normally seen to publish sophisticated messages that tend to be convincing concerning the censorship demands of the state (Chan, 2002). The media tends to play a role in the destabilization of authoritarian regimes. The media is also normally seen to enhance the formation of a sociocultural framework which normally favors liberal democracy. Mass media tends to contribute to democratization by making the citizens to become politically active from the information they publish. The opening of media markets, has led to the provision of citizens with more authoritarian regimes ranging from the vast information sources. The media is, therefore, seen to contribute to regime transition. The internet is also normally seen as a news agency that can subvert state control regarding how information flows when such media is used (Chang, 2002). An examination of the coverage of the war in Iraq and the deadly disease Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in the year 2003 reveals that Chinese media do not honor the rights of the citizens to know from the coverage of some breaking news without considering the perceptions of the citizens considering the situations they publish. Examining the coverage by CCTV concerning the Iraq war that was led by United States and Britain, which broke out around 10:35 am Beijing time on the 20th of March in the year 2003 reveals that; CCTV broke ground by airing the coverage concerning this event in real time. CCTV aired the events concerning the war from around 10:41 am airing reports on how the United States and the United Kingdom attacked Baghdad. This international event received unprecedented coverage in Chinese media despite the global headlines concerning China and the deadly disease known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Despite the first cases of the disease being recorded in November in the year 2012, the media did not air anything concerning the disease till mid-February (Hugo, 2003). The implications and effects of the event The implication of the effects of this event concerning Chinese media reveals that other reports concerning Severe Acute Syndrome were aired around April after the mayor of Beijing and China’s health minister were dismissed from office after mishandling the outbreak of the deadly disease. This incident then replaced the headlines concerning the war in Iraq that was common in most Chinese media. The unique coverage concerning the war illustrates how the media tends to respect and satisfy the rights of the citizens to know. This incident illustrates how the Chinese media tend to exercise closeness to masses, closeness to reality and closeness to life (Donald, Hemelryk, Keane, Hong, Yin, 2002). Despite Chinese journalism television being under supervision concerning party ideologues, it is evident that the media is normally the last stronghold in spreading political and ideological propaganda. CCTV, for example, has normally enjoyed an exceptional status of monopoly. The expansion of Chinese television is seen to have resulted to the globalization of information enhancing the involvement of China in globalization. Another substantive contribution of the media is evident in how it exposes the Chinese population to the western culture through the internet, radio and T.V. This has, however, normally been viewed as a challenge brought about by global media, therefore, preference has been placed on state controlled media so as to prevent the exportation of western culture of negative propaganda that may be borrowed by the Chinese citizens from abroad (Kalathil, 2003). Another substantive contribution by the media in china is evident from the incidents that took place in China in the year 1989 on the fourth of June. It is from this incident that the media proved to be an instrument of power, which could enhance the survival of a party state or overthrow the party state. Between the year 1993 and the year 1997 the news services aired by CCTV were reformed. This is evident from its experiment with investigative journalism by endorsing a current affairs Programme. CCTV also increased the frequency with which the news reports were aired from four times daily to hourly newscasts. The other substantive contribution that was made by CCTV is evident from its expansion of the live coverage of events. The year 1997 was considered a year of live broadcast by the media practitioners of China. This is evident from the coverage of live events such as the eclipse, the handover which took place in Hong Kong lasting 72 hours, and the opening of the national congress (Keane, 2001). Another substantive contribution made by the media in china is evident from an improvement in the news events, which led to the facilitation of political civilization and the party image and the government. CCTV contributed greatly in the fight against propaganda in that; it ensured that public opinion was correctly guided. This is evident in the change in the manner of reporting, which made the programmes more appealing. CCTV has secured compliance and support for China from its dual task in protecting China’s tuff from the foreign trans-border broadcasting systems, which tend to threaten and contribute to the erosion of China’s domestic media. The Chinese media has made another substantive contribution by exporting some of their programmes to the world. This enhances the construction of a positive image about China in other countries. To accomplish the task the Chinese media has set up different channels that normally target different audience. For example, channels like CCTV-1 have been set up for the domestic audiences as a result of the timely and accurate news services it provides to the audience. The other channel known as CCTV-4 normally targets the people of China who stay overseas. This includes people staying in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. The other channel CCTV-9 also known as the English Channel, normally reports news to global viewers focusing on China. Another channel was added in the year 2004, which was called CCTV-E and F. This channel airs its programs in Spanish and French, which is considered a step towards the fight against propaganda that may be coming from abroad, hence a substantive contribution by the Chinese media (Lee, 2003). The Chinese media is seen to make substantive efforts in its attempt to practice democratization despite convergence, globalization and commercialization. An encouragement of the international channels is normally to improve the opinion environment internationally. For example, the prompt and broad coverage of the war in Iraq made a significant contribution towards setting up the image of the media and the government in a manner that was transparent, integral and balanced. This was also considered a perfect opportunity in exercising the rights of the citizens to receive information. For instance, CCTV, which was known for airing international such as news on the war, increased its air time on war related news to the viewers (Xiaoping, 2002). The implications and effects of the event This event about the media in China airing news on the war in Iraq instead of concentrating on news concerning the disease that was making headlines in China, illustrates how Chinese media such as CCTV play a substantive role in enhancing globalization. The Chinese media proves its desire for having its voice heard in the world by ensuring the global flow of information. This global flow of information enhanced China with global capitalism, enabling China to enjoy an elevated status in the world both politically and economically (McCormick, Liu, Qing 2003). The efficiency with which CCTV aired the breaking news on the war in Iraq enhanced the Chinese media with a new image on the coverage of international breaking news. The prompt and active response towards the war in Iraq by the Chinese media enhanced the building of viewer credibility and profits were also gained from the coverage. The live coverage of the war by CCTV resulted to increased commercial revenues. Despite Chinese media concentrating on breaking news about the war in Iraq instead of concentrating on news concerning the deadly disease that was making headlines in China, proves that the media takes into consideration what they publish by considering its political and social impact. The lack of immediate response by the media in some situation reveals that Chinese media coverage of some events is normally determined by the perception of the government concerning the situation. For example, it is true to state that the media normally considers if such reports are likely to cause some social disorder or political instability (Chan, 2002). The coverage by the media on Severe Acute Respiratory syndrome, took place in three stages, which include; a stage of complete silence, a stage of limited coverage and a stage of saturated coverage. This happened so because the media was dependent on the perception of the government concerning the coverage of the situation. The media took examined if coverage of the event would have triggered political and social instability. This can explain why the media may have decided to its attention on the deadly disease. This instance, therefore, illustrates how the Chinese media plays a significant role in the mediation of information between the government and the society. The concentration by the media on covering the events of the 16th national conference reveals the central goal exercised by the media in enhancing national unity, development, integration and political stability (Xiaoping, 2002). The delayed coverage by the media on the deadly disease was to ensure the correct guidance of public opinion and it was also meant to dispel panic among the citizens of China by ensuring the information given was accurate. The response by CCTV on the outbreak of the deadly disease illustrates the priority the media tends to give on the positive side of things (Lee, 2003). Focusing on the implication and the effects of this events, illustrates how the media, for example, CCTV gives priority to positive reporting. This illustrates the control by the media in maintaining political and social stability, which is likely to ensure economic development. The concentration of the Chinese media on the war on Iraq despite the deadly disease being rampant in China illustrates how the media can control peoples demand for information. The concentration of the media on the progress of the Iraqi war illustrates the role of the media in addressing people’s concerns regarding developments in the world and mankind existence. Therefore, by concentrating on the Iraqi war, the media ensured the people’s rights and desires to receive information are satisfied globally (Hugo, 2003). The other implication the coverage of the war in Iraq had on the coverage of the deadly disease by the media is evident in the creation of programmes, which were used to air programmes on the deadly disease in china. The event of the Iraqi war resulted to an increase in the frequency of reporting news concerning the deadly disease. The media also improved the content that was being aired concerning the disease by ensuring uniformity. The media played a substantive role in the fight against the disease by eulogizing medical staff and party members in the fight against the deadly disease. Their coverage on the deadly disease strengthened nationalist spirit; ensuring people were educated on forming better civilized habits (Chang, 2002). The coverage on the deadly disease illustrates how CCTV contributed substantially in fighting the deadly disease through the excellent journalist team it had. It is true to state that the stability of the media normally dictates the rights of the citizens to obtain information. The coverage on the Iraqi war by the Chinese media enhanced the realization of China’s dream by ensuring China becomes a permanent member of the United Nations. Despite the coverage on the war in Iraq being considered as disobedience by the Chinese media in enhancing the citizens’ rights to know, the response by the Chinese media concerning the deadly disease reveals the goal of the media in ensuring stability and situation drive. The strict control of the media is, therefore, likely to be an obstacle hindering the rights of the citizens to obtain information. In enhancing commercial success, the media also ensures immediacy in the manner in which breaking news is covered ensuring the rights of the citizens to know are respected. This is illustrated in the contrast exhibited in the manner in which the two breaking news events were aired (Keane, 2001). Bibliography Chan, Alex 2002 “From Propaganda to Hegemony: Jiaodian Fangtan and China’s Media Policy”, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 11, No. 30, pp.35-51. Chang, Tsan-Kuo, 2002, China's window on the world: TV news, social knowledge, and international spectacles, Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press. De Burgh, Hugo 2003 The Chinese Journalist, London: Routledge Curzon. Donald, Stephanie Hemelryk; Keane, Michael and Hong, Yin (eds.) 2002 Media in China:  consumption, content and crisis. London: Routledge Curzon. Kalathil, Shanthi 2003 “China’s New Media Sector: keeping the state in,” The Pacific Review, Vol. 16 No. 4 2003: 489–501. Keane, Michael 2001 “Broadcasting policy, creative compliance and the myth of civil society in China”, Media, Culture & Society 23(6), pp. 783 – 798. Lee, Chin-Chuan (ed.) 2003 Chinese Media, Global Contexts, London and New York: Routledge Curzon. Li, Xiaoping 2002 “‘Focus’ (Jiaodian Fangtan) and the Changes in the Chinese Television Industry”, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 11, No. 30, pp.17-34. McCormick, Barrett L and Liu, Qing 2003 “Globalisation and the Chinese Media”, in Lee, Chin-Chuan (ed.) Chinese Media, Global Contexts, London and New York: Routledge Curzon, pp 139 – 158. Read More