Source: Global Times [23:14 November 23 2009] Comments
Complicated history, a polarized view on economic growth vs. cultural
maintenance, a bias toward Buddhism, deference to the Dalai Lama, and
disagreements with China's Tibet policy have all contributed to
tilting the Tibet question. An issue that needs lengthy, in-depth
reporting instead receives simplifi ed, one-sided coverage.
Inflammatory language, especially after being translated into Chinese,
adds to another layer of offense to a Chinese audience who are often
not used to the sarcastic style of the Western press. Framed
interviews, cropped photos, and sometimes fabrications also emerge.
In reporting the Xinjiang riots last July, Western media followed the
same patterns. The result was the further deepening of long-held
misunderstanding.
Admitted, the unsophisticated information disclosure of Chinese
government, and equally important, lack of solid coverage by the
Chinese media have led to miserable result that even misleading
coverage is eagerly seized by a world hungry for information.
Western media is granted a fl attering status of credibility in China,
refl ecting the embarrassing weakness of the Chinese press.
Disadvantaged groups regard the Western media as a symbol of justice.
...
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The Chinese saying is "One dog barks to the shadow, hundred dogs bark
to the sound."
The secret of western media credibility reflects the reality of
"hundred dog bark to the sound."
Zeng Zi was one of Confucius best student. One day someone told his
mother that Zeng Zi had
killed someone. She asked a second and a third person. They told the
same tale. At the end,
Zeng Zi's mother believed that his son had killed somebody too.
Credibility? Yes. Truth? No.
How many people want to grow up as a journalist? I'd like to know.
And think - how many are dimwits with unmarketable degrees? Often not
good enough to get into science, but way way more painfully not even
good enough for law school.
Point? All of us write by age 3. Some just moved on.