Mass Media Experts Comment on Coverage of NPC, CPPCC Sessions

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, March 19, 2003

Mass Media Experts Comment on Coverage of NPC, CPPCC Sessions

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The recently-concluded First Session of the 10th NPC and First Session of the 10th CPPCC have been remarkable not only for its smooth transition in the Chinese leadership, but also for the new style of news coverage.

Mass media experts here have observed that news coverage of theFirst Session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) and theFirst Session of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) has focused mainly onthe deputies and members from grass-roots units, rather than on the newly-elected Standing Committee members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Issues affecting the daily lives of ordinary citizens have beenthe focus of the "two sessions", and the news writing style has become more practical instead of cliche, experts here commented.

Xinhua News Agency, the People's Daily and CCTV have significantly changed their traditional coverage styles, opting instead for more intimate, inspiring and readable stories, in accordance with the journalistic style rather than propaganda, commented Xu Hong, professor with the Financial and Economic News Research Center of Peking University.

The news coverage of the "two sessions" has been more pragmatic,with much less coverage of State leaders and much more devoted to deputies and members of grass-roots units, commented Yu Guoming, professor and director of the Public Opinion Research Institute ofthe People's University of China.

Professor Yu said that the increased coverage of ordinary deputies and members signals a significant change in the news reporting on the "two sessions".

Another change was the emergence of "different voices" in the news coverage, Yu said, adding that the press reported on agreements, discussions and disputes on a variety of issues.

The multiple voices appearing in the press have provided a more accurate and realistic picture of today's Chinese society and people, and the problems and contradictions inherent in their daily lives. The fact that ordinary people felt that they were represented gave them the feeling that they were a part of the "two sessions", and, as a result, they had an even deeper respect for the event, he said.

Yu held that this year's coverage focused on people and their opinions, which was clearly reflected in the reporting style.

He noted that the Life Times, affiliated with the People's Daily, has run a special column titled "If I were a delegate to the 10th NPC". CCTV has a special program called "the focus of common people", and approximately 80 percent of the news coverage of the "two sessions" by the Central People's Broadcasting Station concentrated on the deputies and members from grass-roots units.

News reports on this year's "two sessions" have been more open and focused, in contrast to the traditional conservative style of the past.

The news reports about the blasts in Qinghua and Peking Universities by the leading media organization in China as well as the bomb threat to the Reuters Beijing office before or during the"two sessions" not only had no negative impact on the "two sessions", but effectively curbed the spread of rumors, the professor said.

The improved news coverage has resulted in greater job performance pressure for the deputies and members of the "two sessions", who must meet the expectations of those who voice insightful opinions, he added.

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