DisOrientated - A Weblog by Philip Sen - Corrupting the Fourth Estate

March 24, 2004

Corrupting the Fourth Estate

How can China move forward if even the journalists are corrupt?

I teach a class of journalism students, and I'm beginning to learn from them as much as they learn from me. Some of it isn't encouraging.

A couple of weeks ago, a student approached me with a story from his summer holiday work experience where he witnessed plagiarism so routine it made The New York Times Jayson Blair look positively original. The student said that this is common enough practise in China and I believed them.

Below is another e-mail just sent to me by a student; it makes stark reading.

The economy of this country grows too fast!! The large gap between the poor and the rich, the very different living standards, the principle with which to value whether a person is successful or not - the amount of money you possess - makes people lost in this confused metropolis.

I had a conversation with one of my friends, a 35-year-old business man, who once worked as a good journalist at a newspaper. Now, he is engaged in real estate.

The [real estate] industry is full of profit, much more than a journalist can earn, but what he talked about in front of me was money. When he talked about his salary and the car he bought recently, he was completely indulged in it .

"Vulgarian," I told myself.

The man before me had changed a lot. He was no longer be proud of being a journalist. He said this job is not stable, and not highly paid. He regretted being so late to realise that and jumped out of the circle of news.

He told me that his passion for this career was cut because to keep oneself honest is difficult in China. Many journalists are richer than editors because when they attend news conferences, it is very common for them to receive benefits given by the host - and an [pre-written?] accomplished report is provided. All you need to do is to polish it.

Sometimes the host will give you two "(Chinese Character - gifts)", one is for the journalist, the other is for the editor. And it is very common in news circles!!!

When your report inteferes with a big potato, an official, even a person who has a personal connection with the power department in this city, this essay will be
killed by the editor. If not,you will be kicked out.

"But you can use the law to defend your report," I said.

"No, stupid, there is no relevant law, not even a rule, to protect China's journalists till now," he said.

Where is the morality of a journalist? What is the role the newspaper plays in our society? It is no more than a tool to publicize the ideas from the CCP [Chinese Communist Party].

No wonder that during your classes, our conception of the READER is so faint. The direction our media takes is towards our leaders, this so-called elite.

He even warned me that most women in newspapers are spinsters; no man wants to marry them, because they are too good and know too much. No one will marry a woman better than himself. They need a petite one.

What a poor theory! But unfortunately it actually happens in China.

So, I ask myself time and time again: Why should I choose to be a journalist?Why? Tell me why you chose to be a journalist.

There is always a gap between the ideal and reality that can't be fulfilled. A person should always know what he needs, who he is. Keeping yourself in this society is not easy but necessary.

Heart rending stuff - what could I say? I said that eventually the CCP will change; it is already changing albeit very slowly. Better this than the alternative, economic collapse and bloody revolution.

Moreover, I said, once corruption within the media is eliminated it can strive to expose corruption in industry and politics. Only through beating this cancer can China truly maintain its seemingly phenomenal growth. A fundamental aspect of a healthy market economy is free trade and fair competition; this is fundamentally in oppostion to a culture of graft, kickbacks and bribes.

While the government gives lip service to fighting corruption, an honest and courageous media is another key weapon. But the journalist's job here can be a dangerous one; perhaps we shouldn't forget the privileges we take for granted in the West.

Later, after I replied, the writer followed up:

May be what I wrote will provoke an allergic reaction from some people. I don't care. At least I can start some interesting discussions...

Corruption is definitely a big problem, but I don't think it is the major barrier in improving China's economy. Corruption exists in every country, every period. It is not typical of China.

But our political system which caused the corruption is really bad. It gives officials too much power. So, the Chinese government should take measures to change the system and block the origin of corruption.

Meanwhile the 900 million peasants in China deserve more attention. Once the gap of income becomes enlarged to a dangerous extent, our country will not have the security which is a fundamental element for development.

Agreed. What can be done? The CCP's grip on the press is certainly loosening, but maybe it needs to let go before it ends up choking the whole country to death too.

Posted by Sendover at March 24, 2004 10:34 PM | TrackBack

Comments

Hi there

I am working on a project regarding the salary for journalist in China. Would you have any idea an entry position and in general, say a 5-year experience on editing's pay?

Many thanks
Kenny

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