Maya.diary

Approaching Ethics: Individual Ethics Vs Communitarian/Social Ethics

2011-04-18T02:06:00.000-07:00

Ethics is a word derived from Greek word “ethos” means “character” which is concerned with the reliable and proper conduct of virtuous people. It is significantly broader than the common conception of analyzing right or wrong. The central aspect is “the good life”. Ethics refers to well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues.

Individual ethics means power to identify what is right and wrong. It varies from person to person.It can also be said as person’s individual view on how people should behave and their judgment of people that do not behave well. So, basically individual ethics are our own individual codes for everyday life. And our ethics are generally influenced by family, religious beliefs, cultural affects, experience and internal reflection.

Communitarian ethics refer to a theoretical perspective that seems to lessen the focus on individual rights and increase the focus on communal responsibilities. In this approach, ethical thought is based on communal values ,social standards and traditions and considerations of the larger society. Social ethics has more to do with what is good and right for a society to do and how it should act as a whole.

Individual ethics signifies a moral code applicable to individuals, while social ethics means moral theory applies to groups. Social ethics can be synonymous with social and political philosophy, in as much as it is the foundation of a good society or state. Ethics is just not limited to specific acts and defined moral codes, but encompasses the whole of moral ideals and behaviors, a person’s philosophy of life. Social ethics come from someone’s collective experience of people and cultures throughout life. While individual ethics are typically driven by individual morals that determine right or wrong, ethics within society focus more on what may be considered appropriate behavior for people as a whole, rather than individual behavior.

However, since people perceive things differently, and various cultures share different beliefs, what is deemed right for one may not necessarily be right for another. And sometimes what is ethical for an individual may not be same for the society. And statutory law makes this difference for e.g. I don't find it unethical to smoke marijuana, but society does. Our society, being a democracy, legislates it illegal to smoke marijuana; therefore my ethics are overridden by society's ethics. Or put more simply, the majority overrides the minority. And a question can be raised here, can social ethics be masked for personal benefits? If yes, till what level? In my view, of course it can. The more blessed with resources a person is, the higher level of manipulation and reward can be achieved. For e.g A rich or powerful family can allow a person from that family more avenues to be unethical and achieve more than that of a person living in poverty. The exception to that is a person born with amazing insight and charm which can be a great catalyst to achieving outside their initial status.

Bertrand Russell, a British Philosopher, thinks that the basis of social ethics is only individual interest. They consider social ethics as a kind of contract between individuals, which they uphold as the best means of safeguarding their interests. It is impossible to maintain a clear and precise distinction between social ethics and personal (individual) ethics. No individual behavior is without social implications. No social situation or problem is without individual repercussions. All of the social institutions encompass a vast range of issues in every segment of society and cannot exist apart from individuals. Business, education, the church, professional associations, and government all involve people as they interact, exchange ideas, trade goods and services, and make decisions. They influence one another during these interchanges and affect the structure and moral environment of society.

References: Adhikary, N.M. (2003, March 18). Mass Media Ethics. Space Time Today.

Websites: http://www.ask.com http://www.exampleessays.com http://www.wisegeek.com http://www.answers.com

Dead flesh....

2011-02-19T05:29:00.000-08:00

"You know what mom? You are the only mother in the world who binds her son's freedom."

" No, baby common. It's not like that."

The cold breeze ignites the coldness into her heart. Watching the deep blue river flowing in its own pace, and blinking those wet lashes, she recalls the last bitter exchange of words. "No" the only word she used and all that she got in return was a body- a body without soul, a dead flesh. A body that took almost nine months to get a new soul, creation of her own. A body created with a lifetime hope, a lifetime prayer and a lifetime wish.

Removing few strands of her hair from the white cheeks to her ear, she gives a corner stare to the hollow space, the space where people predict her son took the last breathe of his life. Recalling the pain of bringing him into this beautiful called world to the pain of separation with the only candle of her life, she is broken and scattered like glass that can never be mend, even if tried, the crack will show its presence. She is shattered of all those dreams build from his first sight to this world, from his first yawn, from his first talk and from his first walk.

She pulls her hair, she tugs her clothes. She screams as if those pebbles, those rocks, those trees and those leaves will send message to the creator to return the lost life. Those spherical drops dries out. Her throat dries out. Then the black and blank mind takes few steps to the same hollow space. She continues to stare at the black edged and deep earth that swallowed her son. With no conflict of words in mind except for the hope of meeting her son again, she shut down the door of vision and pushes herself into it. BANG!!! There comes the sound, there goes another body and there flies another soul. Just remain is another dead flesh.

Profound desire

2010-09-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

Profound desire, true desire is the desire to be close to someone. From that point onwards, things change, the man and the woman come into play, but what happens before - the attraction that brought them together - is impossible to explain. It is untouched desire in its purest state.

When desire is still in this pure state, the man and the woman fall in love with life, they live each moment reverently, consciously, always ready to celebrate the next blessing.

When people feel like this, they are not in a hurry, they do not participate events with unthinking actions. They know that the inevitable will happen, that what is real always finds a way of revealing itself. When the moment comes, they do not hesitate, they do not miss an opportunity, they do not let slip a single magic moment, because they respect the importance of each second.

A day at Book fair............

2009-05-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

There are lots of students like me who would rather prefer learning things by watching. Reading books is like “not my cup of tea”. But this year I bought two books- “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” by John Gray and “Sold” by Patricia McCormick. It was a visit to 13th annual Educational and Book fair organized at Bhrikuti Mandap, Exhibition Road, Kathmandu. It was my first time to any book fair so was pretty amazed and lil’ bit of confusion to see how people in this fast world of internet and technology still go for the slowest medium to learn things. It was a part of field reporting so obviously I have to observe the expo and report to my supervisor. During the observation I came across various types of books interesting, boring, funny, and serious but I didn’t find any of the books useless. From economics and technology to learn English and Nepali alphabets; every kind was well managed.

The most interesting part was that there was a sort of software running in the LCD monitor that teaches how to learn the alphabets and I could see some children following the voice “A for Apple, B for Ball”; I literally stood there for 20 minutes and got lost in my nursery days. It was so nice to see a new way of learning and I was wondering if we could already use these technologies during the first days of schooling. Another interesting part was the scientific approaches of students. There were vivid colleges to expo these scientific things (Ahh!!! May be I’m just poor at it and I hate science). I could see some young group involved in all these creative works and the most fascinating one was ‘Electrical Jaanto’. Jaanto is a traditional device to grind corn and it was manually run consuming lots of mechanical power and time as well. But this new one also runs manually but just to switch on the device and rest you just have to wait and watch how amazingly it works. I and my friends were watching that and our mouth were just uttering Wow!

For me this expo had certainly made a difference. The thing I used to call as “not my cup of tea”; I started drinking sip by sip and realized how amazing and how fascinating it actually is-BOOKS. I just finished reading this “Sold” by Patricia McCormick and could feel me getting into it(which I finished in a day). It’s really amazing book basically describes life of a hilly girl named Laxmi and her journey from her playing days in her own village to a brothel in Calcutta, India. If anyone interested to read it, without any hesitation you can contact me.

A False Hope

2009-05-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

It's a long journey
But I'm trudging along a hope within me
And as I look up at the stars in this lonely night
A memory of the past haunts me,
Like a shadow never leaving me
And I remember those blissful moments with you
This feels like dream
But no matter how hard I try
I can't reach you now
And I can't forget you too
For the love you gave me
For the hope you showed me
For the happiness you brought in my life
But before I could realize all this
You were already gone away from my life never to return
And it's too late now
To have you beside me
To have you back in my life
But still I'm trudging with a false hope
To be together again
To have you beside me once again
To have your love once again

Fading Past

2009-05-09T08:27:00.000-07:00

"Love means each person is free to follow his or her own heart"

Looking at the interiors of the ring, I senesce about the memos remembering the day he bestowed it upon me. Reminding back those days brought an extra bliss with memories totally refreshing. But ever since our relation weakened all I could get is tears, blessing my vision every time. That's what he is doing steorly fading out of my life. I remember every moment I was with him, savoring his every move, smile and kiss. I never thought a person could be that precious to me. He was amazing and insensible, if hurt to look at him. But now it hurts to think of him. I memorized his face; dark eyebrows, black amazing eyes, tousled hair. His hands tan and strong could swallow my own. I had never loved anyone else the way I loved him.

The first time when I saw him after long days of quarrelling, I stood there quietly drinking him in and when I finally had him, I was almost in tears because I had never felt so alive, I don't know how long I stood there holding him, breathing in his scent with my face pressed against his shirt. I was left spell bound and I know I didn't want to left go. His only presence was a deep chasm that swept me into euphoria of his love. I cried bitterly, the day we parted, feeling utterly alone as I watched him ravishing away from life. I tasted the salt as I wept; feeling so angry at the world and at life that has chosen to be cruel and unfair, keeping aloof from each other. I thought my heart would break.

I sigh as I remember those painful memories, but I don't cry now. I have no tears left for him.

They say real love is forever. I don't know the exact definition of it, neither do I wish to know but he is as close as I have ever come to. He is gone now from my every memory and my dreams are all shattered by the harsh reality of the situation. I thought we were strong enough to make it. I was wrong he left; he took a piece of my heart with him.

For, a while, I could not eat or sleep, I felt so sick and empty. I didn't think I'd be able to go on without him. As I look back now- I see that it was a time of mourning- I was mourning the loss of relation that statue when I was in my teens and a year deep relation. I didn't think this hurt would ever end.

Then gradually, I understood the ways of life and are day I found that the sick feeling in my mind was all gone. I knew then, I was going to be okay, that I no longer needed him. I began to live my life again. As I look back, the only thing he ever gave me the entire time was tears and just tears that made me realize of my inner strength- the strength to hold back my tears and to hold on to myself even after facing the storm in my heart. I don't think I would have built up this self- confidence if he wouldn't have betrayed me, I just couldn't quite find it. Thank-x to him. Since then I was living my life normally but recently, what else more could happen, I saw him in a dance party with his new girl. For an instant, I couldn't let my eyes off his face. I smiled at my own fate thinking of how life plays so withy game on me. The first time I met him on a dance party itself and the last time, I'm thousand miles away from him. Today in three words I can sump up everything thing. I've teamed about life. "It goes on".

I smile as I remember him and then I gently slip the ring he gave and let it go.

BLACK

2009-05-08T09:11:00.000-07:00

Come to world of dusk
Where I have been
Darkness is the color
I have always seen
I wonder if this dims- out
Is the very light
Because black and white
Is no disparate to my sight

I'm amidst generous people
Yet I live alone
Cared for like an animal
For the dimensions I have shown
So these people always pray
May tomorrow be my final day?
I can feel everything
Yet there is nothing I can say.

All I shout was for care
Which no one could ever share
When it came to loving me
It was not even rare
So I live on my own
As even my shadow they slack
There by I'm all alone
In my world of BLACK

Escape from reality

2009-05-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

I sit alone in the corner of my room
Mourning the humans and their evil trends
Trying to make my life in bloom
With solitude, my only friend

The walls feel as though there are clasping in
Gulps of gaps are my so called breathe
My body shudders and all is dim
Waiting patiently for my arriving death

Now I feel easy and I feel free
No more of that agonizing pain and grief
With none of that eerie feeling engulfing me
I feel as like I'm abandoning a sinking ship

Drifting away from this cursed life
I'm able to hear and see,
The torment torture of where I used to thrive
Lives going to waste in absolute misery.

Democracy and Journalism are inter-dependent.

2009-05-07T23:03:00.000-07:00

Politics, judiciary body, administration system and journalism are called the four main pillars to construct a balanced society. These are such vast subject of social science which is far more practical and time based rather than pre formulated principles and theories of other subjects. So, the creative role is always necessary to practice these subjects which directly influence the day to day lives of the people in the society.

Politics, the structure which is created by the people, have different opinion and principles as a party to rule themselves. Thus different parties carrying different views and principles who are selected by the people sum up the main body of government. They further formulate necessary rules and policies on the favor of general citizen. Administration, the implementing body of those rules and policies, take action against the culprit as directed by the judiciary body. This is how the democratic setup works.

The fourth one, journalism, it is the only medium to transfer the information about everything to the people. In a democratic system all the political system, administrative structure and its functioning and the judiciary system should be transparent to the people. If it doesn't happen then there is a chance of mystification of power delivered by the people. In that case, the people's interest is not served nor the balanced society is can get facilitate from their leaders nor is the balanced society constructed. So the media is required at that time.

This is how the integrated role of media and journalism is considered essential to construct a good society in a democratic system. If the country doesn't follow the democratic set up then the greatest threat is imposed on media whose prime responsibility is to deliver correct news to the people. The situation may arise when the reality may break out and the whole system may run in the assumption rather than fact. Let me share one example here: few days earlier, many colleges, schools, business houses and offices were closed earlier in a fear that Army Chief Rukmangud Katwal would step over the government and form his army rule like that of Pakistan and Myanmar. This kind of situation is created when the exact information is not delivered at the right time. In a country like ours, we don’t calculate the loss we bared due to this small incident but the digit may go higher if it is done with direct and indirect cost involved, the harassment level increased in the mind of people suddenly and lack of operation of business and market in a full capacity and time.

The above example is a suitable to quote when the media stays quiet and inactive at a required time. Prompt media services like radio and news channel couldn’t do that. It is all due to the lack of resources of the media house or lack of the concerned body to provide resources to publish. This is totally undemocratic.

In a year 2060, it was published in newspapers that the following day was called “Banda” by Maoist. That was taken seriously by the people and the effect of banda was seen from the early morning. But in the afternoon the Maoist party released a press statement informing they were not the one to call “banda”. In this case the publishing institute, the media house itself is faultier because it didn’t deliver the exact news. A small mistake done by their journalistic activities may cause a big loss to the nation. This may have been done with any ill intention or to grab a good attention towards the paper which is totally against the democratic principle. Most of the political parties run their own publications in a regional and national level, but basically people read the news being unbiased towards that paper. This has indirectly increased the blind belief towards certain political parties which is again totally undemocratic.

In May 3rd, we celebrated “World Press Freedom Day”. The celebration was not full of joy but full of sorrow. Attack on media has become frequent. All the political parties have tried to use media in their favor and if not then they have turned violent against media. The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) recorded a staggering 342 press freedom violations in 2008 alone, including a significant escalation in the number of physical attacks on journalists and media houses. Four journalists— Uma Singh, JP Joshi, Birendra Sah and Pushkar Bahadur Shrestha— have been killed since 2006. The International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission, which visited the country from February5-8, has called on authorities to undertake prompt, independent and impartial investigation of these and all other cases of murder and disappearances of journalists. (Source: newswatch.in)

Another journalist, Prakash Singh Thakuri, has been missing since July 2007. Late last year, the government withdrew charges against the accused, who had been released earlier on bail. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal assured the International Mission that the case would be reopened. The Mission also called for an investigation into the killing of Dekendra Thapa, after his remains were found last year. The International Mission is also deeply worried over the attacks on media houses, including Kantipur, Himal Media, Ankush Daily, Ramaroshan FM and APCA Group. Such attacks on media workers, publications and property are unacceptable. Those responsible must be held accountable for their actions. Any substantive grievances over work conditions must be addressed through dialogue and negotiation. If the governing body can act positively then only the doors for democracy will be opened otherwise if the cases of attacks and abduction, censorship and expelling, harassing, imprisoning and killing are continued, the rights of people to get right information will always be prevented and rule of law will vanish. This will create a big disorder of rule and the norms of democracy will be killed.

The situation is even more severe for democratic values in media, though this receives far less attention in the official political culture. In particular, journalism is that product of the media system that deals directly with political education. Within democratic theory, there are two indispensable functions that journalism must serve in a self-governing society. First, the media system must provide a rigorous accounting of people in power and people who want to be in power, in both the public and private sector. Second, the media system must provide reliable information and a wide range of informed opinions on the important social and political issues of the day. No single medium can or should be expected to provide all of this; but the media system as a whole should provide easy access to this for all citizens. Unless a society has a journalism that approaches these goals, it can scarcely be a self-governing society of political equals. Not a day goes by that we don't see a news clip, hear a radio report, or read an article heralding the miraculous new technologies of the information age. The communication revolution associated with these technologies is often heralded as the key to a new age of "globalization." How is all of this reshaping the labor force, transforming communications, changing the potential for democracy, and altering the course of history itself? These must be carefully analyzed.

Our country is lacking the law and regulations and is expecting an exit to an unconditional situation at present. At such time media being used by the power is common but also in a global context, the media is being used by the handful capitalists to bring their product market value in a height. In capitalist societies, the wealthy have tremendous social and economic advantages over the working class that undermine political equality, a presupposition for viable democracy. In addition, under capitalism the most important economic issues—investment and control over production—are not the province of democratic politics but, rather, the domain of a small number of wealthy firms and individuals seeking to maximize their profit in competition with each other. This is the outcome of rapid globalization and media is exactly being used for this.

The context of journalism varies according the structure of society and it is used as a tool to advertise power and products through out the world. The violation and attacks on media may be high or low in number, but it is mostly used to gain advantage by every kind of power at most of the times. The pure democracy in media has still got more years to come. The main thing is not only how and which kind of news is delivered by the publication and media houses but how it is perceived by the final readers, listeners and viewers and how they react upon receiving information. If the common norms and values are protected and social balance is maintained, then only the journalism is said democratic otherwise the war between power and politics, market and economics will always threaten the media and media will always look them as their rival. Actual democracy in media will just be in words. So, all the sectors of the society must be loyal to the media and vice versa.

Youth for CHANGE

2009-05-05T22:47:00.000-07:00

Load shedding, traffic jams, political instability, strikes, unemployment, and god knows what else. These are very few obstacles instance in our chores and every one of us directly or indirectly face it, talk about it and give the most unapplied suggestions. Nevertheless, when the question arises of overcoming it (ourselves)… every one of us goes blank. Then arises our usual habit- blaming; blaming the system, blaming the government. That is when we generally tend to forget to practice what we preach, “To change the world, first, one (we) should change.” Honestly answer, how many of us have tried to do it? How many of us worked for self-satisfaction rather than payment? Mind you, I am here talking about social changes.

If we sit for a discussion with any elderly people, they will not stop their radio of complaints about our generation and regard us as the lost ones in the world of fantasies. And somewhere inside even we feel so. This situation made me remind of my best friend’s line, “hope always exist and keep peeping your darkroom, you just need to identify the door and open up for a bright world.” My first day at one of the social organization, made me realize, though there are lost youths but even aware one takes higher percentage. I found myself among so many youths who in actual work for the satisfaction and smile when their job ultimately leads to widen the lips of those ‘in need’ ones. Youth initiative, SAATH, Haatemaalo, Nepal Plus, etc are few instances that I came across in these couple of months of my as a “social worker” days. Not with any bright dreams but just with a hope of simple social changes, these youths have involved themselves n sketched the path for a new world. I cannot assure about their potential for this nor I can measure it but no doubt, their enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication have seriously made it work out and proved their determination to bring about the changes in the existing unacceptable social and legal behavior ruling since decades.

Therefore, readers if you would also like to join hand in hand with these groups, we Media Studies Group would cordially invite you for your support and encouragement.

For further information contact: Sanchar Khabar

Upcoming Event: “Green Day”
Venue: Bhakundebesi
Day: 15th Ashad, 2066 B.S
Organizer: SAATH in collaboration with Kutumba and Music School
Aim: To plant 3000-4000 trees

Sweet little memories…… and a life to live

2009-01-10T23:21:00.001-08:00

It's true, nothing is everlasting. Those dreams once dreamed, those treasures of your lifetime, those prayers once asked for, those promises once made and those relations once bound up in- all these soon fade away. You walk of that door, but hope never dies out of you, sad eyes still linger around it.

Feelings have no boundaries. Those endured emotions heavy on heart flows on with tears when mementos really pinch you and touch you. Tears show how much you have wanted not to let go what you did earn out of love and care.

There are times when the one whom you adore the most isn't with you when you need him. You feel that you are going to chase those clouds of frustration away, but you never know while chasing those clouds you leave that someone to share your happiness with far away and miles apart from yourself. I guess these people come in our lives to steal away sadness and leave returning them, love them, loose them, realize their place in our loves and perhaps to miss them forever.

"Grief can take care of itself, but you need someone to share your happiness with". Is it true? May be may be not. But I need some one to share them both someone, a friend to be called as, I won't be asking my fried to walk with me life long, but would seek for faith that I'd find in that person. I don't need a promise, nor an assurance from anyone, but let faith emerge in me- reflecting that someone to be a friend for eternity. If it is real, friendship remains, in-erasable in its place no matter how far we proceed in life. People come and go but some leave in-erasable footsteps in our lives.

Life means to move on, and so do it. You can dream, make wish, desire, expect and sometimes when you can't help it out do even cry when dreams won't come true. Some lovely moments come in our lives, some good friends come in our way, but they aren't meant to be with us forever. But lets not forget sweet little memories are always there and a life to live.

……………………….

2009-01-10T23:20:00.000-08:00

It was just the nightmare for me. The dream that was momentary. When the cool misty days of my life appeared abruptly, my heart leapt up, my mind obsessed with tranquility but those days were ample to endure and the moments scrambled incessantly. In all those of plights and pleasure, I saw him staring at me as if he desired me to be solitude. Really, to be trusted is the greatest compliment than to be loved. Now, I'm utterly a despairable girl with nobody to follow me. The adversity is full of feasts in galore and I'm the single prodigy. I can never forget the deepest virtue of mine.

Mustering all those blandishment, I was left there in a corner absolutely solitude. When I behold the deepest virtue of mine, my hopeless heart began to wipeout the tears of my hopeless eyes. Now I' utterly despairable girl in the quest of happiness and help. All the worldly affairs are alien to me. Hope these rays of smug satisfaction will develop in me the new panoramic color of days to the eternity……..

Dad, Haven't I grown up?

2009-01-03T20:07:00.000-08:00

Its been a long period living with you dad, asking for each and everything thing I wished for and you've always fulfilled my desires. Each day I wake up and get my daily schedule done then yet again the similar old dialogue which I dislike saying "Dad I need some money". Life goes on, as those numerous years have passed by, dad you have upholded me for the whole thing every single second. Now let it be my turn. I sometimes feel sorry because I'm not able to do anything for you till this day. My conscience won't let me beg. So, "Dad please help me to earn not to beg". I know it's tough for you to say, "It's your time to earn a living".

Dad please don't misread me; I'm not going to mess up. I'll turn out to be an established one to watch out your requirements. You've carried out a lot for me and I sincerely adore you but now I'll do it on my own approach and it will be my turn.

Dad this time I had thought of writing something different but true but then again. I'd hate to say I've to make some printouts of these so "I want some money Dad".

The state of media in China and Hongkong

2008-12-28T22:47:00.000-08:00

Introduction:

People’s Republic of China, one of the four oldest civilizations in the world, has a written history of 4,000 years and boasts rich cultural relics and historical sites. It is the inventor of compass, paper-making, gunpowder and printing. The Great Wall, Grand Canal and Karez irrigation systems are three great ancient engineering projects built 2,000 years ago. Now they are the symbols of the rich culture of the Chinese nation. China has gone over a long history of primitive society, slavery society, feudal society and semi-feudal semi-colonial society and the present socialist society.

The capital of China is Beijing and has an area of 16,800 squares kilometers. Its population is about 1.31 billion about 22% of the total world’s population. The date of establishment of People’s Republic of China is October 1, 1949 A.D. China has about 5.5 million Protestants and 3.5 million Catholics (not include underground house churches). The national language is Putonghua (the common speech) or Mandarin, which is one of the five working languages at the United Nations. Cantonese is one of the local dialects of Southern China. As a written language, Chinese has been used for 6,000 years.

China is a multi-religious country. Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism, with the first three being more wide spread. Islam is followed by the Hui, Uygur, Kazak, Kirgiz, Tatar, Dongxiang, Salar and Bonan nationalities.

The People's Republic of China is a unified, multi-national country, comprising 56 nationalities. All nationalities in China are equal according to the law. The State protects their lawful rights and interests and promotes equality, unity and mutual help among them.

The present president of China is Mr. Hu Jintao. China has 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities and 2 Special Administrative Regions - Hong Kong and Macao. The state organs of China are The National People's Congress (NPC). The Central Military Commission, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procurator ate. The armed force of People’s Republic of China is The People's Liberation Army (PLA). The ruling party is The Communist Party of China (CPC). Chinese Money is called Renminbi (RMB) (means "People's Currency"). The popular unit of RMB is Yuan (1.00 Dollar = 8.30 Yuan).

Hong Kong:

Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders Guangdong province in the north and faces the South China Sea in the east, west and south. It has a population of 6.9 million people, and is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

Beginning as a trading port, Hong Kong became a dependent territory of the United Kingdom in 1842, and remained so until the transfer of its sovereignty to the People's Republic of China in 1997. Along with Macau, Hong Kong is one of two special administrative regions, and under the "one country, two systems" policy, has a high degree of autonomy, is largely self-governing, and maintains a highly capitalist economy.

Renowned for its expansive skyline and natural setting, Hong Kong is one of the world's leading financial capitals and a major business and cultural hub. Its identity as a cosmopolitan centre where east meets west is reflected in its cuisine, cinema, music and traditions, and although the population is predominantly Chinese, residents and expatriates of other ethnicities form a small but significant segment of society.

Government and Politics:

The People's Republic of China (PRC) is formally a multi-party state under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CCP) in the popular front model similar to the former Communist-era Eastern European countries such as the National Front of Democratic Germany. The dominance over the political system is such that China is effectively a single-party state. The China Democracy Party was founded by participants of the 1978 Chinese Democracy Wall Movement and the 1989 Democracy Movement. It was made illegal in 1998 by the CCP on mainland soil. Union of Chinese Nationalists (UOCN) being equivalent to Chinese Pan-Blue Coalition in Mainland of China, a pro-western style democracy and pro-Dr. Sun Yat-sen's doctrines of "Three Principles of the People" political organization, was originally founded in a famous Chinese online forum in August, 2004.

Some of the Chinese political parties are:

1. Kuomintang (KMT)

2. Chinese Youth Party

3. China Democratic Socialist Party

4. China Democracy Party

5. Chinese Republican Party

6. China New Social Party

7. China People's Party

Hong Kong has a multi-party system, with numerous parties in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power by controlling the Legislative Council. The Chief Executive is selected separately by the Central People's Government and is non-partisan, but has to rely on political parties in the legislature for support, effectively having coalition governments.

Hong Kong has no legislation for political parties, and thus has no legal definition for what a political party is. Most political parties and political groups registered either as limited companies or societies.

The list includes also political groups in Hong Kong that participate in elections but are not considered parties.

Internet:

China had 210 million Internet users by the end of 2007. China's Internet consumption hit 53.89 billion U.S. dollars last year. The China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) survey reports that Sina Corp., Netease.com Inc., Tencent and Sohu.com Inc., China's four largest Internet portals, have gained most from the robust Internet industry, accounting for about 76 percent of total web portal revenue in China. The Net guide 2008 shows that among Internet users, browsing daily news takes up 38.8 percent of their time, followed by dealing with e-mail, 11 percent, and writing and reading blogs, 9.2 percent. China added 73 million new online users last year, as the Internet seemed to be catching on in the countryside, where development has so far been held back by low incomes and weak infrastructure. The number of rural Internet users reached 52.6 million by the end of 2007, up a whopping 127.7 percent from a year earlier, the CNNIC said.

In Hong Kong over 50% homes connected to the internet. 33.6% of internet homes claim a broadband connection and only 3.5% of house holds ordered or purchased goods or services online in 2000- mostly groceries 1.2%, stocks 1% and books 0.8%.

Radio:

There are over 3,000 radio stations in China. The Central People's Broadcasting Station, the nation's official radio station, has 8 channels, and broadcasts for a total of over 24 hours per day via satellite.

Every province, autonomous region and municipality has local broadcasting stations. China Radio International (CRI), the only national overseas broadcasting station, is beamed to all parts of the world in 38 foreign languages, standard Chinese and four Chinese dialects, and broadcasts for a total of over 300 hours every day. It offers various special programs of news, current affairs, comment, entertainment, politics, economy, culture, technology and so on. Currently, CRI rank 3^rd in overseas broadcasting time and languages in the world.

China Radio International (CRI) the former Radio Beijing and originally Radio Peking, is one of the two state-owned national radio broadcasting networks in the People's Republic of China (PRC). CRI was founded on December 3 of 1941.

As the PRC's external radio station, CRI aims at promoting understanding and friendship between the people of China and people throughout the world. CRI broadcasts 290 hours of programs each day to all over the world in 43 languages. CRI's programs include news, current affairs, and features on politics, the economy, culture, science and technology.

The station is government-owned, and as such adopts the government stance on issues, such as Taiwan being an integral part of the PRC. It has the most comprehensive Foreign Service in Asia. More than 50 shortwave transmitters are used to cover most of the world. In addition, CRI broadcasts can be heard on the medium-wave AM band in many areas, including WUST, serving the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area and on WNWR in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. CRI is also broadcast via the Internet and numerous satellites, and the World Radio Network.

Some of the Radio stations in china:

1. QQ FM 91.4FM

2. Sanshui Radio 90.6FM

3. Ah Radio 90.8FM

4. Love Radio103FM

5. CHBC 107.1FM

6. Zhongshan Radio 88.8FM

7. Xiamen Economic Broadcast 107FM

Television:

In 1978, the PRC had less than one television receiver per 100 people, and fewer than ten million Chinese had access to a television set. According to World Bank report in 2003, there are about 35 TVs for every 100 people. Roughly a billion Chinese have access to television. Similarly, in 1965 there were 12 television and 93 radio stations in mainland China; today there are approximately 700 conventional television stations—plus about 3,000 cable channels—and 1,000 radio stations.

Television broadcasting is controlled by Chinese Central Television (CCTV), which, with its 16 program channels, is the country's only national network. CCTV, which employs about 10,000 people and has an annual income of $138m, falls under the dual supervision of the Propaganda Department, responsible ultimately for media content, and the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, which oversees operations. A Vice Minister in the latter ministry serves as chairman of CCTV. The network's principal directors and other officers are appointed by the State. So are the top officials at local conventional television stations in mainland China—nearly all of which are restricted to broadcasting within their own province or municipality—that receive CCTV broadcasts.

CCTV produces its own news broadcasts three times a day and is the country's most powerful and prolific television program producer. It also has a monopoly on purchases of programming from overseas. All local stations are required to carry CCTV's 7 p.m. main news broadcast; an internal CCTV survey indicates that nearly 500 million people countrywide regularly watch this program.

Even if CCTV is the most powerful network of mainland China, it has only about 30% of audience share all over the national territory. The fact shows how the Chinese viewers are biased in favor of local TV programs that are more likely to represent the differences of an audience that is the largest in the world, more than the national or even international programs that can hardly attend the needs of such a wide public.

Since September 1, 2006, the Chinese government has banned foreign-produced animation between the hours of 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. on state-run television to protect struggling Chinese animation studios that have been affected by the popularity of such cartoons.

Most households subscribe to multichannel pay-TV. Many international and pan-Asian broadcasters are based in Hong Kong, including News Corporation's STAR TV. Hong Kong's terrestrial commercial TV networks, TVB and ATV, can also be seen in neighboring Guangdong Province and Macau (via cable).

Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) - private
Phoenix TV (PTV) - private
Asia Television Ltd (ATV) - private
Cable TV (CTVHK) - private
Now TV (NTV) - private
HKBN bbTV (HKBN) - private
Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) - government-funded

Newspapers and journals:

The number of newspapers in mainland China has increased from 42—virtually all Communist Party papers—in 1968 to 382 in 1980 and more than 2,200 today. By one official estimate, there are now more than 7,000 magazines and journals in the country. The number of copies of daily and weekly newspapers and magazines in circulation grew fourfold between the mid-1960s and the mid-to-late 1980s, reaching 310 million by 1987.

These figures, moreover, underreport actual circulation, because many publishers use their own distribution networks rather than official dissemination channels and also deliberately understate figures to avoid taxes. In addition, some 25,000 printing houses and hundreds of individual bookstores produce and sell nonofficial material—mostly romance literature and pornography but also political and intellectual journals.

Since the economic reforms of 1979, China's advertising industry had grown at an annual growth rate of 40%. With more than 80,000 advertising agencies by 2005, this tremendous growth has come from China's economic boom coupled with a growing consumer market and increased penetration of television and Internet. With the ownership limitations for foreign advertising companies to be lifted by the end of 2005 and the impending Beijing Olympics in 2007, China is expected to become the third largest advertising market. Despite such potential, China's advertising industry has still to deal with increasing competition from foreign advertisement companies and cultural diversity.

The rapid recent growth in the size of the advertising market in China has been unprecedented, fulfilling the prediction that it will be second only to that of the United States by the Olympic year of 2008. Major Japanese and Western-based global advertising agencies have been making their presence felt via joint-venture arrangements with Chinese agencies since 1979, and now increasingly are serving not only their global clients, but working with large Chinese advertisers as well. This article traces recent developments in the advertising industry in China, with particular attention to the marketing strategies being pursued by global advertisers, and to the social, cultural and geographical barriers which they must overcome. Conversely, the analysis gives insight to the comparative advantages the Chinese advertisers and their agencies enjoy in this respect, although they also face challenges in establishing brands and otherwise transforming China into a harmonious nation of consumer-citizens.

Public relation:

"Modern" or "western" public relations practice has only been used in China since 1981 according to most texts on the subject. In the late 1970’s China experienced political and economic changes that "paved the way for this western concept and profession. The concept of public relations in China after business ventures in a region north of Hong Kong revealed its value to companies. The western approach to public relations soon spread rapidly to other regions and is now growing faster than ever in the universities and public relations societies in China.

China historically held its own philosophy regarding public relations that dates back 2000 years. This philosophy is known as the "harmony" concept. "The establishment and maintenance of a harmonious relationship between the ruler and the subject on whom his success or failure depended." Confucianism is the guiding regulatory philosophy in China, and it emphasizes respect for social order-"which requires all people to follow accepted rituals in relating to others and reduces conflicts created by the social estate system." As a Westerner it is sometimes difficult to understand how harmony is reached between ruler and subject in what we know about China’s leaders in relation to its citizens. While harmony between ruler and subject is still valued in China under the communist government, some wonder at what price this harmony is achieved and what a harmonious relationship to the government really means for the Chinese citizens.

The teaching of public relations started out informally in China during the 1980’s. The public relations practitioners in China at that time were mostly westerners who had been educated outside of China. "These people informally tutored their Chinese colleagues. A typical training session usually lasted about 40 days and offered instruction on subjects such as public relations principles, public relations practice, publicity writing, advertising, and interpersonal communication." Some of the problems in teaching arose from cultural and social difference among those involved. Informal type sessions still exist for those wanting a crash-course in public relations, but the university systems in China have expanded to include much curriculum on the subject as well as 4-year and graduate degrees in public relations.

Critics of the Chinese governments’ public relations practices regarding its citizenry say there is a lack of 2-way symmetrical communication, one of the most valued concepts in western public relations.

Movie industry:

Motion pictures were introduced to China in 1896. The first attempt at filmmaking was Conquering Jun Mountain (1905). The Chinese film industry didn't begin until 1913 when Zheng Zhengqiu and Zhang Shichuan shot the first Chinese movie The Difficult Couple (1913). During the 1920s film technicians from the United States trained Chinese technicians in Shanghai, an early filmmaking center, and American influence continued to be felt there for the next two decades. China's first "talkie" was The Songstress, Red Peony (1931) played by the then "film queen" Butterfly Hu (Hu Die in Chinese) and produced by the Star Studio, Shanghai's largest film production studio.

Before the 1930s, owing to a lack of creativity, films made in China didn't exert a big influence in its history. Since then, the story of the film industry in China is like a summary of the nation's modern history, dealing with people's tortured and revolutionary life before 1949, the war of resistance against Japanese aggression, the civil war, the establishment and frustrating era of the P.R.China, its economic development and challenges to the status quo after WTO entry.

During 1933 and 1935, the left-wing movement (resistance against imperialism and feudalism) in filmmaking was introduced to Shanghai and flourished. Torrents (1933) (Kuangliu in Chinese), directed by Xia Yan and Cheng Bugao and produced by the Star Studio, was the first film of this genre. Many famed directors came to the fore and made outstanding contributions in art and literature, such as Yuan Muzhi's Street Angel (1937) and Shen Xiling's Crossroad (1937). They brought the darker, seamier side of society to light and gave expression to the wishes of the people to pursue their dreams as well as rebel against imperialism and feudalism. A great variety of artistic images were born and a number of acclaimed actors and actresses emerged. Butterfly Hu, Zhao Dan, Zhou Xuan and Shu Xiuwen were amongst them.

In the 1940s, on the eve of China's liberation, filmmaking was in a chaotic state and some profiteers seized the chance to shoot blue films and scary movies. However there were still some wonderful films being made thanks to the concerted efforts of conscientious filmmakers, who made classics such as Spring River Flows Eastward (1947) by Cai Chusheng and Zheng Junli, Crow and Sparrow (1949) by Chen Baichen and Zheng Junli and Light of Million Hopes (1948) by Shen Fu. These films had high artistic value in screenplay writing, directing, performance, cinematography, music, art design and other aspects. Filmmaking developed more quickly in the 1940s than it had in the 1930s.

China's film industry experienced hardships and setbacks after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The beginning was brilliant with many fine movies showing on the screen. Most of these tell stories about the war of resistance against the Japanese aggression as well as about the civil war, such as Dong Cunrui (1955) by Guo Wei and The Red Detachment of Women (1961) by Xie Jin. These movies made everything seem fresh due to lively roles and plot. But at the same time they had a severe shortage and were limited by a lack of individual artistic character as well as different photographic style. Artistic rules were usually neglected. In this aspect, films made in the 1950s were inferior to those made earlier. In the 17 years between the establishment of P.R. China and the "Cultural Revolution" (1966-1976), 603 feature films and 8,342 reels of documentary and news were made. The first wide-screen film was produced in 1960.

Filmmaking fell on "disaster time" during the Cultural Revolution. The film industry was severely restricted and no film was shot in the period 1966 and 1972. Films made between 1973-76 were strongly affected by revolutionary thinking and became tools of the Gang of Four. The films made then more or less reflected the real situation of China during the "Cultural Revolution".

In the years immediately following the "Cultural Revolution", artists in film began to free their minds and the film industry again flourished as a medium of popular entertainment. Animated films using a variety of folk arts, such as paper cuts, shadow plays, puppetry, and traditional painting, were also very popular with children.

In the 1980s, China's filmmakers started an all-round exploration and the range of film subjects extended. Films depicting the good and evil of the "Cultural Revolution" were very popular with the ordinary person. Many realism films reflecting the transformation of society as well as people's ideology were produced.

Early in 1984, a film One and Eight (1984) made mainly by the graduates of the Beijing Film Academy shocked China's film industry. The film, together with Chen Kaige's Yellow Earth (1984) made people experience the magic of the fifth generation of filmmakers, including Wu Ziniu, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Huang Jianxin and He Ping. Amongst this group Zhang Yimou first won an international prize with Red Sorghum (1987). Unlike the middle-aged fourth generation directors, they broke with traditional filmmaking, in screenplay and film structure as well as narrative. In January 1986 the film industry was transferred from the Ministry of Culture to the newly formed Ministry of Radio, Film and Television to bring it under "stricter control and management" and to "strengthen supervision over production."

In the 1990s, China experienced prosperity in its film industry. At the same time the government allowed the showing of foreign movies from 1995. More of China's films won awards at international film festivals, such as Ju Dou (1990) and To Live (1994) by Zhang Yimou, Farewell My Concubine (1993) by Chen Kaige, Blush (1994) by Li Shaohong, and Red Firecracker Green Firecracker (1993) by He Ping. However, these films encountered more and more criticism, in particular for their stylized form and neglect of audience response and absence of representation of the spiritual bewilderment of the people during the transformation of Chinese society.

In the mean time, a group of spirited young filmmakers began throwing away the fashionable cinematic veneer and facing reality. They were the sixth generation: Zhang Yuan, East Palace West Palace (1996), Wang Xiaoshuai, Beijing Bicycle (2000), Jia Zhangke, Unknown Pleasure (2002), Jiang Wen, Devils on the Doorstep (1999), Lu Xuechang, The Making of Steel (1996) and many others. Their serious attitude toward the art of film and life was to create youthful vigor in China's film industry for the start of the new millennium.

Media authorities

Statutory bodies:

Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority (BA) regulates broadcasters in Hong Kong by licensing and penalties according to the Broadcasting Regulation.
Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) is responsible for monitoring television and radio broadcasting to secure proper standards.
Radio Television Hong Kong, operates as an independent government department.

Non-Governmental bodies:

Press Council was established in July 2000. The objective of the Council is to promote the professional and ethical standards of the newspaper industry, defend press freedom, and deal with public complaints against local newspapers. It is an independent organization.

Media regulation

Freedom of the press and publication are enshrined in Article 27 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini-constitution, and are also protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) under Article 39 of the Basic Law.

There is no law called "media law" in Hong Kong. Instead, the media are governed by statutory laws. In brief, there are 31 Ordinances that are directly related to mass media. Six of which are highlighted below.

Registration of Local Newspapers Ordinance provides for the registration of local newspapers and news agencies and the licensing of newspaper distributors.
Books Registration Ordinance provides for the registration and preservation of copies of books first printed, produced or published in Hong Kong.
Telecommunications Ordinance makes better provision for the licensing and control of telecommunications, telecommunications services and telecommunications apparatus and equipment.
Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance controls and classifies articles which consist of or contain material that is obscene or indecent. Obscene Articles Tribunals are established to determine whether an article is obscene or indecent.
Broadcasting Authority Ordinance provides for the establishment and functions of a Broadcasting Authority.
Broadcasting Ordinance licenses companies to provide broadcasting services and regulate the provision of broadcasting services by licensees.

The rest of the Ordinances are of less importance since they do not aim at regulating mass media, but some of their provisions do affect the operation of media organizations and also the freedom of press.

The passing of Bill of Rights Ordinance (BORO) in 1986 strengthened the protection of fundamental human rights like press freedom or freedom of speech. This has been reflected in the loosening of control over mass media. Laws that violate the principle of press freedom are gradually amended. For example, section 27 of Public Order Ordinance, which criminalized the publishing of false news, was repealed in 1989.

Nonetheless, there are still concerns among the media sector that some existing laws may still undermine the freedom of the press and publication, e.g. Official Secrets Ordinance and Public Order Ordinance.

Commercial Radio Hong Kong:

Commercial Radio Hong Kong aka Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company Limited is one of the only two commercial radio broadcasting companies in Hong Kong along with Metro Radio Hong Kong. It contains a balanced array of entertainment including informative, educational, arts and cultural programs. CRHK is well known for providing updates on current affairs as well as news and weather reports.

List of radio stations in Hong Kong:

Commercial Radio

Supercharged 881 [FM 88.1-89.5 MHz]
Ultimate 903 [FM 90.3-92.1 MHz]

Radio Television Hong Kong

RTHK 1 [FM 92.6-94.4 MHz]
RTHK 2 [FM 94.8-96.9 MHz]
RTHK 3 [AM 567 kHz, AM 1584 kHz / FM 106.8 MHz (Hong Kong South)], FM 97.9 MHz (Happy Valley, Jardine's Lookout, Parkview Corner), FM 107.8 MHz (Tseung Kwan O, Tin Shui Wai)]
RTHK 4 [FM 97.6-98.9 MHz]
RTHK 5 [AM 783 kHz, FM 99.4 MHz (Tseung Kwan O), FM 106.8 MHz (Tuen Mun, Yuen Long)]
RTHK Putonghua [AM 621 kHz, FM 100.9 MHz (Causeway Bay, Wan Chai), FM 103.3 MHz (Tseung Kwan O, Tin Shui Wai)]

Metro Radio Hong Kong

Metro Finance [FM 102.4-106.3 MHz]
Metro ShowBiz [FM 99.7-102.1 MHz]

BBC World Service

RTHK 6 [AM 675 kHz]

The official media policy in china:

As China becomes a major player in the global economy, authorities in Beijing are trying to balance the need for more information with their goal of controlling content as a means to maintain power. Although President Hu Jintao was expected to be more liberal than his predecessors, his administration has pursued a media policy that involves increased regulations as well as the arrest and prosecution of journalists. But in spite of a crackdown under Hu, China’s media is undergoing a process of commercialization, leading to growing competition, diversified content, and an increase in investigative reporting by Chinese news agencies. According to a government report, there are more than two thousand newspapers, over eight thousand magazines, and some 374 television stations in the country. China also has over 150 million Internet users and, despite restrictions governing online content, both domestic and international stories that censors would prefer to control slip through government information firewalls. Only state agencies can own media in China, but there is creeping privatization as outlets subcontract administrative operations to the private sector.

How free is Chinese media?

The watchdog group ‘Reporters Without Borders’ ranked China 163 out of 168 countries in its 2007 index of press freedom. China’s constitution affords its citizens freedom of speech and press, but the document contains broad language that says Chinese citizens must defend “the security, honor, and interests of the motherland.” Chinese law includes media regulations with vague language that authorities use to claim stories endanger the country by sharing state secrets. Journalists face harassment and prison terms for violating these rules and revealing classified matter. The government’s monitoring structure promotes an atmosphere of self-censorship; if published materials are deemed dangerous to state security after they appear in the media, the information can then be considered classified and journalists can be prosecuted.

What are the primary censoring agencies in China?

Several government bodies are involved in reviewing and enforcing laws related to information flowing within, into, and from China, but the two primary censoring agencies are the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) and the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT). GAPP licenses publishers, screens written publications (including those on the Internet), and has the power to ban materials and shut down outlets. SARFT has similar authority over radio, television, film, and Internet broadcasts.

But the most powerful monitoring body is the Communist Party’s Central Propaganda Department (CPD), which coordinates with GAPP and SARFT to make sure content promotes and remains consistent with party doctrine. Xinhua, the state news agency, is considered by press freedom organizations to be a propaganda tool. The CPD gives media outlets directives restricting coverage of politically sensitive topics—such as protests, environmental disasters, Tibet, and Taiwan—which could be considered dangerous to state security and party control. The CPD guidelines are given to heads of media outlets, which in turn kill controversial stories and decide how delicate topics will be covered. Journalists who do not follow the rules face reprisals in the workplace. Publicizing the CPD guidelines invites punishment, too, as in the case of Shi Tao, a journalist detained in 2004 and serving a ten-year sentence for posting an online summary describing the CPD’s instructions for how to report about the fifteen-year anniversary of events at Tiananmen Square.

How does China exert media controls?

The Chinese government uses different means of intimidation to control the media and induce journalists to censor themselves rather than risk punishment. Censorship tactics include:

Dismissals and demotions. One of the most common punishments, say watchdog groups, is to fire or demote editors and journalists who publish articles objectionable to the CPD.
Libel. Government officials occasionally use accusations of libel as a way to intimidate media outlets and publishing houses. Cases range from a journalist charged with libel for writing pieces critical of Communist Party leaders on foreign websites to an author whose book about the extortion of farmers by local officials was banned after one of the officials sued him and his publishing house.
Fines. In August 2007, China passed the “Emergency Response Law,” which bans the spread of unverified information regarding riots, disasters, and other emergencies. Originally, the law threatened to fine media sources up to $12,500 for violations, but it was redrafted with more ambiguous language before it was passed.
Closing news outlets. News organizations that cover issues the CPD considers classified face closure. In a 2005 report, the People’s Daily said 338 publications were shut down the previous year for printing “internal” information.
Imprisonment. China imprisoned twenty-nine journalists in 2007, making it the world’s biggest jailor of reporters for the ninth year running, according to CPJ. Almost two-thirds of the jailed reporters were arrested for materials published on the Internet. One incarcerated foreign correspondent, Ching Cheong of Singapore’s Straits Times, was arrested in 2005 while reporting about leaders within the Chinese Communist Party. Cheong was sentenced to five years in prison, plus one year’s deprivation of political rights. His arrest had a chilling effect on press freedom in Hong Kong, where he was based.

Control over the influence of foreign media:

China requires foreign correspondents to get permission before making reporting trips within the country and reporters often face harassment if they cover delicate issues.

As part of its bid to host the 2008 Olympics, China promised to relax constraints and “be open in every aspect to the rest of the country and the whole world.” In January 2007, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao signed a decree that allows foreign journalists to report without permits before and during the Beijing Games. The decree also allows foreign journalists to interview any individual or organization as long as the interviewee consents. The new guidelines came into effect on January 1, 2007, and will last through October 27, 2008.

But critics accuse China of reneging on its Olympic promise. The Foreign Correspondents Club of China reports that 180 foreign correspondents were detained, harassed, or attacked in China in 2007 despite the nominally relaxed regulations. In addition, China continues to filter foreign (and domestic) content on the Internet—in many cases using technology provided by U.S. companies such as Yahoo!, Microsoft, and Google.

How do journalists get around media control measures?

Despite the systematic control of news in China—the U.S. State Department estimates China has between thirty thousand and fifty thousand Internet monitors—editors and journalists find ways to get news past the censors. Esarey says the primary space for freedom of speech in China is the blogosphere, where journalists use humor and political satire to criticize the Chinese government. In mainstream media, editors find ways to test the rules as readers in China’s flourishing economy demand hard news, says Dietz, and journalists covering social issues their editors won’t publish will post stories online, where the news will be released into cyberspace even if the original post is removed.

Dietz predicts press freedom “will expand to meet the needs and demands not just of the government but of the society.” Chinese media broke the news about official suppression of information about the 2003 SARS outbreak in Beijing. Similarly, after toxic chemicals leaked into a river and contaminated drinking water in the northeast city of Harbin in 2005, newspapers and websites criticized government response, demanded greater transparency, and posted photos of area residents stockpiling bottled water.

References:

All $ US Currency/ Source TIME Mar. 19. 2007.
www.chinatoday.com
www.cpj.org
www.english.gov.cn
www.cfr.org
www.rsf.org
www.cecc.gov
http://en.beijing2008.cn
www.fccchina.org
www.chinaview.cn
www.wikipedia.com
www.hypebot.com
www.realradios.com