Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06GUANGZHOU27723
2006-08-17 06:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Guangzhou
Cable title:  

"Adapting to China's Situation": Self-Censorship by

Tags:  PHUM SOCI PGOV CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2646
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHGZ #7723/01 2290659
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170659Z AUG 06
FM AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0963
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUANGZHOU 027723 

SIPDIS

USPACOM FOR FPA

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PGOV CH
SUBJECT: "Adapting to China's Situation": Self-Censorship by
Two Mainstream Newspaper Editors in South China


(U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please
handle accordingly.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUANGZHOU 027723

SIPDIS

USPACOM FOR FPA

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PGOV CH
SUBJECT: "Adapting to China's Situation": Self-Censorship by
Two Mainstream Newspaper Editors in South China


(U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please
handle accordingly.


1. (SBU) Summary. Recent discussions with editors of two
prominent South China newspapers revealed a conformist
attitude and a willingness to "go with the flow." Based on
these two interviews, Congenoffs found that mainstream
journalists must be willing to work within the system in
order to survive, and in fact are often content to do so.
End Summary.

Self-Censorship as Routine
--------------

2. (SBU) On July 7 Congenoffs met with Luo Guiqing, the
managing editor of the international news section in the
Guangzhou Daily; and on July 26, Congenoffs met with Wu
Jiasheng, editor-in-chief of the Fujian Daily. (Note: There
was FAO presence at the meeting with Wu, but not at the
meeting with Luo. End note.) Both these newspapers, as
dailies, function primarily as mouthpieces of the
government, and as such represent the mainstream media
outlets of Guangdong and Fujian respectively. Both
interviews were striking in that they revealed how
thoroughly the practice of self-censorship has entered the
routine habits of these mainstream journalists.


3. (SBU) Luo admitted that he automatically practices self-
censorship. For example, he said that he would rarely print
anything negative about religions, especially minority
religions in China such as Islam. The paper must always be
careful with stories concerning Muslims or Muslim countries,
said Luo, because the government is always concerned with
"national unity," and China has a sizeable Muslim minority.
Any topic that Chinese minorities might relate to must
therefore be treated gingerly.


4. (SBU) Wu also demonstrated this self-censorship tendency
in his comments about Taiwan. Based out of Fuzhou, the
Fujian Daily naturally takes a special interest in Taiwan
affairs. Wu said that Taiwan is a "complicated issue," and
his principal in dealing with it is to be "objective and
fair." He said that when covering Taiwanese politics, the
paper tries to report on speeches by all politicians
objectively. Yet Wu also made comments that revealed strong
nationalist sentiment: while reporting on Taiwan, the Fujian

Daily always tries to reflect the "blood ties" between
Fujian and Taiwan, in an effort to show that Taiwan is part
of China. In addition, Wu said that the paper always "looks
forward" to reunification. These reporting angles are
consistent with national policy towards Taiwan.

Adapting to Reality
--------------

5. (SBU) When asked whether young journalists ever tend to
try to be bolder in their writing than older ones, Luo
admitted that sometimes new graduates just starting their
careers are "nave," and must be "quickly taught realities."
(Luo himself studied in Scotland, has traveled to numerous
countries, and speaks excellent English.) This tendency is
also common among Chinese journalists trained in Western
journalism schools. However, to keep their jobs at Chinese
publications, they must "adapt to China's situation." Some
give up and quit the profession. For many, obtaining such a
prestigious job may be worth compromising some ideals, since
working in a mainstream news outlet is extremely
competitive: according to Wu, each year the Fujian Daily
runs recruitment campaigns at universities. Typically they
have thousands of applicants, shortlist about 100, and 10 to
20 get the job.


6. (SBU) When asked whether he was dissatisfied with the
situation in China, Luo essentially shrugged his shoulders
and indicated that he was willing to do what he must to have
a successful career. He said he is not very interested in
"fighting the system," and added, "I know how to balance all
these things." He explained that a good journalist is
active, but not too bold, and practices "pragmatic
idealism."


7. (SBU) Behaving well can yield special privileges,
including access to restricted information from the Chinese
government. In addition, as a highly-placed journalist with
the approval of the government, Luo has opportunities that
other journalists do not. He is frequently invited to
official functions, including events hosted by foreign
diplomats, and he is often able to travel abroad.

GUANGZHOU 00027723 002 OF 002



Comment
--------------

8. (SBU) These ingrained biases show how thoroughly
mainstream journalists have adopted the practice of self-
censorship. Both editors, as well as other journalists
Congenoffs have met, mentioned that the government does not
need to rigorously monitor the media, because journalists
practice self-censorship automatically. These editors said
they have not attended any special training sessions in how
to practice self-censorship. It is not marked as a special
or separate topic, but instead comes with the normal
territory of journalism in China.


9. (SBU) Luo is typical of highly-placed Chinese
journalists: educated and worldly professionals who
nevertheless are content to work within the restricted
Chinese reporting environment. Luo has numerous foreign
acquaintances and is widely traveled, which might induce him
to become somewhat disenchanted with the Chinese system.
Yet it is this system that allows him to continue to meet
these kinds of contacts and to travel abroad, offering him
opportunities that a less cooperative journalist would not
have. End comment.

MARTIN