PRC GOVERNMENT POUNCES ON RARE "GOOD NEWS" MEDIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 005069 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2022 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KCUL SOCI CH SUBJECT: PRC GOVERNMENT POUNCES ON RARE "GOOD NEWS" MEDIA STORY REF: A. BEIJING 24171 AND PREVIOUS ¶B. BEIJING 4236 Classified By: Deputy Political Section Chief Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Relieved to have good news to report, China's media gave heavy coverage to the successful rescue of 69 miners from a flooded mine in Henan Province August 1-2. China Central Television (CCTV) pushed back coverage of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army to bring live pictures of Henan Party Secretary Xu Guangchun greeting miners as they emerged from their three-day ordeal. Henan TV Station Vice President Wang Shaochun (protect) and Henan Film, Radio and Television Bureau Deputy Director Fei Yinpu (protect) told Poloff the live coverage reflects a new trend in China's media, namely shifting the focus away from the daily activities of top-leaders and more toward the toils of common people. Reviews of Xu Guangchun's mine-shaft photo op are mixed, with some praising the leader's personal involvement and others noting that the successful rescue does not change the deplorable safety conditions in China's mines. End Summary. Rescue of 69 Miners a "Miracle" -------------- ¶2. (C) The rescue of 69 coal miners in Henan Province received heavy media coverage August 1-2 that, at times, drowned out reports on the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army. The official Xinhua news agency called the rescue a "miracle." While live coverage of the miners staggering out of their three-day entrapment was broadcast nation-wide, Poloff was having dinner with two high-level Henan propaganda officials: Henan Film, Radio and Television Bureau Deputy Director Fei Yinpu (protect) and Henan TV Station Vice President Wang Shaochun (protect). During the broadcast Fei and Wang offered a running commentary on the images and analyzed how coverage of the mine disaster reflects the media philosophy of Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. A Provincial Leader's Dream Photo-Op -------------- ¶3. (C) With cameras rolling, Henan Provincial Party Secretary Xu Guangchun, Governor Li Chengyu and SIPDIS national State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) Director Li Yizhong stood outside the coal mine entrance August 1 patting backs and grasping the arms of the exhausted, blackened and blindfolded workers emerging from the mine shaft. According to the Beijing News (Xinjing Bao),Xu shouted "you're safe!" to one miner. A banner commemorating the rescue hung above the mine entrance. As miners continued to emerge in the background, each of the three top officials gave individual interviews. Governor Li thanked the Central Government for its continued support of the rescue effort and Director Li praised the "top to bottom" efforts of various departments. At least one miner, still blindfolded and supported by two colleagues, took questions from a CCTV reporter and thanked all who had helped in the rescue. (Embassy Comment: This camera-ready event was only possible because it took rescuers three days to pump out the flooded mine. Henan propaganda officials thus had plenty of time to get the leaders in place, and arranged in protocol order, before the miners finally emerged.) ¶4. (C) Wang said the live CCTV special coverage of the mine rescue is an example of government leaders taking advantage of media opportunities to show their concern for the people. Fei told Poloff that had the rescue succeeded the previous evening, Henan Television was prepared to interrupt its broadcast of the province's showcase, internationally-broadcast beauty pageant to go live to the mine. Fei indicated that because the pageant was hosted by top provincial leaders, the decision to preempt it had political significance. Fei insisted that such an act would have never occurred prior to the Hu-Wen administration. As if to confirm Fei's point, after all the miners had safely emerged, CCTV then switched to a news report on the BEIJING 00005069 002 OF 002 PLA 80th Anniversary Celebration in Beijing, which included both the current and previous Politburo Standing Committee members. In the past, Wang said, no program or news story, no matter how newsworthy, would have taken priority over an event involving the nation's top leaders. News of the Common Man -------------- ¶5. (C) Beyond the mine rescue, Fei and Wang offered additional background on the Hu-Wen administration's "media trend," which emphasizes the lives of common people rather than the day-to-day activities of Politburo members. This policy comes from the Central Government, they said, but is welcomed by local news outlets. Wang said the trend is closely tied to Hu Jintao's "harmonious society" concept, which, in Henan, primarily means increasing rural income through urbanization (Ref A). Provincial Party Secretary Xu Guangchun said at dinner with Poloff July 31 that his number one priority as Henan's top leader is to "put money in the pockets of the people." Henan journalists are thus encouraged to focus on pocketbook issues affecting ordinary people, Fei and Wang said. In this sense, Wang added, the media is still the "mouthpiece" (hou she) of the Party and Government. Fei predicted that in the next decade, China's media will increase its coverage of democracy issues in China. The media, Fei observed, has already stepped up reporting of grass roots democracy (e.g. village elections). Good News. Finally. But What About Mine Safety? -------------- --- ¶6. (C) After months of negative news, from food safety scandals (including the July 10 execution of the former head of China's food and drug administration) to revelations of slave labor in brick kilns (Ref B), to corruption (the expulsion of former Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Liangyu from the Communist Party was SIPDIS also big news this week),the mine rescue presented China's media with a much needed feel-good story. The high-level rescue made an impression on some. One person remarked in the Party-controlled People's Daily website's "Strong Nation Forum" chat room that the personal involvement of top officials in the rescue was impressive and may point to Government leaders carrying out the Party "work style." But not everyone was so impressed. Another post in the same chat room scoffed at the "excessive self-promotion" of Henan officials and expressed anger that a miner was forced to grant an on-camera interview before being taken to the hospital. The Beijing News also threw cold water on things with an editorial chastising the mine operators for continuing operations despite torrential rains. Citing official figures released July 10 that 1,799 Chinese miners have died so far this year, the editorial asked why successful mine rescues are so rare in China. "We can breathe a sigh of relief for the 69 miners," the paper says, "...but we can't be happy with the national state of mine safety." RANDT