China: “Journalists Are Not Enemies”

The Chinese civil service has told local officials in charge of public information not to judge journalists as enemies or subordinates, reported South China Morning Post, Hong Kong’s English language newspaper yesterday.

This newspaper quoted Deputy Director of the Information Office under the State Council Wang Guoqing as saying, “Times have changed,” during a seminar targeting officials in charge of public information in Chongqing last week.

“Local officials in charge of public information should set their top priorities to distribute information in a positive and timely manner instead of trying to cover up or avoid them,” emphasized Wang, stating, “News is pouring out from the inside and outside of the country everyday regardless of its importance.”

“When government spokesmen meet journalists, they should not see them as their subordinates, students, or friends nor judge them as enemies,” he said, and stated, “You have to treat journalists as challengers.”

Chinese officials generally cover up large events, such as disasters, and frequently block journalist access, worrying about being punished if the cases are made open to the public.

Some provincial governments leaders censored reports in advance even when the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic was spreading last spring, concerned that reports of SARS would lead to social unrest.

Yoo-Seong Hwang yshwang@donga.com