CINDY ZHOU, PRESENTED FOR THE THINKERY, OCT

BEING A JOURNALIST IN CHINA

AGENDA

I. Overview of China’s Media Regulation Landscape

II. Real Challenge: The Blurry Line

III. How do journalists get around in real life?

V. Discussion

Central Propaganda Ministry (CPM)

- the highest level of party agency for all media business and setting out

policy guidelines

- Central newspapers are mostly under direct supervision of the CPM;

Provincial newspapers under Propaganda Departments of Provincials Party

Committee “generally”

General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP)

- The press card/pass is issued

- GAPP also supervise the investment and operations in newspaper and

magazines

3

REGULATION LANDSCAPE

More than a dozen government bodies are involved in reviewing and

enforcing laws related to information flow within, into and from China.

State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT)

- Responsible for policy and regulation drafting and enforcement on TV/radio/film

- Central TV and Radio directly to Central SARFT, locals to local SARFT

State Council Information Office (SCIO)

- Digital media is under State Council Information Office the main Internet

regulation agency

REGULATION LANDSCAPE

Party LIU Yunshan

member Standing Committee of Political Burerau

Central Propaganda Ministry Liu Qibao Minister

Political Bureau Member

State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television

State Office of Information

State Council

REGULATION LANDSCAPE

General Administration of Press and Publication

NEWSPAPER MANAGEMENT

Editor

in

Chief

Deputy Editor

in Chief

Deputy Editor

in Chief

Deputy Editor

in Chief

Department Director

ie, Current Affairs

Department Director

ie, Politics & Legal

Urban News Dept

Economic News Dept

Financial Dept

Sports Dept

Entertainment Dept

Editors and Reporters

Editors and Reporters

Editors and Reporters

Editors and Reporters

Editors and Reporters

Editors and Reporters

Editors and Reporters

General Manager

Advertising

TELEVISION MANAGEMENT

President

VP VP VP

Channel Director

Channel Director

Channel Director

Channel Director

Channel Director

Producer Producer Producer Producer

Channel Director

Producer

Advertising GM

Producer

MEDIA “T YPE”

“Authoritative” Media

• Those directly under the central authorities -- represent the OFFICIAL voice of the Party and Central government.

• Their tones are followed by all media under “special” circumstances

“A Supplementary Media Group”

• Phoenix is a “grey” media group. Defined as “half-mainland, half-overseas”, it operates with more freedom.

• Based in Hong Kong with all its channels, magazines and websites landed in the mainland, Phoenix is getting increasingly popular and influential.

THE CHANGE…

China’s media is undergoing a process of commercialization, which some observers believe is leading to growing competition, diversified content, and an increase in investigative reporting by Chinese news agency.

Diversified investors

Market-oriented

Reliant on advertising

Global view

Bilingual reporters

Look for big/controversial stories and social slant

Follow the party line on political issues

THE BLURRY LINE

BLURRY

When will the

Restrictions

/Guidelines

arrive？

What will be the

Restrictions

/Guidelines?

How and Why

should it be

executed?

In my opinion, compared with strict but clear-defined control measures, the blurry nature of the restriction brings more challenges.

HOW DO JOURNALISTS GET AROUND?

The Time Gap

The Edge Ball

Individual Publishing

A CONVERSATION

12

freedom

Credibility

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

We are living at the crest of a communications

revolution. The no rules of marketing and public

communications are the parts of a much bigger

and incredibly important evolution.

Contact Me

Name: Cindy Zhou

Email: cindyzhouxinyi@gmail.com