Feng Xiliang (1920-2006), managing editor of China Daily when it was born and editor-in-chief between 1984 and 1987, reflected upon the birth and growth of New China's first national English language newspaper in several of his writings. Below are some excerpts:
While China Daily was first published in the early 1980s, the founders of the newspaper were brave enough to apply new ideas and explore new areas.
Departing from "Chinglish"
For a long time after the founding of New China, due to the shortage of foreign language speakers, established foreign language news magazines and periodicals in China made it a rule that articles were written in Chinese and then translated into foreign languages. It was meant to "correctly express the original meaning."
However, the (translated) versions, often in hackneyed Chinglish, were difficult for foreign readers to understand.
To set China Daily apart from other Chinese publications, we insisted that China Daily reporters write and editors edit news, features and commentaries in English.
The initial success of China Daily should be attributed to the principle that all copies are written and edited in English.
Target readership
In the past (the years before China's reforms and opening to the outside world), China's foreign language publications had a relatively and narrowly defined readership of "leftists" or "readers of the Third World."
For China Daily, we work to draw in all foreigners in China. They include diplomats, business representatives, journalists, technical advisers and students, as well as the increasing number of foreign tourists.
While in China, these foreigners are eager to keep up with the latest developments in China's economy, politics and culture and learn about Chinese society, its people and customs.
Meanwhile, they also want to know what is happening in their home countries.
That is why China Daily uses foreign wire service stories and even devotes substantial space to Chinese and international sports news.
We also offer stock market information and provide bridge and crossword columns.
Photo editing
In the early days of China Daily, newspapers in China were usually filled up with black type. There were occasional photos of factories or machines, or people sitting in a line-up; and there were often of stamp size.
In contrast, we believe that "a photo is worth a thousand words;" and we insisted that photos speak. So we came up with the principle that photos must focus on people; that the images must be vivid and lively; that the photos capture the action; and that photos must be big and only big photos have the desired effect.
As a result, China established itself among domestic newspapers by its unique style of photo editing, and became a model in the news photo circles at that time.
Professional training
While China Daily was in its infancy, very few of us had working experience in a foreign newspaper.
We knew we had to seek help from our foreign colleagues to learn the latest practices in newspaper publishing.
We were lucky to get the much-needed assistance from the Melbourne Age, then one of the three biggest newspapers in Australia.
The Melbourne Age also sent three experts to Beijing to help establish the editorial, typesetting and composing procedures.
Jim Coltart, the then chairman of the Thomson Foundation based in London, also lent his generous helping hand. It enabled China Daily staff to visit the Bangkok Post to learn about its experiences and sent three experts every year to Beijing to teach reporting, newspaper layout, or polish stories at China Daily.
Meanwhile, China Daily was also able to send its young reporters to receive professional training in London.
Albert Parvin, the late lawyer who was based in Los Angeles, and his wife, Phyllis Parvin, also contributed greatly to China Daily. They established Parvin Fellowships at the University of Hawaii at Manoa for young journalists from China Daily as well as Xinhua News Agency to receive basic training in reporting, writing and editing.
Looking back now, I realize that we succeeded because we dared to adapt foreign methods to Chinese needs and never bothered to be fettered by existing practice.
Moreover, the success was due to the dedication of the professional editors and reporters, whose achievements and devotion are regarded as an everlasting treasure of China Daily.
Now that we have entered the new century, it is particularly necessary for us to carry on and develop this good tradition.
(China Daily 05/31/2006 page2)
