From Chinese Press

Crisis and the role of journalists

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-03-22 07:56

Ever since the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, people in China have been debating online whether the Chinese media should have sent journalists to Japan, says an article in China Youth Daily. Excerpts:

Such debates are not new. There have been similar debates before, including the one when the Wenchuan earthquake struck in 2008.

But the debate this time is fiercer because some microbloggers say overseas journalists in the disaster-struck areas face many difficulties. Besides, some Chinese media outlets have been asked not to send journalists to Japan, because all relevant information is available online, or to send journalists who can speak Japanese.

Since NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) is releasing information round the clock in five different languages, including Chinese, is it really necessary for a journalist to be "on the spot" to get the "real story"? Besides, can Chinese reporters who don't speak Japanese know what exactly is going on even if they are in Japan?

But despite all this there is a distinct advantage for media outlets to have journalists on the spot. A Hong Kong-based journalist reporting from Japan has been drawing a lot of attraction despite not knowing Japanese. This shows that people appreciate professionalism.

Another reason why it is important to have Chinese journalists in Japan is that Chinese people need information from their point of view, for example, the condition of Chinese citizens in Japan. The information available on the Internet, after all, cannot be trusted in their entirety.

Therefore, the importance of having journalists on the spot is important even in the age of the Internet. But journalists have to be professional and objective in their work, and report the truth.

(China Daily 03/22/2011 page9)