Shanghaiist: Is China censoring bird flu reports?

Bliss

Thu, 24 Nov 2005 09:13:14 +0800

That paranoia exists because of poor communication (or no communication) of real information about what is really going on on the part of city officials. The earthquake rumor is floating around because of a number of earthquake preparedness drills that have been happen to have been promoted in the past several days. And the city is further on edge due to an initial attempt by city officials to cover up the real reason behind Harbin's suspension of the city's water supply. There is no better way to spark panic than by withholding information in a nation that is inherently mistrustful of its own officials. Agreed, international press (Americans love a juicy tabloid as well) loves hysterics and melodrama, but China has a long way to go before getting anywhere near this extreme as the country's own citizens are left to wonder (and grow paranoid) at the lack of real information and shifting stories when information really matters. Understanding the impact and extent of a nationwide problem (which continues to affect more and more of China) seems to matter quite a lot.

CCTang

Thu, 24 Nov 2005 07:18:12 +0800

By the way, didn't mean to suggest that the others were British, but I do think the Brits have mastered the art of shameless exploitive tabloid consumption. As a further note on this issue, have you already covered the paranoia spreading in Harbin about the impending "earthquake"? Ridiculous, right? But millions of $$ are already lost, and the potential for widespread panic still exists.

CCTang

Thu, 24 Nov 2005 03:41:07 +0800

Can you think of a more appropriate real-world analogue to crying "fire" in a crowded movie theater? (Who really *does* that, these days?) You read the Chinese press, and so you should most definitely be aware of the fantastic idiotic stories that are manufactured by bonus-seeking reporters. Considering the seriousness of the issue, having the daily rags manufacture the impact and extent of the spread doesn't spread the cause of media "transparency", it only spreads the cause of idiocy. Look, I know all of us are innately raised to believe in the superiority of our own system. But I've read plenty of British tabloids, and you'll just have to trust me on this: that system sucks, and we don't want any.