Chinese state media presentation is direct to the point, with active voice, and devoid of unnecessary stories compared to their counter part of the foreign media, which is full of political indifferent, passive voice characterized with feeling of negativism. To be fully informed one need to read both of them so to be fully informed.
Maybe is true to say the fear of the government has reduced the reporting reflected in Chinese media is pro-government. One can hear the government tone just from reading the article. In fact the reader especially from liberal nation would confuse the report to that of the government. Looking at the coverage of Mr. Bo Xilai case coverage in the media from China, it would be easy to confuse an article to a formal report from the Government (Xinhua). In fact, is there any difference from a Chinese ministerial statement and reporting from these state media?
Looking at the way of reporting in China it is easy to note that they uphold certain value, or they are protecting something. It is like even in time of calamity, and oppression, news that can cause political instability, they are avoided, mitigating aeration of negativity, instead tries to promote cultural exchange which in this case can be interpreted as suffocation of the truth in some quotas (Liang and Yanmeng).
In broad sense, the Chinese news coverage in one light may be seen as a way of developing China and in the negative light as degradation of the freedom of reporting the truth. In what may be perceived that media should be the voice to the voiceless, Chinese media goes against that fact. Instead negativity is focused on the accused and the reader of the news will clearly see that the accused is already condemned by the media. Example while reporting about Mr. Bo defense, he is described as “lashing out at the witnesses” (Wong).
Intrinsically, looking at Chinese mind according to these articles covering Mr. Bo trial, is obvious to see that the central purpose of Chinese articles, is promoting government views to the public example in the headline dated September 28, 2013, clearly communicated, “Open trials, sentences showcase China's volition in rule of law”, Clearly supporting the governmt (YanMeng and Jun) . It is like “bottle feeding” the public with government views. They are lame messages that even tries to thwart the defense of the accused and justify the government position on the matter. Maybe they are right in reporting the same but it becomes monotonous for the propagated news to be single sided, and openly pro government.
Over the coverage of the events it is astonishing to see that the Chinese media attacking the foreign media. As reported in China Vorce, they accused foreign media saying “They lack exact sources of information, make groundless speculations and feature critical remarks about China's political situation” (“China Voice: Why do rumors repeatedly arise in Bo Xilai incident? - People's Daily Online"”). It is absurd for the media to be a government machinery instead of champion of the populace who are the consumers of the news. Looking at the eye of a liberal, Chinese news articles are none other than governmental reports in disguise. Reading them one gets to understand what the government want but the voice of the accused is totally silenced.
While the accused may have been guilty, it would be too biased for Chinese newspaper article to show their biasedness against the accused. This condemns the accused long before trial because of public infiltrated perception. This clearly being projected as political wars against Mr. Bo, the Chinese report fronted the war against such allegation and watered the truth as personal crime that was justified to be punished by the law and parties discipline.
One can never know the whole truth while the only source of information is the Chinese newspaper because as articles have shown, they are one sided and lack credibility of being referred to as trust worthy because they will always defend the position of the republic of the people of China.
Maybe all blame should not be focused on the Chinese reporting but on the fact that media is ganged by the government in the name of promoting social unity and patriotism. Therefore complying on with the government view is a safer way of survival than going the opposite direction. The infiltrated fear may be the cause of these biased news projected from these media.
On the other hand, Western media is not perfect in itself. In their liberal way of reporting, it may cause worry to the Chinese. They are too critical in their reporting and spread a lot of negativism against the government and its machinery. While the government is trying to hide its “dark side”, Western media tries to expose it and making the trails of Mr. Bo, political related. Example even the headline speaks volume “At Bo Xilai Trial, a Goal to Blast Acts, Not Ideas” (Wong and Buckley). This does not clear the victim but shows the Chinese government motive in finishing those people opposing it. This is clearly seen as they show how the government is fighting all other media channels that report against it.
This is so because, the reporting style foreign media is centered on persuaveness and manipulation against political figures and government as opposed to the ones in China that oversimplify their message to fit the government propaganda. In other words, Chinese media talk as the government would talk and avoid adding information that may deemed as an amplification of negativism against the republic
The free media environment is the west is good for healthy society, different views gives the reader an opportunity to judge from the situation. The weaker side of these news is the fact that they do not care about the aftermath of negative publications. Truth should set people free and not entice people to war.
Foreign newspapers showed direct support to Mr. Bo, and thus they were biased in some way. Because the overall work of the new media is to inform the public, and not take sides. This was a short coming of the foreign media during the coverage of this events. Trying to totally demonize the government of China as perceived from reports clearly miss-directed the focus from the accused to the accuser. The reporting was majorly politicized, and the underlying statement was direct attack to the Chinese government (Edward and Anfield).
Reading from the Chinese government defense, they have a reason for trying Mr. Bo. But the media trying to express their support to the government shows a point of weakness in this media houses. They lack credibility to be considered trust worthy, unbiased and champion of the rule of law (Xinhua) .
Conclusion
In conclusion for one to get the truth of the matter it is important to read both of this newspaper articles, then judge critically. Because while the Chinese reporters are busy pleasing the government in the expense of the accursed, the foreign media is doing the opposite. This will require one to have deep insight on the fact. Therefore it is true to assert that though Chinese media presentation is direct to the point, with active voice, and devoid of unnecessary stories compared to their counter part of the Foreign media, which is full of political indifferent, full of passive voice characterized with feeling of negativism, to be fully informed, one need to read both of them so as to be fully informed.
Work Cited
"Supporters and critics of Bo Xilai rounded up ahead of trial - Telegraph." Telegraph.co.uk, 2013. Web. 11 Nov 2013. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10246975/Supporters-and-critics-of-Bo-Xilai-rounded-up-ahead-of-trial.html>.
"China Voice: Why do rumors repeatedly arise in Bo Xilai incident? - People's Daily Online." English.people.com.cn, 2013. Web. 13 Nov 2013. <http://english.people.com.cn/90785/7804100.html>.
Edward and JONATHAN ANSFIELD. "Log In - The New York Times." Nytimes.com, 2013. Web. 11 Nov 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/world/asia/bo-xilai.html>.
Wong, Edward. "Log In - The New York Times." Nytimes.com, 2013. Web. 11 Nov 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/world/asia/bo-xilai.html?_r=0>.
Xinhua. "China Voice: Why do rumors repeatedly arise in Bo Xilai incident? - People's Daily Online." English.people.com.cn, 2013. Web. 11 Nov 2013. <http://english.people.com.cn/90785/7804100.html>.
Jinan. "Bo Xilai sentenced to life in prison for bribery, embezzlement, power abuse - People's Daily Online." English.people.com.cn, 2013. Web. 11 Nov 2013. <http://english.people.com.cn/90785/8406344.html>.
Liang Jun, Yanmeng、. "Open trials, sentences showcase China's volition in rule of law - People's Daily Online." English.people.com.cn, 2013. Web. 11 Nov 2013. <http://english.people.com.cn/90882/8412926.html>.
