China: Happy Journalist's Day

Yesterday (8 November) was the Journalist's Day in mainland China.

Chj-guangcha had a very informative post about the history of the Journalist's day (zh).

In summary:

It begins from the Old China and the day is in memorial of a reporter Liu Yu-sheng (刘煜生) who work in Jiang Sheng Daily 江声日报. He was prosecuted by Guomingdang on July 26, 1932 and executed on Jan 21, 1933 under the charge of pro-communist stand. Later, people found out that Liu was prosecuted because he had written investigative report criticizing local government involving in drug business by collecting “tax” from dealers.

The issue resulted in a serious of protest from Journalist assoication and campaign for freedom of press. In August, 1934, Hanzhou Journalist assoication proposed 1 of September as national Journalist's day.


In 1999, the present Chinese government reset the Journalist's Day as 8 of November in legal term.

Some bloggers with journalist background expressed their feelings in reticence.

In reaction to a latest notice by an official news bureau, Li Tian Lun wrote:

今天是记者节。我吃了一只苍蝇。

Today is the Journalist's day, I ate a fly.

Zhang Rou also has very complex feelings:

听说北京零下了,那么你们该穿上厚衣奔走在大街小巷才好;听说最近新闻管制的风声正紧,那么你们该更加谨慎理性才好;听说你们最近出了几条很牛比的新闻,把一些王八蛋们弄得鸡飞狗跳;听说你们把我当成堕落的理由,这让我不知该怎样伤怀才好!

记者节快乐!

I heard that Beijing temperature is now below zero, you should wear thick jackets before going out; I heard that the control over news is very harsh now, you have to be more rational; I heard that you had written some very great reports that kicked the asses of bad guys; I heard your complaint that I am the reason for decadence, I don't know how to express my sorrow.

Happy Journalist Day!

The China Media Project did a simple research on the buzzword among 180 mainland newspapers for November 8, came up with 62 articles mentioning “Journalist's Day”. The research has provide some background to the bloggers’ feelings. Five of the frequently used terms are: 1. Marxist View of Journalism, 2. Socialist View of Honor and Shame, 3. The Three Represents, 4. Guidance of Public Opinion, and 5. Harmonious Society.

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