I agree with both comments above. I'm a journalist reporting on China and certainly try to be balanced. Chinese harp on the idea that western press is negative, biased and out to get China, but I do not think this is the case at all. Sometimes China shines as a great example (it is doing some amazing stuff in green technology these days). The country (and coverage about it) is not all bad but neither is it or should it be all good. That's what a free press is all about.
No, the Western media are not negative about everything. China receives a special place in their reporting, along with places like Russia. These countries don't receive fair coverage in the Western media, and most people in the West just don't realise how one-sided, and downright false, the reporting is.
"Foreigners often do not understand the greater context of the issues China faces" is just the typical Chinese response to ANY criticism. Of course foreign media are negative in their reportage of China... western media are negative in their reportage of EVERYTHING... it's not just China. Chinese people are used to "harmonious" and, on the mainland, propagandistic media reportage, so when they see the negative western stuff they assume a victim position and get all defensive.
I agree with both comments above. I'm a journalist reporting on China and certainly try to be balanced. Chinese harp on the idea that western press is negative, biased and out to get China, but I do not think this is the case at all. Sometimes China shines as a great example (it is doing some amazing stuff in green technology these days). The country (and coverage about it) is not all bad but neither is it or should it be all good. That's what a free press is all about.
nmadden 2 years ago
No, the Western media are not negative about everything. China receives a special place in their reporting, along with places like Russia. These countries don't receive fair coverage in the Western media, and most people in the West just don't realise how one-sided, and downright false, the reporting is.
shatov72 3 years ago
"Foreigners often do not understand the greater context of the issues China faces" is just the typical Chinese response to ANY criticism. Of course foreign media are negative in their reportage of China... western media are negative in their reportage of EVERYTHING... it's not just China. Chinese people are used to "harmonious" and, on the mainland, propagandistic media reportage, so when they see the negative western stuff they assume a victim position and get all defensive.
bailyrg 3 years ago