Chinese, German journalists meet in Shanghai to discuss news coverage
- Source: Global Times
- [02:29 May 19 2010]
- Comments
He Chongyuan (second from left), vice president of People's Daily, delivers the keynote speech at the China-Germany Media Forum in Shanghai Tuesday. From right to left, Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times, Dr. Ingrid Hamm, executive director of Robert Bosch foundation, and Joachim Rogall, head of Robert Bosch foundation. Photo: Wu Gang
By Wu Gang
Chinese and German people may have developed the wrong impression about each other because of incomplete or twisted news coverage, journalists from both countries said Tuesday.
More than 20 senior journalists from the two countries met in Shanghai to exchange ideas on how to approach news coverage events differently, including the recent killing spree in China's schools and kindergartens, which have left more than 19 dead.
Chinese journalists, including top editors from major media outlets such as People's Daily, China Central Television, China News Service and China Youth Daily, agreed that freedom of the press and freedom of people's right to learn about events come with limitations since it's import to safeguard the country's social stability.
"The latest killing of the kids in the schools were apparently copycat acts of some upset people who wanted to take revenge on the society, and the media reports of the first cases definitely played a major role," said Zhao Zhongying, deputy chief of China National Radio.
Thomas Schmid, publisher and editor in chief of Welt-Group, offered a different view.
"I don't think stopping covering the tragedy could stop more crimes," he said, adding that the news would spread out anyway through the Internet.
Other leading German news outlets, including the Deutsche Presse Agentur, Die Zeit and Süddeutsche Zeitung, also offered their ideas.
Most of the German media believe that by reporting the tragedy as well as the plight of the victims' families and advice from authorities, more crimes could be prevented and people will feel safer, said Peter Limbourg, editor-in-chief of German TV channel N 24.
Chinese journalists said that the German media often picture China as a country full of problems, which could have shaped German people's views about China - only about 30 percent of German people have a positive perception about China, while more than 80 percent of Chinese people see German favorably, according to a recent survey.
As for freedom of the press, Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times, said such a goal will be realized one step at a time and described it as "nuclear reactor" and "not like a nuclear bomb that will blow off altogether."
The media forum, sponsored by the Global Times and German foundation Robert Bosch, was intended to build a face-to-face platform for news people to get a closer look at the other country's media industry and clarify any misunderstanding forged by the other country's media.
