On independent journalism
Subject: Independent journalists vs. government censorship in internet age
At the beginning of this year, the journalists from the newspaper Southern Weekly – a liberal Chinese newspaper- stood up to the government’s censorship. It appears that Chinese authorities cannot neglect people’s desire for the truth any longer since the awakened citizen will lean against draconian censorship. As social media1) explodes and online-based small media emerges, we have tremendous channels to access news and communicate with one another. However, governments are concerned that this unprecedented freedom will threaten the existing political and social system, so they are seeking ways to control all media tools effectively. Advanced communication technologies have provided people with chances to access various news sources, at the same time it makes the governments diversify their control over media. Freedom of press should be guaranteed because only independent journalists can convey verified truth and watch the authorities properly in this world where contents are exploding unlimitedly.
The government might have to censor the media to protect the country from seriously harmful contents. There have been unreliable or malicious rumors among people and some of them, often related to politics or security, can seriously confuse and mislead people. A censorship might work when a country is in a special situation such as war. For instance, during the post-World War Ⅱ period, leaders of both sides would find it is necessary and useful to take over media to sustain their own ideology system. However, it is doubtful that a media control is necessary, or would be accepted by the public. A democratized society as a public sphere including online forums has a self-purification capacity. In many cases, when a malicious rumor or slender is being circulated, either the citizens or professional journalists investigate if it is true and judge. Hence, the rumors are burnt down eventually.
At the beginning of this year, the journalists from the newspaper Southern Weekly – a liberal Chinese newspaper- stood up to the government’s censorship. It appears that Chinese authorities cannot neglect people’s desire for the truth any longer since the awakened citizen will lean against draconian censorship. As social media1) explodes and online-based small media emerges, we have tremendous channels to access news and communicate with one another. However, governments are concerned that this unprecedented freedom will threaten the existing political and social system, so they are seeking ways to control all media tools effectively. Advanced communication technologies have provided people with chances to access various news sources, at the same time it makes the governments diversify their control over media. Freedom of press should be guaranteed because only independent journalists can convey verified truth and watch the authorities properly in this world where contents are exploding unlimitedly.
The government might have to censor the media to protect the country from seriously harmful contents. There have been unreliable or malicious rumors among people and some of them, often related to politics or security, can seriously confuse and mislead people. A censorship might work when a country is in a special situation such as war. For instance, during the post-World War Ⅱ period, leaders of both sides would find it is necessary and useful to take over media to sustain their own ideology system. However, it is doubtful that a media control is necessary, or would be accepted by the public. A democratized society as a public sphere including online forums has a self-purification capacity. In many cases, when a malicious rumor or slender is being circulated, either the citizens or professional journalists investigate if it is true and judge. Hence, the rumors are burnt down eventually.