A backlash against a state-media reporter’s coverage of the coronavirus shows that Beijing still faces a tough task selling its narrative at home
With the numbers of new Covid-19 cases in China dwindling, the country’s ruling Communist Party has worked both internally and internationally to portray itself as decisive and forceful in facing down the pandemic.
The outrage was sparked by Ms. Liao’s appearance at a news conference this month organized by the Chinese government’s publicity office, where she said she and her fellow reporters are “iron people” serving bravely on the battlefront against a deadly epidemic. The furor over Ms. Liao has flared into broader attacks on the Communist Party’s muzzling of the news media, even as President Xi Jinping sought to trumpet his government’s successes in containing the epidemic. Analysts say such outbursts suggest that Mr. Xi still faces significant public anger at the party’s initial missteps in handling the epidemic.
One of the articles, dated Dec. 31 and co-written with a colleague, repeated a statement by health officials in Hubei’s capital of Wuhan that they hadn’t detected any obvious signs of human-to-human transmission of a mysterious new pneumonia discovered in the city—an assertion later exposed as untruthful.
“Going to the most dangerous places and hearing the most truthful voices of ordinary people is our responsibility and calling as the party’s news workers,” Ms. Liao said at the briefing. “I think this is where our courage lies.”Shortly after Ms. Liao’s appearance, which was widely publicized by state media, some social-media users accused the reporter of bathing in glory while shirking responsibility for writing misleading reports that might have cost lives.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
China to expel U.S. journalists at New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street JournalChina says it will revoke the credentials of Americans at three U.S. newspapers in response to new U.S. restrictions on Chinese media amid recriminations over coronavirus.
Read more »
China approves coronavirus vaccine for clinical trials: state mediaChina has authorised clinical trials on its first vaccine developed to combat th...
Read more »
Beijing Kicks Out U.S. Journalists—Including From New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post—Amid Coronavirus TensionsBeijing has revoked the credentials of major U.S. media outlets operating in China—including from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post—amid the coronavirus tensions
Read more »
Chris Whitty: The man with our lives in his handsThe UK government's chief medical adviser has become the public face of the coronavirus response.
Read more »
Street food vending has been banned by the City of Los AngelesMany vendors may continue to feed people since they consider themselves a takeaway business, like the thousands of other brick and mortar restaurants that turned to takeout and delivery only (Via EaterLA)
Read more »