One of the best ways to analyze the freedom of a newspaper is to analyze its perception of the nation it supposedly serves. One hopes to see the entire spectrum in opinions pages. However, this isn't always the case, as three opinions articles from a leading Chinese paper depict when contrasted with opinions articles from the Washington Post.
China Daily writer Li Ling talked about nothing but the accomplishments of China in an Oct. 2, 2009 article entitled, “Great legacy of the first three decades,” written in celebration of the nation's 60th birthday. Sure, climbing literacy rates and increased school enrollment are great. But almost every sentence begins with, “The government,” crediting the nation's success to the pothat be. Ling places the government on a lofty pedestal.
That same day, Steven Pearlstein offered a powerful critique of American society in analyzing Michael Moore's newest film, “Capitalism: A Love Story,” for the Post.
Pearlstein agrees that the economic system that has upheld the U.S. for over 230 years is crumbling. He questions not only government, but the very economic fabric of American society.
On Sept. 30, the Daily's Eric Nillson attempted to explain why the Chinese love their nation so much in his article entitled, “Never a better time to be Chinese.” Nillson even says the world should “venerate” the nation's birthday along with the Chinese.
The Post, on the other hand, keeps a critical eye on those in power. In an Oct. 4 article, columnist David Broder analyzes the president's performance so far and urges readers to wait see how Obama will handle the campaign for healthcare reform.
“What are his chances of pulling it [his plan] off?” he wrote.
Broder places Obama under a microscope, not on a pedestal. Furthermore, he promotes dialogue, something Judith Andre advises in her essay, “'Censorship: Some Distinctions,” in Richard Cohen's book, Philosophical Issues in Journalism.
“One person's discord is another's vitality,” she writes.
Finally, the Daily's Orville Schell gives yet another idyllic picture of China today on Sept. 29. China's new government leadership has brought the nation to new heights, he says.
That may truly be Schell's opinion and it may even be true, but the bias of a paper is oftentimes revealed as much through what is absent as through what is present, Cohen notes. No articles clearly counter Schell in the archives.
Fear of government punishment is a ferocious driving force for media, as Andre says. With that rosy-red portrayal, Schell is safe.
On Sept. 29 in the Post, Richard Cohen (no typo) offers his own opinion on Barack Obama that's a little less favorable than the Chinese outlook on its own government. The president needs to stop campaigning and start working, he says. In America, the president will always be the most popular news beat, as Fred Smoller notes in his article in Cohen's book, “Network News Coverage of the Presidency: Implications for Democracy.”
The Daily's opinions pieces promote the government, while the Post keeps it in check.
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