According to Xinhua, there are more and more “Internet News Spokespersons” represented by the local governments and departments. Government officials must not only learn “how to deal with the media” but also learn how to directly deal with the large population of Internet users and with public opinion.
Cao Yi, the Guiyang Municipal Government’s first “Internet News Spokesman” and the city government’s Deputy General Secretary, said that the announcement of authoritative information through the Internet is to enable the government to contact the netizens in “Zero Distance.” The establishment of “the Internet News Spokesperson” system aims at releasing authoritative information in a timely manner and guiding public opinions in the right direction.
Source: Xinhua, September 14, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-09/14/content_12050998.htm