The following news report appeared on the website of Sichuan Daily on May 15 after the earth quake in Wenchuan area of Sichuan Province. The instructions given by Liu Yunshan shows the Party’s guidance to media covering the earthquake. [1]
Condolences and Instructions from Comrade Liu Yunshan, member of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee, member of Secretariat of the CCP Central Committee, and head of the Propaganda Department of the CCP Central Committee:
“In our province, earthquake relief work is at a critical stage. Comrade Liu Yunshan, member of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee, member of Secretariat of the CCP Central Committee, and head of the Propaganda Department of the CCP Central Committee, made a phone call to Comrade Huang Xinchu, member of the Standing Committee of Sichuan Provincial Party Committee, and publicity chief of the CCP in Sichuan Committee. Comrade Yunshan expressed his cordial regards to the media workers at the front line of those reporting on the earthquake, and requested media staff to enhance their political awareness, the overall awareness of the situation, their sense of responsibility, to be highly responsible to the Party and people, to firmly grasp the correct direction of the media, to uphold reports about unity, stability, to mainly focus on positive reporting, to put great effort into reporting that the Party committee and government at all levels are paying great attention to the earthquake relief work and are making timely, effective decisions and arrangements; vigorously promote various officials’ huge efforts at earthquake relief work and their touching stories; vigorously promote the heroic acts of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officers, soldiers, armed police, and public security police working in the front lines and not afraid of sacrifice; vigorously report the support from various places and their arrangement in effective ways; fully demonstrate the superiority of the socialist system with ‘the disaster at one direction and support from eight directions;’ sing soundly the major melody of uniting together, not afraid of hardships; work hard and provide the disaster relief work the powerful spiritual encouragement, media support, and ideological guarantee. Comrade Yunshan’s warm greetings and care has given great encouragement to all media workers who are participating in the reporting of the disaster relief work. This will surely and effectively push the media reports to play a more active role in guiding public opinion and giving spiritual support in the disaster relief work.”
Endnotes:
[1] Website of Sichuan Daily, 2008-05-15
http://sichuan.scol.com.cn/dwzw/20080515/200851504237.htm