People’s Daily recently published the full speech that Li Changchun gave at the Tenth Chinese Reporters Festival. Li is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party. He summarized the experience gained over the past 60 years: (1) Sticking to Party principles, always aligning with the Party Central Committee; (2) Always taking the “right public opinion guidance” as top priority; (3) Tightly combining the Party’s policies with the people’s thoughts; (4) Establishing a positive international “public opinion environment” by integrating internal and external propaganda; (5) Keeping up the reform of methods used to “occupy new battlefields” such as the Internet; (6) Enhancing and improving the Party’s control over media and making sure the media leadership is “tightly controlled” by the ones who are loyal to the Party.

Source: People’s Daily, November 9, 2009.
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1024/10338997.html

The Chinese Communist Party issued a directive calling for all to promote the establishment of grass roots party branches in the non-state sector. Especially, party branches must be established in non-State economic organizations where there are three or more Party members. If there are fewer than three party members, the party branches may be established by affiliating with the State’s chamber of commerce, trade unions, or trade associations. The directive emphasizes the appointment of strong leaders for the Party branches in the non-State economic organizations. “Party branches in the non-State economic organizations are important areas for party building. In recent years, there have been vigorous efforts at party building in non-State economic organizations, but overall this area is still relatively weak, and the coverage of Party branches is not as wide.”

Source: Xinhua, November 16, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-11/16/content_12470825.htm

Hu Jintao recently advised posthumously honoring Song Wenbo, Political Instructor of the Dongkou County Firefighting Group, Hunan Province as “Model of Loving People.” At the ceremony, at the Great Hall of the People, Zhou Yongkang stated that “(the party should) vigorously propagate Comrade Song Wenbo’s touching deeds and inspire the public with his heroic noble spirit” and wished that “his relatives turn grief into strength,” and that “his daughter inherit her father’s mandate.”

Zhou also started a campaign in the Political and Law organizations to learn from Luo Dongning and Yang Zhufang. The Ministry of Education started another campaign to learn from 15 Yangtze University students.

(Editor’s Note: Using a “Role Model” was a propaganda method from Mao Zedong’s era whereby a deceased person’s heroic deeds were exaggerated or even made up to create a perfect example for people to follow.)

Source:
1. The website of the Central People’s Government of PRC, November 8, 2009
http://www.gov.cn/ldhd/2009-11/08/content_1459507.htm
2. China News Service, November 10, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/edu/edu-zcdt/news/2009/11-10/1957518.shtml
3. China News Service, November 10, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/edu/edu-zcdt/news/2009/11-10/1957518.shtml