New Culture View
April 22, 2008

Li Ou (李鸥), a journalist-turned mayor is on today's front page of New Culture View. In an interview with the newspaper, Li talked about his double identity as both a government official and a popular blogger.

Li's bio shows that he was once a journalist of China Radio International and vice chief editor of a newspaper. His other previous job titles include: vice director of the Anti-SARS office of SARFT, vice director of the spiritual civilization association of SARFT, Secretary of the Youth League of SAFRT.

His current title is vice mayor of Siping (四平), Jilin Province. What is not on the list is that he is quite well-known in the Chinese blogsphere.

Speaking of his blog, Li said his parents used to be very concerned that blogging might cause him trouble, but Li ensured them that "China is a very enlightened country." To prove his point, Li said he once put up a post criticizing the website of the People's Daily which is also his blog host, and "the post was published without problem." (China's main blog severs habitually delete blog posts on sensitive issues.)

Li said it proved that "even the People's Daily website is very democratic and open and China has made great progress in term of freedom of speech". Also, trying to show himself an example of progress, Li said he would never delete comments to his posts.

Despite the progress Li was talking about, blogging for a Chinese government official takes more than time and interest. Most blogs by officials have been criticized as tokens with no substance and some are said to be written by the officials' secretaries. The officials' unpreparedness to be criticised poses another problem: online criticism has no mercy on the officials' idiocy and takes every chance to make fools of them.

Recently another cadre blogger, Liao Xinbo (廖新波), the vice director of health department of Guangdong Province unwittingly put up a photo showing a subordinate holding an umbrella for him. This caused quite a bit controversy. Earlier Liao's criticisms of China's medical service caused resentment from both doctors and patients.

Li Ou has avoided such problems. His media background probably helps him strike a delicate balance between political correctness and outspokenness and directness that sits well with the online public.

When asked how he finds the time to update his bog frequently and still perform his duties as a mayor. Li answered that ”One fewer big dinner will give you plenty of time. I prefer reading and writing to socializing". The implication of course is that Chinese official's night life includes too much drinking and too much networking.

Li said that he wanted use his blog to draw more attention to Siping city. But he started long before he became vice mayor of Siping in July 2007. So far, he has hardly taken up any local issues on his blog. Unlike his colleagues, his job in Siping city is temporary, as a "temporary cadre" (挂职干部). Once his two year posting in Siping ends, he will return to SARFT.

• Xinhua (Chinese): Government officials hire people to blog for them
• Li Ou's blog (Chinese)
• Liao Xinbo's blog (Chinese)