Chinese media, advertising, and urban life.

The May issue of Yanhuang Chunqiu contains an essay by Zi Zhongjun (资中筠) on freedom of expression and institutional reform. Zi is a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and is the former editor of American Studies Quarterly.

Her references to the relatively open media in the south (read, Southern Metropolis Daily and its stable of newspapers and magazines) are particularly relevant following the recent controversy over Southern Metropolis Weekly editor Chang Ping.

I don't have much interest now in studying certain formulations in leaders' reports. I have only one attitude: look at how they are put into practice. Sometimes, some statements are not workable. I remember a few years ago, a newspaper organized a symposium, around the time that "scientific concept of development" and "people-centered" had just appeared. I spoke at the symposium and wrote up an article based on that speech, arguing that "people-centered" had to include human rights. And I said that good slogans and good formulations had to rely on the healthy power of society to be put into practice. When the healthy power of society is suppressed, even the best slogans cannot be carried out. Later, I was unable to publish this paper anywhere. Someone said that leaders' fine words were "promises" made to the people. I feel that the statements made in their speeches aren't promises that are made good simply by saying them. For example, they say they'll give the people the right of expression, but in practice, the right of expression is controlled as it always has been. To this day I have not found earnest action taken to allow and support the the right of expression. Even the most open newspapers in the south are frequently given yellow cards. Whether or not there is free speech is a touchstone; there's no point to further discussion of democracy. We talked about democracy in the past, but it's never been carried out.