Chinese newspapers blowing their own trumpet

Since a year ago, readers of the Chinese press in Malaysia have not only been digesting official and mainstream news, they have also had to endure incessant propaganda in the Chinese newspapers.

The propaganda appears in various forms. For instance, the Exchange Platform of Sin Chew Daily and the Online with Chief Editor of the Oriental Daily News, initially created for communication with the reader, have turned into spaces for the dailies to blow their own horns. The columns are also used to attack their rivals at times.

These propagandistic writings often take up space and neglect the real needs of the readers. Such propaganda can even appear in the form of an interview, with the interviewee heaping praise on the revamp exercise and commending the excellent content of the newspaper.

The fact is the Chinese press is big on image but small on substance. More often than not, the so-called revamp is nothing more than a change colours or layout, and there is very little improvement in journalistic professionalism and quality to speak of. As a result, the revamp only amounts to a change in form but not in essence.

The Chinese newspapers that suffer from the narcissism syndrome include Sin Chew Daily, the Oriental Daily, and Nanyang Siang Pau. Because it has over-commended itself, the narcissistic Chinese press now finds it impossible to take in any criticism from the reader. If one wants to know how sincere the editors of the Chinese press are about serious and in-depth dialogue and debate with the reader, try submitting a critical letter in response to any feeble editorial, and see if it will see the light of day.

I welcome any of the narcissistic Chinese newspapers to reproduce this article. For those who are sick of the narcissistic behaviour of the Chinese press, you are welcome to forward this piece to your friends.