Happy Journalism Day

I had to find out via Shanghaiist that today is apparently “Journalist Day” in China – whatever that means. Not a word was mentioned about “Journalist Day” in my “newsroom,” but that could be that they were to busy gossiping and eating to really care. Plus they kind of know better than to give credence to this obviously superfluous holiday.
 
“Journalism Day” does seem like a bit of a cop out. Investigative journalism is risky and dangerous. While a reporter in the US could risk their repoire with a company or the government or a publication could risk advertising revenue, investigative reporters here risk their safety and lives to uncover the wrongdoings of corporations or local governments (but never the central government; never, never, never)
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While I haven’t necessarily tried to bring down a company, I still have had difficulties getting information that I needed for a story. People just didn’t want to share how much they had spent (wasted) on all those pretty Haibaos (the Expo mascot) littered throughout the city. And when a Chinese colleague tried to help me she even said they were wondering why we wanted to know this information. In her words “I don’t think this is a sensitive subject, but they seem to think it is.” Ah well, I didn’t want to devote a whole article to that joke of a mascot anyway.

I don’t know what the point is for “Journalism Day” but I don’t think it is to encourage investigative (or any kind of) reporter to search and try to dig out compelling stories, ask the hard questions and try to change or shape the dialogue for important issues. Nope, instead they just want us reporters to take that Hongbao and be grateful.

Here is another story worth a read.