provide by Zhe Cui
New media use to be identified with citizen journalism in China, but not anymore. More and more traditional media, such as newspapers, TV networks and broadcast companies are starting focusing on using new media to promote themselves.
This means young people who work in the business have more opportunity than before. They have their understanding about the Chinese media system and new media. Oscar Cui, who works as a fourth-year producer of an online video show for Beijing radio station is benefitting, from the change.
Cui’s show, called “Broadcast Meeting Room,” features interviews with celebrities in the entertainment business. As a new media, there are a lot of change and competitions.
“There are a lot of similar shows at the same time, it’s hard for one show to stand up and be succeed,” Cui said. “As you know, China has serious censorship for media. But I don’t think it should be a problem for entertainment shows.
“My opinion about censorship is you can’t blame the censorship when you can’t make a great shows. If you do blame the censorship for your bad shows, I believe that even there aren’t censorship you still can’t make good shows. In other words, there are a lot of great show that are made under censorship, why can’t you? Of course, China’s censorship has its problem. However, as a creator, it’s necessary that people in this business start to face their own problems. Censorship is not that bad.”
Cui also has his own understanding of differences between China’s media system versus western media system.
“For example, cable,” he said. “In China, people basically don’t have to pay for their cable. I pay 9RMB per month for my cable, and I get almost 300 channels including HD channels. In other word, if you can afford a TV and your electricity, than you can enjoy your live with TV shows. It looks better than it actually is.
“‘Free stuff’ is always more expensive than ‘stuff with price’ in economy. Free means networks can only survive by getting advertisers. Networks have to work hard not for audiences but for advertisers. Therefore, TV shows are full of advertisements, and audiences are sick of all those commercials. It becoming a vicious circle. Sadly, people upstairs [managers] don’t get it yet. Even audiences themselves can’t accept the idea of paying for their cable. We still have a long way to go in China.”
