Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Flat Earth: Party mouthpiece

Raymond Whitaker
Saturday 04 April 1998 17:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

I WONDER whether Zhu Rongji found it embarrassing to be reminded by the newspapers during his visit to London of his arch exchange at a press conference with Sally Wu, the bubbly anchorwoman of Rupert Murdoch's Phoenix TV.

"I really enjoy watching her show," the Chinese PM announced, to which our Sally gushingly replied: "Mr Zhu, I just want to tell you that you are my idol, too." The whole thing was taken as evidence that Murdoch is beginning to realise his ambitions in China, but cosy relations between the leadership and the media are nothing new.

I remember seeing a nervous young reporter from the state network, CCTV, interviewing a Communist big shot during a party congress. They were standing in a park. In answer to the first question, the top man launched into what seemed to be a repeat of his speech to the congress.

On and on he went, and nobody dared interrupt him. The cameraman resorted to slow pans along flowerbeds, simply to get the endlessly-talking head off the screen, while the reporter's arm began to tremble from the strain of holding the microphone under his interviewee's nose. It must have lasted at least 10 minutes. With competition like this, it is not surprising that Phoenix TV is making inroads.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in