Editorials

Credible communication

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-07-01 07:52

As many as 11 departments of the Communist Party of China (CPC) central committee have appointed spokespersons to help promote transparency in Party affairs, but how exactly they will go about this task is the key question.

These spokespersons, who briefed the press on Tuesday, are expected to serve as a link between their organizations and the public. Yet, that does not mean they will facilitate effective communication badly needed to curb corruption and strengthen the Party's governance structure.

Related readings: 11 party spokespersons meet media together

The CPC central committee knows only too well just how important transparency and effective communication are to still misunderstanding and build credibility with the public.

Citizens will certainly not expect these spokespersons to smooth the communication process unless they desist from bureaucratic phraseology that is quite often full of clich and empty rhetoric.

At best, these appointments may be considered another superficial effort to airbrush internal democracy, which is definitely not something the CPC central committee would want. It is also unclear just how much leeway these spokespersons will have in talking about Party matters. Will they be audacious enough to say what they are not authorized to disclose?

In fact, what these spokespersons can divulge is something they will absolutely not have control over.

In this context, whether higher authorities will allow them the discretion of disclosing to the press details concerning a particular event or issue will make a big difference.

Appointing spokespersons is one thing, but allowing them to function as they should is quite another.

There is still a long way to go before spokespersons can truly start acting as a bridge between the Party and the public.

Hopefully, this time round, the CPC central committee is serious about its intentions.

(China Daily 07/01/2010 page8)