InfoAnda - Microblogs in China government's fight to win public approval

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Katy Perry teams up with Missy Elliott for "Last Friday Night" remix | 6 August 2011
Afghan opium crop may rise after cash bonanza | | 20 January 2011
Drug war hits Mexico's richest city | | 9 July 2010

Wyclef Jean flying to Haiti to announce presidential run | 6 August 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Microblogs in China government's fight to win public approval

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Microblogs in China government's fight to win public approval Reuters - Thursday, March 10 Send IM Story Print Paramilitary police recruits take an oath in front of a Chinese national flag during a military rank conferral ceremony at a military base in Suining, Sichuan province January 28, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer By Sui-Lee Wee BEIJING - China's wary government is a world champion in internet censorship, but Communist Party leaders now want to master the trickier feat of actively shaping online opinion. The results so far don't match the zap and crackle of China's young, who have embraced microblogs as their latest tool for spreading information and opinions that can make Party officials see red. But there's no mistaking the Party's determination to reach China's 450 million Internet users. President Hu Jintao recently called the "virtual world" his next battleground, and the nation's Party-run parliament, now in session, has brought talk about how to win over or control the country's microbloggers. Hu recently called for fresh ways to "guide online public opinion," amid online calls for Chinese people to emulate the "Jasmine Revolution" sweeping the Middle East. "This is all part of the longer trend in more interactive governance," said David Bandurski, a researcher at the China Media Project at the University of Hong Kong. "To what degree this is genuine and impacts citizens positively, that's an open debate." For now, Chinese officials' efforts to connect online appear to be more patronizing and fusty than feisty. "Recently, a woman from a minority ethnic group wrote to me, saying 'over the past year, we local residents have gradually felt the warmth of unity and love'," wrote the party chief of Xinjiang, Zhang Chunxian, on his first microblog message on QQ, a Chinese social networking website, last Wednesday. Zhang -- the highest known Party official to join microblogging according to Xinhua news agency -- became party chief of China's far-western region of Xinjiang last April, about nine months after bloody ethnic riots in the province prompted authorities to shut down cellphone and Internet services. Zhang, who has gained more than 148,000 followers on his microblog, said it can "be used to promote the government's efforts in Xinjiang's development," he told the state-owned China Daily. It is not easy to gauge how effective the government's online propaganda strategy is because dissenting comments are usually quickly censored. However, one user, called Yangyang, shot back at the effusive Xinjiang party chief: "I don't think everything is as rosy." Many of the nearly 3,000 legislative delegates meeting in the cavernous Great Hall of the People have posted messages on their microblogs praising Wen's annual State of the Union-style report. "The prime minister reported that under the 11th Five-Year Plan, the country has undergone historic changes, people's living standards have improved significantly, the country's international status and influence have also improved," wrote ANTA Sports Products chairman Ding Shizhong, a delegate. "For the next five years, people will definitely live happier and more dignified lives!" MORE SUPPLE PROPAGANDA The Chinese government allows censored Twitter-like microblogging services -- known as Weibo -- on domestic websites run by companies such as Sina, Sohu and Tencent. More than 3,000 government organizations in China use Sina's microblogs, according to Sina spokesman Liu Qi. Experts say these numbers are expected to rise. "The government, in many places, has not won the confidence of the public," said Hu Yong, a professor of Internet studies at Peking University. "In many instances, their image has a problem. So perhaps by using the Internet, the government believes it can change these things." The move into microblogs suggests that the government sees the need for a more supple form of propaganda in the age of social media, said Bandurski. "The microblogs are a way to reach out and on one hand appear to be open and flexible and add a degree of openness and credibility," he said. Most Chinese critics of the government use virtual private networks to circumvent the Great Firewall to access Facebook and Twitter, both of which are blocked in China, which fears that they could allow the government's critics to organize. A government that censors so readily could have a hard time selling its message. "I think their noise is already too much," said Mao Yushi, one of China's most prominent economists and a critic of one-party control. "Even without Weibo, the radio stations and People's Daily are still talking every day," said Mao, 82, who started using a microblog three months ago. "What we need are different voices." Send IM Story Print Related Articles Harvard professor wins Turing Award AFP - 22 minutes ago Microsoft sells 10 million Kinect devices Reuters - 31 minutes ago US-TECH Summary Reuters - 1 hour 23 minutes ago Obamas take Facebook stand against bullying AFP - Thursday, March 10 Nokia Siemens delays Motorola purchase AFP - Thursday, March 10 News Search Top Stories Veteran US shuttle ends historic spaceflight career Wall Street tycoon driven by greed: prosecutors Egypt government warns of 'counter-revolution' Insurer Prudential eyes Asian growth after doubling profits Libya: live report More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Mass fish death in California harbor Lack of sleep can make you overly optimistic: study NASA scientists in row over 'alien microbes' Spider-Man comic sells for $1.1 mln Cathay Pacific orders 27 Airbus and Boeing planes More Most Viewed » More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Entertainment Photos Yahoo! News Network Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Thursday, 10 March 2011
Veteran US shuttle ends historic spaceflight career
Wall Street tycoon driven by greed: prosecutors
Carlos Slim tops Forbes' rich list, BRIC billionaires emerge |
Insurer Prudential eyes Asian growth after doubling profits
Libya: live report
Blast shuts down Iraq Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline: sources |
Nokia Siemens delays Motorola purchase
Iran aims to get to brink of nuclear arms: U.S. aide |
Nokia shares up after Symbian sales commitment
Bahraini Shi'ites protest against settling Sunnis |
Killing hardens opposition resolve in Yemen |
Men with rocks attack remnants of Cairo protest |
Saudi Shi'ites hold new protest in oil province |
Japan's new FM wants to deepen alliance with US
Asians, Latinos boost California population
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
NPR chief resigns amid controversy
Disappearing tradition: Najaf abaya makers in decline
UNESCO plans museum for destroyed Afghan Buddhas
From the streets to the stage, Yemen finds its voice
Danube delta reed: new 'in' roofing for luxury homes
Amid revolution, Egyptian designer still makes it to Paris
German hints will return treasured sphinx to Turkey
CORRECTED
Call girls, wives check into Marc Jacob's 'Hotel Vuitton'
Pakistani stocks end up; rupee weakens; o/n rates flat
Microsoft sells 10 million Kinect devices |
Obamas take Facebook stand against bullying
Nokia Siemens delays Motorola purchase
Online travel sites seek to ground Google-ITA deal
Microblogs in China government's fight to win public approval
Nokia shares up after Symbian sales commitment
Lady Gaga may sue over breastmilk ice cream name |
NPR chief resigns amid controversy |
Mel Gibson reaches plea deal in domestic abuse case |
Spider-Man musical overhauled, delayed again-report |
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
Adele spends second week at #1 on Billboard albums chart with "21"
News Singapore
News Singapore
EU and NATO to meet on Libya after raging battles |
ElBaradei says he'll run for Egyptian president |
News Singapore
News Singapore
Dalai Lama plans to quit as Tibet political leader |
Yemen president vows new constitution within year |
Mexican gang members charged in U.S. consulate murders |
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts with greater fury |
News Singapore
China and Russia drive growth in world's billionaires |
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
Charlie Sheen sparks new era of cyber celebrity meltdowns |
Sony promotes Hirai, possible successor to CEO |
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
LG Display says in 3D panel supply talks with Sony |
News Singapore
U.S. nominates first Chinese American as ambassador to Beijing
Facebook puts six on Forbes billionaire list |
Screening for all air cargo bomb threats faces tough deadline
News Singapore
U.S. stocks, oil price retreat
Home WiFi gives 30 percent slower connection: study |
News Singapore
U.S. lawmakers ask Facebook to block third parties’ easy access
Illinois abolishes capital punishment, governor commutes 15 death sentences
Space shuttle Discovery makes its last landing
South Florida mayor arrested on corruption charges
News Singapore
Oldest wild bird in northern hemisphere raising chick
US asks China to stop enforced disappearances of human rights activists
US on track to double exports by 2014: Kirk
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
Charlie Sheen sparks new era of cyber celebrity meltdowns |
News Singapore
News Singapore
Julianne Moore to play Sarah Palin in HBO film |
Lawyers in Charlie Sheen fracas lay out strategies |
Broadway's Spider-Man delayed, revamped again |
News Singapore
No script, no worries: Men in Black 3 shoots anyway |
News Singapore
Bath & Body Works sues over Twilight toiletries |
News Singapore
Documentary suggests sky not falling after all |
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
News Singapore
Surge in Arab protests expected on Friday in Gulf |
Gulf states prepare aid fund for Oman and Bahrain |
India's Hyderabad shut down as thousands demand new state |
Iran forces kill three people in clashes in west |
Rival factions snub Hamas unity offer |
Nervous Saudis ponder whether to join protests |
No proof of drug industry sway on WHO in pandemic: report |
Angola stifling democracy protests: Human Rights Watch |
AOL to cut 20 percent of global workforce: source |
Facebook puts six on Forbes billionaire list |
Angry Birds creators Rovio raises $42 million |
Online game company Zynga to double India staff this year |
Samsung targets Nokia Symbian developers |
50 Cent joins Gaddafi performance regret club |
Deathly Hallows highest foreign earner of Potter series |
Book Talk: Diamonds inspire Tolkien grandson's novel |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01