The newspaper opened the skylight.

Scholars Talk about Politics —— A Perspective of Xie Yong in Modern Journalism in China

First of all, "I can be a journalist all my life, but Wang Can can't be an executive dean all my life."

Since the 1990s, I have a feeling that the social status of journalists is declining. Although we don't have private newspapers in a strict sense, even in official newspaper organizations, the image of journalists in society is not as good as before. This is the sorrow of public opinion in China. There are few well-known journalists and journalists with high social prestige in the official newspaper industry since the 1990s, which is quite different from the situation in the 1980s. An important reason for this situation is that China has not yet produced a large number of famous journalists and newspaper reporters, and even the word "newspaper reporter" has disappeared. In a considerable sense, it can be said that without folk newspapers, it is extremely difficult to produce journalists with long-term vitality unless they have great courage to fight against a powerful society.

In the process of China's modernization, as an intellectual group, there used to be a "journalist group" among them. Although this group does not have a centralized program and political demands, as an intellectual "group", their influence and role in China's social progress may exceed that of writers or even scholars, or writers and scholars have relations with society through "journalists", which is determined by their professional characteristics. This group includes scholars in the late Qing Dynasty, students studying in Japan and Europe and the United States, from Kang Youwei Liang () to Hu (Shi) Chen (Du Xiu), and then to Shao Piaoping, Lin Baishui and Huang; After that, there were Cheng Shewo, Hu, Chen Mingde, and then Chu Anping, and it can be said that a generation of talents came forth in large numbers. Their political attitudes are different, their ideological tendencies are quite different, and their life paths are also different. However, when they are all members of the newspaper group, their basic value pursuit is consistent with their feelings for social justice. In the sense that the newspaper industry plays a role in society as a sound public opinion activity, their efforts will always be admired by future generations. This "newspaper group" has generally experienced being moved by strong beliefs and ideals and choosing a newspaper career in times of crisis. Few of them give up their conscience as representatives of public opinion because of official oppression. Almost all have the experience of struggling with the government, and all have the history of their own newspapers being sealed up. The history of Chinese journalism tells us that newspapers that have not been seized are not good newspapers! People should not forget that many of them have fallen into a pool of blood of various political oppression, and their life endings are tragic, but their ideals are cherished by future generations.

In the late 1980s, when Dai Qing first wrote a biography of Chu Anping, few people in the world remembered this long-dead journalist, including Cheng Shewo, Hu, Chen Mingde. However, after the 1990s, in all the literary works about liberal intellectuals in China, we frequently saw their figures, their works were republished, and their personality was respected again. How many politicians have disappeared, but the names of these journalists remain in people's memory ... Cheng Shewo once said in "Journalists of Our Generation", "How many executioners who shot Shao Piaoping, Lin Baishui and some journalists were not murderers? The day after Mr. Lin's death, I was arrested by Zhang Zongchang and announced for execution. He was saved by Mr Sun Baoqi. At that time, Zhang Zongchang killed people without blinking an eye, and that kind of power and prestige once made people shudder. However, for several years, when I was in Zhongshan Park, I always saw him sitting in the rain garden scratching his hands. He tried to talk to me many times, and I just smiled back. " Cheng Shewo also told the story of Wang Rangtang's suggestion to him after his newspaper stopped publishing in 1934 because he opposed Wang Jingwei's diplomacy of flattering Japan: "How can a reporter oppose the Prime Minister? Journalists always fail. It is better to compromise with Mr. Wang, and Minsheng Daily can still be restored. " Cheng Shewo completely denied his point of view. He said, "I can be a journalist all my life, but Wang Can can't be an executive dean all my life."

1948 During the period of July, when it was widely rumored that the National Government was going to close Observation Weekly, Chu Anping wrote an article entitled "The government's sword points to observation" in the weekly magazine published that month. In the article, he said: "We are willing to say frankly that although the government is afraid of our criticism, in fact, we are not even interested in criticizing this government now. As far as this magazine is concerned, in recent months, we have rarely published words strongly criticizing the government because everyone is already depressed. What else can we say? What's the use of saying it? Let's think about the government. If a government makes people lose interest in criticizing it, it will be sad enough! The poor government doesn't even know this, and it is still scratching its head to figure out how to seal the folk newspapers. It's pathetic and ridiculous! We are willing to tell all our friends who care about us here that we have ignored it whether it is closed or not. If it is closed, please don't feel sorry ... even if this small publication is closed, it is nothing in the national disaster! Friends, we should stand up, face the reality, face persecution and serve our country. If this method doesn't work, we can continue to work hard in another way tomorrow. "

Second, "it is better to form a party than to join the government, and it is better to form a party than to run a newspaper."

In the early forties, Ta Kung Pao published an editorial in the name of our colleagues. It said that "China newspaper" is different from other countries in one point. That is, newspapers in various countries operate as a big industry, while China newspapers are, in principle, institutions for scholars to discuss politics, not industrial institutions. "This sentence in Ta Kung Pao, the possibility theory, is the early source of this sentence" Scholars on politics ". Although Ta Kung Pao operates according to business, it can still maintain the true nature of literati discussing politics. It can be said that in the news tradition of China before 1949, the literati's comments on politics were the most precious wealth of China news.

There are several conditions for China newspaper writers to discuss the formation of political tradition:

1. Early newspapers in China were basically in the hands of China intellectuals with ideals. In other words, people engaged in this business at that time can't say that there was no commercial consideration, but this is not the main thing. Throughout the history of China's newspaper industry, if it is only for business, it is impossible for so many journalists to devote themselves to their ideals. Fu Sinian once said that many things in China were done by fools. Chu Anping was only thirty-six years old when he founded Objective Weekly in Chongqing. A year later, he went to Shanghai to start Observation Weekly. At that time, his personal living conditions were so good that he could have whatever he wanted. But he still wants to run a weekly magazine. His money was earned by joint stock, and his friend Lei Bailing sold his father's land investment in Sichuan to run a magazine. Chu Anping's idea at that time was "lose everything and close the door". His ideal is what he said in his letter to Hu Shi: "The purpose of our founding observation is to have truly impartial remarks in China and cultivate a little seed of free thought for the country." Nanjing also invited him, but he didn't even consider it. At that time, Shen, his classmate from Shanghai Guanghua, were both young and promising political forces at that time, but Chu Anping did not choose their path. His idea is: "Nowadays people are too eager to become famous and want to go into politics, but I think a promising person should have foresight, be sure, do his best and serve the country faithfully."

And Lei Zhen, who runs "Free China" in Taiwan Province Province. When he left the mainland, he was also a politically promising official. At that time, he was already the secretary-general of the old CPPCC, and Chiang Kai-shek valued him very much. But he is a man with ideals. When he wrote Free China, many friends advised him, and Chiang Kai-shek also advised him through people, but he still didn't turn back. Taiwan Province Province later embarked on the road of constitutionalism, which was inseparable from the efforts of Hu Shi, Lei Zhen and others. The efforts of intellectuals are slow, but in the long run, their efforts will not bear fruit. Zhang Foquan once said in the article Why Do We Gossip: "It is most practical for us to take more intellectuals as initiators and promoters of new politics here. I often feel that in recent years, society has easily forgotten the important role of intellectuals in China's political arena! The Revolution of 1911, the May 4th Movement, the victory of the Kuomintang and the anti-Jicha separatist movement were all promoted by elements who had received new education and training. I can see very clearly that the beginning of constitutionalism has no other way than being initiated by intellectuals. "

In the discussion on "Where is liberalism going?" in the1940s, Zhang said: "Although China has only accepted western culture for nearly 50 years, it has actually developed a so-called liberal mind in the ideological and cultural circles. This word can be translated as' practicing with a free mind', which is an attitude or style, that is, learning, looking at things, and attitude or temperament towards people, or a spirit. " Although this spirit is not too long, it has laid some foundations for it. Although it needs further development in the future, it can't be said that it has sprouted. "China modern news tradition is gradually formed in the hands of these people.

2. At that time, China society provided institutional guarantee for the survival of folk newspapers. Because from the late Qing Dynasty to the era of Beiyang to the national government, the tradition of private newspapers has not been completely cut off from the system evaluation. This can be proved by a large number of newspapers and publications. During this period, there were a lot of facts that newspapers were blocked, and journalists were shot and assassinated from time to time. However, the blocked newspapers can run again, and killing a few journalists did not prevent more ideal journalists from appearing. At that time, as far as the newspaper management system was concerned, it was generally a registration system, not an examination and approval system, which means that the government also recognized the people's right to run newspapers.

3. At that time, the society was dominated by private economy, with independent capital and relatively developed civil society. The advantage of non-governmental organizations is that they are relatively independent and enjoy great credibility among their peers, which can ensure the basic self-discipline of the industry. Its rules and procedures are not limited by ideology, but form industry customs and internalize them into professional ethics.

China is a rising modern country. Its characteristic is that imitation is far greater than innovation, especially in system, because everything has a ready-made style. Under such historical conditions, with the emergence of each new system, the value of choice is higher than innovation or choice is innovation. China does not have a modern news system in a strict sense, but it is precisely because of its good style that it quickly got on the track. The tradition of Japanese newspaper industry was influenced by students studying in Japan at first, and then by Europe and America.

In the past, people always criticized the news system at that time by opening the skylight with old newspapers, which was unreasonable. A person always lives in such words, and sometimes his IQ will become very low. The newspaper opens the skylight, which is also a kind of information in itself. I have to choose between opening the skylight and lying. I think most journalists are willing to speak frankly, rather than talk nonsense. This is common sense. Scold small gangs, which is a common language used to belittle Ta Kung Pao. Everyone says so, and seldom think about whether this sentence can be established. Ta Kung Pao is the pride of China's journalism history. It is also common sense that later newspapers can't compare with Ta Kung Pao. Needless to say. A flood occurred in Henan, and local officials embezzled relief funds. Wang Yunsheng published an editorial in Ta Kung Pao, "Look at Chongqing and Learn from the Central Plains". If nothing else, no one can do it today. People have said a lot about the history of Ta Kung Pao in recent years. Everyone knows what kind of newspaper this is and what kind of people it employs. Ta Kung Pao is a folk newspaper. In the years of its existence, it became the most successful newspaper of that era, leaving behind the tradition of literati discussing politics. This tradition is a good tradition. Fifty years later, I'm afraid the press in China is not qualified to ignore this tradition.

Ta Kung Pao is the practice of western liberalism in China. Although the Big Three of Ta Kung Pao were all students studying in Japan in the early days, they practiced liberalism in journalism and political philosophy. After they took over Ta Kung Pao, it was not easy for them to set the eight-character policy of "no party, no sale, no selfishness and no blind obedience", which reflected their expectation for independent speech. Ta Kung Pao is also based on people without party affiliation in employing people, but its history is sometimes intriguing. It is this people's newspaper, which has always been famous for its independent speech, that has produced many underground party member among its famous journalists and editors. This is a difficult problem in the history of Ta Kung Pao. It was recalled that 1942, when he was the editor-in-chief of Guilin Ta Kung Pao, he wanted him to join the Kuomintang, but neither Hu nor Wu Dingchang agreed. At that time, Wu Dingchang was the chairman of the Guizhou provincial government. He said to Xu Zhucheng, "It's better not to attend, not to join in, and it's more convenient to talk." Hu also repeatedly said: "running a newspaper should keep a certain distance from politics."

Hu and others have left many experiences for future generations in their own life's news practice. In the early years, I ran the National News Agency, and then I ran the National News Weekly, and then I ran Ta Kung Pao, which can be said to be very successful. We should pay attention to practice when we look at the efforts of an era in the news system. In other words, we should not only see the backwardness of news censorship in an era, but also see that there are so many folk newspapers growing in that era. Ta Kung Pao is a completely private industry. Those years have existed for more than 20 years, producing so many journalists and famous journalists. This is also the long course of the western news system in China.

1931On May 22nd, when the circulation of Ta Kung Pao exceeded 10,000, the fourth edition of that day published congratulations from many celebrities. Hu Shi's congratulatory message is "awesome after birth". He believes that Ta Kung Pao has surpassed Shen Bao and News, which have a longer history. Through continuous efforts, Ta Kung Pao has caught up with those old-fashioned predecessors in their fifties and sixties and ran ahead of them. It has not only changed from a local newspaper in Tianjin to a national public opinion organ, but also won the honor of "the best newspaper in China". As for the reasons for the success of Ta Kung Pao, Hu Shi believes that Ta Kung Pao has such a good honor only because she has accomplished two minimum newspaper duties in recent years: the first is to publish true news, and the second is to publish responsible comments. These two are the duties that every newspaper should do. Just because the junior high school newspaper didn't dare to do it, or refused to do it, or couldn't do it, and Ta Kung Pao actually worked hard and had a lot of success, so she became famous. Hu Shi also said: "A gentleman loves virtue, and we dare not flatter this hardworking child too much. We want him to understand that what he has achieved so far is not great, but what every newspaper should achieve. Just because everyone is making too slow progress, let him run to the front. In the dwarf country, you shouldn't be satisfied with yourself. Those of us who care about Ta Kung Pao should sincerely congratulate him on making further efforts and expect him to break the record of' the best newspaper in China' and occupy an honorary position among the best newspapers in the world. " At the end of the congratulatory message, Hu Shi asked three questions: "First, in this twentieth century, is there any civilized country that records news and comments in ancient Chinese that ordinary people can't understand?"

"second, in this era, a newspaper also depends on those shady novels that look at others to promote sales? Or should we strive to develop correct and fast news and fair and honest comments?

"Third, in this era, a public opinion organ should also stand in front of readers as a guide? Or should we follow the readers and listen to them? "

In modern China, there are ready-made examples of the emergence and practice of the news system. In Hu Zheng's hands, this newspaper is not only a famous newspaper, but also quite successful. If it weren't for the change of the times, Hu had the idea of establishing China Press Trust. He told his colleagues in Ta Kung Pao many times about his thoughts. During the Anti-Japanese War, he was able to set up newspapers in Shanghai, Wuhan, Guilin, Chongqing, Hong Kong and other places at a very fast speed. There are two traditions in China's journalism, one is Ta Kung Pao, and the other is Liberation Daily and Xinhua Daily. Only one tradition has survived.

Newspapers in China have a tradition of literati discussing politics, and its mechanism is that China is not a constitutional country, and the newspaper industry bears the responsibility of social progress to a certain extent, which is an unavoidable problem. Anyone who walks into this industry naturally has a responsibility. This is why intellectuals in China always use their words to promote national progress. In the late forties, Fu Sinian once famously said, "It is better to form a party than to join the government, and it is better to form a party than to run a newspaper." . The life of traditional intellectuals in China is based on merits, virtues and statements. Before the emergence of modern tradition, the so-called statement was generally embodied in books, but in modern society, the main way of statement has been transformed into the habit of literati discussing politics, which is naturally completed.

Three. "After that, the diplomatic situation will be made public at any time and notified to the whole country."

An important part of scholars' discussion on state affairs is about international issues. In China's modern news tradition, this is not a problem. On international issues, there are many experts and scholars in China, whose majors determine that when it comes to professional issues related to them, it is impossible for them not to speak. Because of the existence of folk newspapers, their voices can be conveyed. There has never been a voice in the international problems that occurred before 1949. The government has the voice of the government, the people have the voice of the people, and many voices exist. On the Sino-Japanese issue, the Sino-Soviet issue and Sino-US relations, not fade away is the voice of the people. The most famous example is that after the Yalta Conference, liberal intellectuals in China immediately issued a statement in Ta Kung Pao to protest against this agreement which was detrimental to China's interests. Such examples abound in the history of modern journalism in China. This tradition later disappeared, and international issues became a restricted area. In this way, the government can't get wisdom from the people, and those official experts on international issues rarely have their own independent opinions, and generally only provide maintenance suggestions for established policies.

Liberal intellectuals in China have formed an independent tradition, especially in the discussion of affairs by scholars. They usually choose a value-neutral attitude, do not rely on any party, and always stand in a fair position to speak for the public.

Hu Shi said in the introduction when he was doing the Independent Review:

"In the past few months, our eight or nine friends have often got together to discuss national and social issues. Sometimes we have a heated argument, and sometimes the discussion is quite consistent. We don't expect complete agreement. We only expect everyone to study the current problems in China with a fair attitude according to their own knowledge. So despite the heated debate, we always feel that this discussion is beneficial.

"We are now launching this publication, and we want to publish the opinions of several of us at any time as an introduction to arouse the attention and discussion in society. Our expectations for readers are the same as our own: we don't want unanimous sympathy, we just want some fair criticism and discussion based on facts.

"We call this publication Independent Review, because we all want to keep a little independent spirit forever. We don't depend on any party, don't believe in any prejudice, and express the result of our thinking with responsible remarks: this is the spirit of independence.

"A few of us have very limited knowledge and opinions, and our judgment will inevitably be wrong. Sincerely request social criticism and welcome contributions from all sides. "

In Chu Anping's generation, they followed the path of Hu Shi. In the mid-1940s, Chu Anping also said, "We think this is the most needed publication in China at present. Editorial colleagues have dinner once a week to discuss the control of each manuscript and pass on their own and foreign articles. I don't admit that our views, manners and interests are exactly the same, and I don't ask the other party to be consistent in everything. What we agree on is only our position and attitude of thinking and doing things. We can make an unreserved statement on a question, obey the opinions agreed by the majority, and the right still belongs to the author; In the meantime, it will never cause' personal emotions' problems. I also want to solemnly declare here that none of the words published in Objectivity can be regarded as representing the views of Objectivity or a group of our friends except those published in the name of our colleagues. Every word is independent, and the responsibility for each word is borne by the author. " Chu Anping has repeatedly stated that Objectivity is by no means a publication of a few people. It is absolutely open. As long as it conforms to its own position, it is willing to publish it, regardless of opinions and editors' objections.

The typical way for literati to discuss politics was the "Weekly Essays" in Ta Kung Pao at that time. 1 934 65438+1October1Sunday, Ta Kung Pao published a "special notice of this newspaper" in the form of binding: this newspaper strongly urged celebrities outside the society to write stories every Sunday this year. The position of weekly essay in editorial column. It has been agreed that the contributors are as follows: 1. Mr Ding Wenjiang; Second, Mr. Hu Shi; 3. Mr Weng Wen Hao; 4. Mr Chen Zhenxian; V. Mr. Liang Shuming; 6. Mr Fu Sinian; 7. Mr Yang Zhensheng; Eight, Mr. Jiang Tingfu.

Later, "Weekly" of Ta Kung Pao became a very famous column. The articles in this column are not only timely, but also of high academic value. The design of this column is related to Hu Shi.

Weekly Papers is a column with scholars as the main contributors. Without the contribution of an academic leader, it is difficult to run such a column well. Hu Shi played this role at that time. Although the Weekly Essay is a very inclusive column, and scholars have published articles in the left, middle and right, it is mainly composed of liberal intellectuals' comments, especially in the early stage, which can be said to be mainly the author of Hu Shi's independent review group.

Weekly Essay has existed for fifteen years, which represents the speech level and basic position of Ta Kung Pao, and can also be said to be the position of liberal intellectuals in China. At first, Zhang Jiluan was in charge of the Sunday Post, and then Wang Yunsheng presided over it. Stick to an article every week. In case of major news, or in case of early postponement, it must be published. It has strict rules, but it is relatively flexible. The editor-in-chief personally signs the contract, selects the manuscript and finalizes it.

Many political understandings of Hu Shi's life coincide with Ta Kung Pao. On many issues, it can even be said that the position of Ta Kung Pao is that of Hu Shi. At that time, Ta Kung Pao paid special attention to China's diplomacy, and they had a basic view on the country's diplomacy, that is, the diplomatic situation should be known to the people. Hu Shi agreed with this understanding of Ta Kung Pao. Hu Shi said: "Yesterday, there was a paragraph in the editorial of Ta Kung Pao that said:' Now the situation is even more tense, and (the diplomatic situation) should be made public at any time to inform the whole country.' I totally agree with this passage. ..... I think that not only the' after' diplomatic situation should be made public at any time, but also the' before' diplomatic situation and diplomatic documents should be made public on the same day.

"Why? Because most of the current events are the result of various diplomatic experiences in these two or three years. ..... So we must ask the government to officially announce all the negotiations and results that have caused the current situation, so that ordinary people can understand the extent of the national crisis and let a few experts carefully study how to save and make up. " Hu Shi said: "I put forward seven preconditions for adjusting Sino-Japanese relations last year. Over the past year, domestic public opinion has gradually admitted that those projects are the premise that must be done at this stage. (For example, the adjustment method in the first stage of Ta Kung Pao and Wang Yunsheng's three things to do first).

The modern news system was originally a product of the West, but when it was first accepted by China, it showed a strong affinity. Because it's a good thing, use it. At the beginning of last century, when China was in contact with the West, it successfully transformed three things: modern news system, modern publishing system and modern university system. These three things are well done. It is important that people who do these things first accept the concepts of modern news, modern publishing and modern universities. The core of this concept is its folk nature. In other words, in these three matters, the state cannot interfere too much and has considerable independence. From this point of view, it is not that there were no problems in journalism, publishing and universities in the past, but there were no fatal weaknesses. The original pattern of modern universities in China is state-owned, private and missionary universities. Now, this pattern has a strong modernity, is open, and is connected with the mainstream of civilization and progress. Mr Zhang Kaiyuan once said that China is the most successful western missionary university in Asia. Commercial Press, Zhonghua Book Company, Liangyou Publishing Company, Cultural Life Publishing House, etc. Their contribution is obvious to all. These successful precedents are supported by a large number of statistical data and corresponding facts.