Being a government spokesperson anywhere in the world is no easy job. It is particularly the case in China, where there is legislation in place on government information release. Cai Wu, Minister of the State Council Information Office, appeared at a press conference December 29, to field questions on the latest development on building a spokesperson system and elaborated on the top priorities and future steps for the government in this regard. Questions and answers follow:
　　
　　China Central Television: At what stage of construction is China’s governmental information release system and are you satisfied with the developments in the last few years?
　　Cai Wu: I am still a newcomer to this process. It should be acknowledged that the Chinese Government has made notable progress in establishing a news release system and a spokesperson system. Today’s press conference is proof of this. Although it is the Christmas holiday, many foreign journalists have come to attend our press conference, indicating the importance you attach to our work. Further evidence is the findings of my recent tour abroad. My research showed that many reports on China from foreign media quote the authoritative information released by the State Council Information Office and local governments, which is encouraging for me.
　　In 2005, the State Council Information Office started to regard various forms of news release as the most essential part of its work. One example is that we stepped up the number of telephone queries of foreign correspondents and had received a total of 130 by December 19. Our responsibility is to guarantee that correspondents have easy access to information required.
　　All of the nearly 70 departments under the State Council, including ministries and directly ministered bureaus, have established news release and spokesperson systems, employing over 80 spokespersons. Of China’s 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, only four have not established these facilities.
　　As a young venture, the news release system still has some problems, which could be summarized mainly into three categories. First is the perfection of the system itself. Second is the need to increase the efficiency of releasing information. Third is the need to enhance the quality of spokespersons. Furthermore, we need to explore the broad topic of capitalizing on the news release system to communicate more effectively with media.
　　In 2006, the Information Office of the State Council endeavors to provide better services to media. One top priority is to let spokespersons themselves agree to pass on information to queries initiated by media in an effort to make the news release more regular and professional.
　　
　　NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH: Minister of the State Council Information Office Cai Wu speaks at a press conference
　　Phoenix TV (Hong Kong): Despite upgrading the system we still encounter chronic difficulties in accessing information and spokespersons immediately after disasters. What is the reason for this?
　　We have been striving to address this problem. I believe three factors cause this. First, our news release and spokesperson systems are still new and need time to become efficient. By all accounts, we don’t have much experience in releasing information through the channel of spokespersons. The situation will improve as we accumulate more experience in practice.
　　
　　Second, some accidents often involve very complex situations and the investigation of related administrations takes some time. The third reason is the structural faults. Different government divisions have their own areas of jurisdiction, while the investigation of complicated cases demands coordination and cooperation among different divisions. In the process, how to communicate with media in a timely manner is an issue we must address. Our goal is timely, accurate and comprehensive communication over all kinds of issues with media. The Chinese State Council has attached enormous attention to news release in handling emergencies and the drafted plan will be released soon. Local governments must also follow our lead.
　　Many journalists ask about the procedures to arrange an interview with a government department. There are no fixed procedures. We have instructed all government departments to set up permanent channels with media. The State Council Information Office has founded a media reception agency, which could in theory offer a 24-hour phone service to supply information.
　　I would also like to ask journalists to abide by journalism ethics and in the case of disasters refrain from writing stories based on guesses or that are one sided until the complete truth is confirmed. We would like to cooperate closely with media, which would help address problems and best inform the public.
　　China Business News: The implementation of the spokesperson mechanism varies considerably among different government departments. While some ministries provide around-the-clock call service, the phones of other ministries are rarely answered or it takes a dozen calls to get a question answered. What will the State Council Information Office do to alleviate this inconvenience?
　　
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　　We once again publicize the telephone numbers of the spokespersons for 69 central government agencies today. One thing worth reiterating to journalists is that not every call would be personally answered by a spokesperson. The title spokesperson refers to a crew of news release staff that works behind scenes.
　　Sometimes a spokesperson might be too busy to answer phone calls personally. Under some circumstances, some officials whom journalists want to talk with are either inexperienced at being interviewed or even fear interviews. Some of them may have previous experience of being misinterpreted and misreported by journalists, which left them in trouble. Efforts to avoid these unpleasant experiences should be made by both sides.
　　To improve the quality of spokespersons, first, government officials and spokespersons at all levels must attach more importance to the work of releasing news. The deeply rooted fear of dealing with media must be overcome and averted.
　　Second, news release strategies must be upgraded. We have to conduct preplanning for news releases to make sure what the government said is exactly where the public and media’s focus is aimed. In addition, the authority, precision and effectiveness of news release must be strengthened. Equally important is that we must better prepare and organize press conferences. The spokesperson is a demanding job, which requires the command of a large pool of information as well as a quick mind to locate the focus of concern and the best way of expression. Preparation for news conferences also includes technical support, including equipment for broadcasting live on TV and through the Internet.
　　What’s more, we must put more energy into the evaluation of news conferences and install a scientific evaluation system. In the process of evaluation, we can find our shortcomings, problems and thus improve our future arrangements accordingly.
　　I believe through our massive publicity campaigns, training, as well as pressure from the media, more and more government officials would be able to take the initiative to communicate with journalists. It has occurred to me that more and more government branches come to realize that smooth communication and exchanges with media would help their work in a big way rather than posing any barrier. In the future, journalists will be endowed with more opportunities to communicate directly with ministers and vice ministers. Of course, I hope journalists will understand when these officials are too busy to give an interview.
　　CNN: While exchanges between journalists and branches of the central government have been greatly improved, problems exist with information offices at the provincial level rather than in Beijing. Sometimes interview requests in the provinces are turned down either for the negativity of story lines or lack of interest in stories by local governments. Can regulations be amended to facilitate interviews beyond Beijing and guarantee more help from local information offices?
　　
　　LEARNING THE ROPES: Spokesmen from Zhejiang Province find humor in their training course sponsored by the provincial government
　　China has been committed to a comprehensive, broad and multi-tiered overall opening up, which, I understand, also guides the process of dealing with media. Broader and more comprehensive communication with media is what we have been striving for. In the case of local governments, the situation mentioned is mainly attributed to lack of experience in this regard. There is no regulation forbidding local governments from dealing with foreign journalists. However, China does have regulations over activities of foreign correspondents in China. As long as journalists act within the regulations, related government branches should offer help.
　　Journalist friends should be aware of the geological gaps in approach caused by different levels of opening up and development. For example, in the eastern cosmopolis of Shanghai, you might find it easy to conduct interviews you need while it is a totally different case in provinces of China’s heartland due to their lower opening up level and lack of experience. The solution lies in what I stressed just now: sound communication with foreign media demands that government officials, especially leaders, adopt a reform mindset to be more active in dealing with media, which would take some time. To address this problem, we have initiated the training courses for spokespersons. While we endeavor to have this problem solved as soon as possible, we also hope to offer possible help to foreign journalists who want to conduct interviews out of Beijing. Of course, our boundary is that journalists should obey Chinese laws. We can have good cooperation if this boundary is respected.
　　Caijing magazine: The legislation over the Chinese government’s news release has been under discussion for a long time. Has the Information Office of the State Council met with problems in concrete work without the law in place? Has such “flexibility” allowed local governments only to report positive news rather than negative news? Is there any mechanism to restrict the work of related government branches, or whether they would be asked to take legal responsibility if they failed to publicize necessary information?
　　As you may know, China has endeavored to implement the publicization of government information since China’s opening up in the late 1970s. In the past, our emphasis was more at the level of policies without related legislation. However, as the initiative of building a country ruled by law progresses, China is now engaged in enacting laws and regulations on government news release, which is part of the endeavor of publicization of government information.
　　In retrospect, when China undertook to build a multi-level news release system in 1993, it was in response to the concern of foreign correspondents and the international community. As the government news release system expands in scale and content, we realize that the perfection of the government news release system is an important content and means for satisfying the public right of access to information and developing democracy in a socialist society. Meanwhile, it is also an important measure for China to shift government functions, deepen government reforms and build a service-oriented government. Thus the current news release system has gone beyond satisfying media, but also is the requirement of building a socialist democracy and a harmonious society. The legislation over news release will guarantee our democratic governance, scientific governance and governance by law.
　　So far, there still has been no law regulating responsibility involved in news release. But I believe with the development of overall legislation efforts, we will step up legislation in this regard.

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