China State Television Faces Boycott for Brainwashing AudiencesTuesday, 13 January 2009, 12:37 p.m.
Dharamshala: Chinese intellectuals, including lawyers and scholars, have singed an open letter calling for boycott of state television news programmes and its website.Twenty-two scholars and lawyers, including signatories of Charter 08, said China Central Television (CCTV) has turned its news and historical drama series into propaganda to brainwash its audience. In the letter, the signatories vow not be duped by lies and say their fate will no longer be dictated by the “yoke and the whip.”The letter’s author, Ling Cangzhou, accuses CCTV for monopolising public television resources and turning its evening news programmes into propaganda.It says the state television significantly distorts reports of social unrest and riots, and whitewashed serious events like the recent milk contamination scandal. Terming the evening news as “Propanganda News”, the letter speaks critical of positive spin on domestic news and negative tone on international events.(Click here for full text of the letter)
