【禁聞】《一個報人的反思》沒有說話自由

【新唐人2011年3月4日訊】最近,原《南方都市報》主編的程益中在香港大學發表演講,題目是《一個報人的反思》。他演講時,大陸網友從《新浪》等微博上為他直播。但是,中共官方卻明確要求所有媒體、網站,對他的這篇演講遮罩封殺。程益中到底講了甚麼?他又是一個甚麼樣的人,讓當局如此防範?

1965年出生於安徽的程益中是中國當代著名的「報人」,2005年他曾榮獲「聯合國教科文組織」頒發的“吉列爾莫•卡諾世界新聞自由獎”。

程益中曾參與《南方都市報》的創刊,以及《新京報》的主編。2月20號,程益中在香港大學的演講中,披露了自己對報紙終極價值的理解,那就是“監督掌權者、制衡公權力、落實知情權。”他一針見血的指出,“客觀、真實、獨到、獨立、公正、公開,這就是報紙的價值。”

在大陸上百家媒體中,1997年創刊的《南方都市報》後來居上,創造了一百四十萬份的每日發行量、十億元的每年廣告收入。程益中正是主要的幕後推手。而“南都”贏得讀者的喜愛來自它的辦報原則。

在演講中,程益中 說:“都二十一世紀了,嘴巴只有吃飯的自由,沒有說話的自由,但這卻是我國大陸的現實。”在這種體制中,程益中恰好看到了報紙的定位和潛在的商機。他說, “只要你辦的報紙,堅持獨立公正客觀的立場,不參與製造和宣傳謊言,不助紂為虐,不愚弄公眾,不掩蓋真相,你的報紙就一定是大陸最好、最成功的報紙!”

2003 年,“南都”率先報導了大陸「薩斯」的疫情;同一年,“南都”又報導大學生孫志剛遭收容被毆打致死的案件,促成大陸廢除侵犯人權的「收容法」。《南方都市報》真實敢言的辦報風格,使大陸讀者達到了不去上訪、不去法院,而是跪在報社門口喊冤的地步。

然而,程益中也成為當局的眼中釘。2004 年3月,他被當局以“貪污罪”的名義逮捕,但是他堅持不認罪。五個多月以後,廣州檢察院以“證據不足”將他無罪釋放。據香港媒體2005年對程益中“南都”同事的採訪,他被指控貪污的10萬元,是報社的獎金,屬於合法收入。

程益中在無罪釋放後,還是被迫離開了《南方都市報》和《新京報》,現在他是「現代傳播集團」公司的副總監,和《東方企業家》的執行總監。程益中在香港大學的演講中,深有感觸的說道,“一個人要幹多少壞事、要做多少惡、要處在多麼不義的立場,才敏感至此!脆弱至此!”

和程益中有相似經歷的前《中新社》資深記者、著名媒體人高瑜女士,在1997年也曾獲得聯合國的這項“世界新聞自由獎”。高瑜在89六四前夕,被當局綁架並關押了17個月。

高瑜:“直到現在中國也沒有新聞法,新聞自由沒有保障,他為甚麼現在不立法呢?就是它要限制新聞自由,一定要作為黨向人民專政的一個工具。這裡邊就很荒唐,因為新聞是要報導客觀發生的事情。

至今,程益中對自己的選擇毫不後悔。他表示,“為甚麼那些荒誕的、反智的、無良的、傷天害理的新聞禁令,還會得到貫徹執行,還有人買帳呢?我們應該團結起來,反抗!”

新唐人記者趙心知、王雨晴採訪報導。

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"Reflections of a Journalist" Didn't Speak Freely

Ex-editor-in-chief of Southern Metropolis Daily,

Cheng Yizhong, at University of Hong Kong,

made a speech titled "Reflections of a Journalist”.

Chinese netizens broadcast it live on micro-blogs.

However, the Chinese authorities have required

all media and websites to block his speech.

What was Cheng's speech about?

Why are the authorities so afraid?

Born in 1965 in Anhui Province,

Cheng Yizhong is a well-known Chinese Journalist.

In 2005, he was awarded

the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize.

Cheng participated in the founding of

Southern Metropolis Daily.

He also served as editor-in-chief of Beijing News.

On Feb 20, in a speech at University of Hong Kong,

he mentioned his idea of newspaper's value:

"Monitoring those in power, balancing public authority,

and implementing the right to information”.

He said incisively: "objective, factual, original,

independent, impartial, open –

that』s the value of newspaper".

Founded in 1997, Southern Metropolis Daily

surpassed hundreds of other Chinese media with

a daily circulation of 1.4 million copies and annual

ad revenue of 1 billion yuan.

Cheng was the main driving force of the achievement.

Southern Metropolis wins over readers

with its principles.

In his speech, Cheng said: "It is already 21st century.

Chinese people's mouth can eat freely,

but not speak freely. That's the reality in China.”

In this situation, Cheng saw the newspaper's position

and its potential business opportunities.

He said, "as long as your newspaper insists on having

an independent, impartial, and objective position,

not making and spreading lies,

doing no evil for the authorities, not fooling the public,

and not covering up the truth, it will be the best and

most successful newspaper in China!”

In 2003, Southern Metropolis was the first

to report SARS in China. It also reported the case of

Sun Zhigang, the student beaten to death by the police

in a detention center for not carrying his ID. The case

led to the abolishment of inhumane Custody Law.

Southern Metropolis Daily's bold style has led to

readers presenting their cases to its office.

Consequently, Cheng became the authorities』 eyesore.

In March 2004, he was arrest for "corruption",

but Cheng insisted on his innocence. Five months later,

he was acquitted due to "insufficient evidence".

According to Hong Kong media,

Cheng was accused of embezzling 100,000 yuan.

It turned out to be his legitimate bonus.

Cheng was later forced to leave his newspapers.

He is now the deputy director of Modern Media Group

and the executive director of Asian Business Leaders.

In his speech at University of Hong Kong, Cheng said,

"How much evil deeds and injustice one must have

committed to become so sensitive and vulnerable!”

China News senior journalist Gao Yu also received

World Press Freedom Prize in 1997.

Shortly before the Tiananmen massacre in 1989,

she was detained by the authorities for 17 months.

Gao: "Until now, China doesn't have a press law.

Freedom of press is not guaranteed.

Why not legislate?

Because it wants to limit the press freedom.

CCP wants the media to be a tool for its dictatorship.

This is absurd, as news should be reported objectively.

Cheng has absolutely no regrets over his choices.

He said, "Why do those absurd, anti-intellectual,

unscrupulous and murderous press bans

get implemented? We should unite and resist!”

NTD reporters Zhao Xinzhi and Wang Yuqing