“There is no such thing, at this date of the world's history, in America, as an independent press. You know it and I know it. There is not one of you who dares to write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print.We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance.”
直至今日，美国没有一家独立的新闻机构。你我都心知肚明，没有一个人敢写出自己的真实想法，就算写了又怎样，你我都清楚不会被发表。新闻机构是幕后富人们的工具和爪牙，我们是提线木偶，他们拉线，我们跳舞。These words are commonly attributed to the New York Times’ former managing editor John Swinton in the 19th century. A scathing self-reflection of journalism for someone who held such an important position.这段话被认为是《纽约时报》前总编辑约翰·斯温顿十九世纪时说的，这是一位身居要职的从业者对新闻行业深刻的自我反省。Is the situation any different today in the Western mainstream media? They assure people they can be trusted, but is that the truth, especially when it comes to reporting on China?如今，西方主流媒体是否有所改观？他们向来标榜客观公正，但事实是怎样的？尤其在涉华报道中。Having followed countless stories on this topic, I have discerned at least seven widespread ills that plague today’s international media. I can borrow from the religious terminology “the Seven Deadly Sins,” namely: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth.关注大量涉华报道后，我发现了西方主流媒体有七大问题，在这里 ，我借用一下宗教术语“七宗罪”，即傲慢、贪婪、欲望、嫉妒、暴食、愤怒和懒惰。What do I mean? Let me explain one at a time. And I’ll do that in reverse order to peel from the more superficial vices to the core of the problem.何为西方媒体的“七宗罪”？我将按照倒序逐一解释，由表及里，层层剥开，直击问题核心。Let's start with Deadly Sin No. 7: Sloth. When it comes to China, it's somehow the norm for professional scrutiny to lose its vigor. 首先是第七宗罪：懒惰。不知为何，报道一涉及中国 （部分西方主流媒体）在专业审查上就疲软了。A U.S. news channel recently aired a photo as evidence that the Chinese delegation did not stand up and applaud after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke during a World Economic Forum meeting held in Davos, Switzerland. 最近，一家美国新闻频道在节目里播出了一张照片，作为证据表明，在瑞士达沃斯世界经济论坛上，乌克兰总统泽连斯基发言后，中国代表团没有起立鼓掌。The claim and the photo were provided by a U.S. Congressman who was being interviewed at Davos, to single out China for not sharing the West's stance on the issue. He even claimed, without being challenged, that the Chinese had blood on their hands.这张照片和这一说辞来自一位美国国会议员，他在达沃斯接受采访专门指出，只有中国在乌克兰问题上不认同西方的立场。这位议员甚至声称 中国人的手上“沾了鲜血”，而主持人没有对他提出质疑。However, it turned out the photo had no Chinese people in it. Instead, it showed Vietnamese delegates, including a Deputy Prime Minister. Clearly, it was a blunder, and the TV channel just accepted the Congressman's words about the photo, no questions asked.但事实是这张照片里并没有中国人，而是越南代表团成员，还包括一位副总理。这显然是弄错了，电视频道就这样接受了议员关于照片的说辞，没有提出疑问。Danny Haiphong: I think when it comes to China reporting, there just isn't follow up. There isn't real investigation. A lot of it is just based on misconceptions and preconceived notions of China and its society, its economy. It isn't based on real work."丹尼·海防：我认为（部分西方主流媒体）涉华报道中，缺失后续核查，没有真正的调查。很多报道都建立在对中国社会、经济的误解和先入为主的观念上，而不是基于真正的（新闻调查）工作。In a statement upon the request of a Chinese media, the channel said they regret the error and have reached out to the Congressman's office for a statement. How about doing that before the damage was done? 在一份应中国某媒体要求提供的声明中，该频道表示他们对这一错误感到遗憾，并已联系该议员办公室，请其发表声明。为什么不在损害（中国声誉）之前核查呢？By the way, I have yet to see any public apologies or corrections made on the matter by the channel or the politician.截至目前，我还没有看到该频道或这位政客就此事公开道歉或是做出更正。This was not the first time such a blunder was committed.When 39 victims died during a human-trafficking case in Essex, the UK in October 2019, some UK media speculated they were escaping the "Chinese regime" even before the victims' identities were confirmed. 2019年10月，39人在英国埃塞克斯郡的货车惨案中遇难。在他们的身份确认前，一些英国媒体便揣测这些人是为了逃离“中国政权”。“…that everyone inside this trailer was a Chinese national”“Just let's say they are Chinese nationals, just let's say they come from a regime perhaps…”“车里的所有人都是中国人，我们揣测一下，这些人是中国人，假设他们逃离一个政权……”Days later, it turned out they were all from another Asian country.Einar Tangen: They are stuck in stereotypes. They're still thinking that, you know, Chinese people are so poor that they're immigrating anywhere. That was true a long time ago. It's no longer true.埃纳尔·唐恩：西方媒体固守成见，直到现在还觉得中国人太穷了，穷到愿意移民到任何地方。很久以前有过这种情况，现在已经不是这样了。Danny Haiphong: It's assumed that if there is displacement, if there is poverty, if there is migration, then it must be, sort of harkening back to the error of Yellow Peril of the 19th century that it must be Chinese.丹尼·海防：人们认为，如果有人流离失所、贫穷或者移民他国，他就一定是中国人，这某种程度上重蹈了19世纪（极端民族主义）“黄祸论”的错误。