Neican
Encyclopedia
Neican are internal, limited circulation report
s prepared for the high-ranking Chinese
government officials.
According to Chinese news media
regulations, any matter that the media outlets believe would harm the image of the Chinese Communist Party or government, threaten social stability and unity, or other matters not suitable for open publications such as corruption
, social unrest, and larger business swindles should be reported internally rather than publicly. The neicans also serve to keep the leaders informed about the issues that are seen as too sensitive be reported and discussed in the mainstream media. Thus they are supposed to offer more realistic and less censored
version of events reported in mainstream media. They are often similar in form to investigative reporting, and are prepared by the journalists working for the official Party organs such as Xinhua News Service or People’s Daily. As such, much of the information collected by the Chinese mainstream media
is published in neicans, not in the public outlets.
Popularity of neicans has been on the rise in recent years, with some estimates suggesting a several-fold increase in the last decade. Some lower-level neicans have become profit centers for their publishers (such as ministries), which try to increase their subscription base.
Neicans have been criticized for being slow and inefficient. Often, they focus on information already available in the Internet
, but not in the Chinese traditional printed mainstream media, which is both censored by the government
, and in which self-censorship
of sensitive items is heavily encouraged. They are also seen as biased (produced by party members for other party members), often saying what the writers expect the superiors want to hear, and downplaying or omitting unpleasant news. As Hu Xingdou
, a social science professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology
, notes: "...there are some issues that even neican won't touch," for example, military affairs and high-level corruption.
Sometimes, the term neican is used to refer to restricted literature (books available only to individuals with certain clearances).
Awards can also be given out for those who write good reports.
Report
A report is a textual work made with the specific intention of relaying information or recounting certain events in a widely presentable form....
s prepared for the high-ranking Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
government officials.
According to Chinese news media
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
regulations, any matter that the media outlets believe would harm the image of the Chinese Communist Party or government, threaten social stability and unity, or other matters not suitable for open publications such as corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
, social unrest, and larger business swindles should be reported internally rather than publicly. The neicans also serve to keep the leaders informed about the issues that are seen as too sensitive be reported and discussed in the mainstream media. Thus they are supposed to offer more realistic and less censored
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
version of events reported in mainstream media. They are often similar in form to investigative reporting, and are prepared by the journalists working for the official Party organs such as Xinhua News Service or People’s Daily. As such, much of the information collected by the Chinese mainstream media
Media of the People's Republic of China
Media of the People's Republic of China primarily consists of television, newspapers, radio, and magazines. Since 2000, the Internet has also emerged as an important communications medium....
is published in neicans, not in the public outlets.
Popularity of neicans has been on the rise in recent years, with some estimates suggesting a several-fold increase in the last decade. Some lower-level neicans have become profit centers for their publishers (such as ministries), which try to increase their subscription base.
Neicans have been criticized for being slow and inefficient. Often, they focus on information already available in the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, but not in the Chinese traditional printed mainstream media, which is both censored by the government
Censorship in the People's Republic of China
Censorship in the People's Republic of China is implemented or mandated by the PRC's ruling party, the Communist Party of China . The special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau have their own legal systems and are largely self-governing, so these censorship policies do not apply...
, and in which self-censorship
Self-censorship
Self-censorship is the act of censoring or classifying one's own work , out of fear of, or deference to, the sensibilities of others, without overt pressure from any specific party or institution of authority...
of sensitive items is heavily encouraged. They are also seen as biased (produced by party members for other party members), often saying what the writers expect the superiors want to hear, and downplaying or omitting unpleasant news. As Hu Xingdou
Hu Xingdou
Hu Xingdou is a Chinese economist. He is a Professor of Economics at Beijing Institute of Technology, and is the founder of China Studies as well as various schools and 100 teaching posts and business management to guide the work of graduate students.-Additional source:**-References:...
, a social science professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology
Beijing Institute of Technology
Beijing Institute of Technology , formerly known as 北京工业学院, is a leading public, co-educational, national key university, located in Beijing, China. Established in 1940 in Yan'an , the university used to be administered by the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense...
, notes: "...there are some issues that even neican won't touch," for example, military affairs and high-level corruption.
Sometimes, the term neican is used to refer to restricted literature (books available only to individuals with certain clearances).
Awards can also be given out for those who write good reports.