Newspaper Review One

Date: 1st December 2008
Title: Super Cop on TV, bad cop on street
From: The Straits Time A10

Introduction of news:

China government tried to correct the sullied reputation of police through a reality-show contest. They will feature 60 officers on China Central TV and viewers will vote for their favorite policeman. By the end of the year, a panel will be deciding on the Top Ten Cops through the votes polled.

This show was introduced after a 28 year old unemployed Beijing man was executed for stabbing six police. The motive for his murder was because that a group of police had badly beaten and accused him of stealing a bicycle in Shanghai and he was seeking revenge. Instead of being seen as a villain, people see him as a hero. Reason being that this was what many of the public wanted to do ---- to kill the police. The police, instead of protecting the public, are bullying and oppressing them. An example was that two police officers were arrested for beating a university student to death.

Professor Yu Mao Chun gave a reason for these happenings are because that the China government treats these as public relations matter and not a law and governance matter.

Reflection:

In my opinion, I agree to what Professor Yu Mao Chun had said. If the government changes their perspective into various angles of the problem, it would probably be solved earlier, way before so many tragedies happen.

The problem would probably still persist on after the reality show. Consequences would probably get direr. It may probably lead to more violent acts from the police and the public, causing chaos and disharmony in their society. If news of their society being chaotic are published to the world, it will be probably add on to the downside image that many had.

The root of the problem is also not settled. The government is trying to change the image of police through a show which reality doesn’t reflect what is shown. I think that the better way of changing their image is to change the way the police treat the public, case suspects etc. They shouldn’t treat them like convicts or lower level people. They deserve a better treatment.

Moreover, convicts or lower level people should not be treated this way too. They should use benevolence to correct them.

I think they can have seminars or sessions for the police to trash out what they are thinking among themselves and also to the public, if possible. Then they can seek and discuss possible solutions in dispersing this reputation among the public. However, a lot of effort has to be put in as the image of the police is already deeply etched in the public’s mind.

Lynn