Journey and Exploration -- A Collection of Broadcasting and Television Essays by Chen Qianian

Author: Chen Qiannian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features:
1. Breakthrough progress was made in the reform system, with the establishment of Dongfang Radio Station, Dongfang Television Station, and Shanghai Cable Television Station, forming a new pattern of five stations competing in good faith and mutually promoting each other. In 1987, the Shanghai Radio and Television Bureau had once implemented a "five stations, three centers" system, with significant institutional changes. However, at that time, the five stations were still just a large department with no autonomy over personnel, finances, or resources, and the mechanism had not been truly transformed. Competition was also heavily constrained, so this reform was still preliminary and incomplete. In early June 1992, the bureau leadership assessed the situation and seized the opportunity of Shanghai and Pudong accelerating reform, deciding to create two new stations from the two existing ones, making them independent legal entities to implement more flexible competition. They also conducted a public recruitment for station directors across the entire bureau to promote reform with practical results. A total of 25 people applied for the position of station director, actively supporting the reform. In the second half of the year, after approval from the Ministry of Radio, Television, and Culture and the Municipal Propaganda Department, two independent legal entities—Shanghai Dongfang Radio Station and Shanghai Dongfang Television Station—were registered in the Pudong New Area. These two stations operated under a completely new system, mechanism, program content, and technical equipment. On December 28 of the same year, Shanghai Cable Television Station was officially established. Practice proved that this reform approach was correct. The launch of the new stations was well-received by leaders at all levels, media peers, and the general audience, while also bringing about a new competitive atmosphere across the bureau. Shanghai Radio and Television Station began experimenting with enterprise management, reforming organizational and personnel systems and internal distribution mechanisms. Shanghai Radio aimed to achieve "new series, new programs, and a new structure" to explore reforms in broadcasting systems and programs. The initial results of the competition made programs more diverse and rich, with significant improvements in both social and economic benefits. Taking news programs as an example, Shanghai Radio's "Morning News" had an audience share of over 30% previously. According to a survey conducted after Dongfang Radio's launch, the audience share of the old station's "Morning News" was 22.1%, and Dongfang News was 20.5%. Together, they exceeded 40%, indicating that more people were listening to radio news and had more choices. Television was the same—according to a survey two months after Dongfang Television's launch, the combined audience for news programs from the two stations was more than double that of the single station in the past.
The next editing segment is a bit like a blind person stumbling in the dark. It requires considering the content while also ensuring complete and coherent expression, and controlling the length. We had to listen to a segment and edit it piece by piece, sometimes connecting several parts to form a single sentence. After more than two hours of editing, the final product was finally ready. What you are now hearing is a selection of five events chosen based on the leadership's feedback. Although the editing is not perfect, the feedback from all sides after the broadcast has been positive. Some listeners wrote in that this format was novel and distinctive. The reporters' personal experiences reporting on a day of the National Day celebrations made the audience feel as if they were there, as if sitting with the reporters sharing stories—intimate and authentic. Another listener said that the real-life stories were relatable and trustworthy, with a mix of narration and commentary that explored new people, new events, and new ideas. Others mentioned that the reporters' reports included scenes of giving up seats on buses, news about the Luwan District Personnel Bureau solving the problem of couples living apart, and reports on garment workers...