Partisan Media is old news but it's relevance in today's media is overlooked, not only within our own country but also internationally.
The uprisings in the Middle East has had it's effects on China. Since the uprisings Chinese communist officials have been on the defense to keep order. Today Chinese police and security have shown force in quelling a protest with a water truck at People's Square. China is an expert at using the media as a weapon to persuade public opinion by restricting what the chinese public views in the country. Chinese officials have used state-run media to deny any claims that their regime resembles those of the Middle East. They have also restricted internet searches relating to the uprising in Egypt, Tunsia. They even have warned foreign journalists about reporting any restricted news, it is also reported that they were physically attacked by Chinese authorities at the expected gathering and their camera's were confiscated.
The uprising was supposedly started by an unknown group overseas using a Chinese-language based website to get their message of starting protests against the government called the "jasmine rallies", on consecutive Sunday afternoons in cities across China.
This event is just one of many showing us how powerful the media can be but one must recognize that it is a double edged sword. It can be used to start uprisings but also used by the government to sway and control public opinion. Today majority of the people believe what they are told by the media.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/27/AR2011022700606.html?sid=ST2011022704220
