Education is a subject of great concern. With the development of social media, there has been a proliferation of hot topic issues in the field of education, and at regular intervals there has been a stimulating news about education. Some of these news stories have received widespread attention because of the public interest at stake, while others have been controversial. For example, how can education equity really be achieved? Is the aim of education balanced or upward? Should the enrolment examination further enhance the autonomy of the enrolment unit? Should prefabricated vegetables be allowed on campus? ... These topics are either new issues that have emerged in recent years as a result of reforms in the field of education or “meta-issues” that accompany education. Their understanding and answers reflect the educational, developmental, humanistic and, to a large extent, educational practices and social mindset of a major educational power。
As a professional education journalist, it was important not only to focus on topical topics but also to take the initiative. However, the ability of journalists not only to run off, but also to combine information collection, interviews, analysis, judgement, writing and so forth, is required to be in the midst of complex public opinion. In recent years, in the field of education, the intra-china political interview office has strengthened its links with the education sector, authoritative education specialists and schools at all levels, continuously focusing on professional capacity-building, creating a more developed and effective reporting mechanism, building on experience and providing inspiration for better educational reporting。
I. Investigation of the important implements of enforcementing the health of the enjoyment
The general secretary of xi stated clearly in the 20 reports of the party: “education is the great plan of the state and the great plan of the party. The question of who to raise, how to prepare and for whom is fundamental to education.” these ambitious fundamental questions determine the nature and purpose of education and need to be answered continuously through intergenerational education practices。
To take the question of equity in education as an example: “equality in education should be pursued” is indisputable public theory, and there is no standard answer to how to achieve equity in education. The view was expressed that it should be achieved by strengthening compulsory education, that it should be achieved by strengthening lifelong learning for all, that equity in education required governments to provide the same education to all through the allocation of resources, and that equity in education meant that different people received education appropriate to their characteristics. As can be seen, these topics are broad-based and broad-based, because of their intellectual and theoretical nature, which makes it difficult to attract public attention in a short period of time and create breaking news spots。
In educational journalism practice, the more topical topics we encounter are the result of specific events. They come from a specific and subtle practice in educational practice, from a situation where people's lives are closely linked and instantaneously received widespread attention。
Since everyone is educated, everyone has relatives and friends, and everyone needs to be promoted through education, people naturally view education as their “right to speak” domain and are thus very active in the discussion of education. This has led to the often complex discussion of topical topics in the field of education, where participants are not superstitious about authority and “everyone can say a word”. Such discussions take place not only on the internet, but also in the daily interaction of societies, where journalists find it difficult to quickly capture the overall picture。
For example, the “reform of admission examinations” programme of recent years, the problem of student attrition, the problem of “prefabricated foods entering school” since last year and the problem of “ten minutes of class constraints” are all specific topics of interest. Given the number and impact of the participants, it is urgent that the media be able to explain, respond and act as a source of doubt and public opinion in an objective and neutral manner。
In addition, specific topics are discussed not only among the public but also within the educational community. In our day-to-day work, we have observed that both the educational administration and academic experts are very concerned about public opinion. The introduction and implementation of an ambitious new policy, which must have been widely discussed and piloted, and which had been given due consideration to public concerns, was by no means a product of course. In the event of a sudden situation, the authorities will be informed, consulted and advised. Of course, these initiatives are often not made public. At this point in time, the media's “bridge” “link” role is important, requiring journalists to interview quickly, reflect on the situation, incorporate public concerns and responses into news reports and try to bridge differences. The ability to deal with these topics reflects the cultivation and professionalism of education journalists in the runaway field and the need for the media to perform “adhesive” functions. From this perspective, there is a need for high-profile coverage in the field of education。
On 7 june 2024, students of zhang guimei who had left the examination were ready to return to school. Principal zhang kwai-mei has been on the entrance exam for 14 years since the students of yunnan river high school for women first took the exam in 2011
Ii. Bottomline requirements for reporting on topical issues in the field of education
Xinhua, as the party's press opinion centre, faithfully fulfils the party's central voice, ears, eyes, and think tanks, and has consistently asked journalists to explain the party's central policy through news reports, to reflect popular concerns and to promote social harmony. In the process, educational journalists in the internal political interview room of xinhua have been keeping a line of thought to ensure that hot issues are dealt with in a focused, quiet and talkable manner。
Not contrary to policy. We have focused our efforts on the central intent and advocacy of the hot news that parties and governments have clear policies and opinions. For example, in the “two-declining” coverage, we maintain communication with the authorities, strengthening policy interpretation through authoritative interviews, data presentation, front-line observations, etc. We have always stood firm with regard to some of the noises that appear in the course of the “two-declining” process, and have decisively directed public opinion, through responses, comments, etc., to sound the voices of the public and to respond to the concerns of the public。
Don't magnify anxiety. Education was of vital interest to everyone, who had a special interest in the subject of education. In the face of the educational anxiety that exists in some parts of the public, we have sought to “resolve” through press reports. For example, over the years, we have focused on initiatives such as co-organizing examinations, keeping them up to date and more open and transparent, creating a climate of harmony in the examination process, as well as pacifying candidates, parents and the positive role of journalism。
Don't exacerbate contradictions. In 2023, there were 291 million students at all levels and at all levels of education, and 18. 9178 million full-time teachers. These figures clearly reflect the fact that educational relations exist in many families and industries, and that the interests of all are at stake. For example, the issue of the “mountain university”, which has emerged since last year, is still essentially a question of educational equity and is neither new nor can it be resolved through several waves of discussions. A number of media outlets repeatedly reported on online statements, magnifying contradictions and capturing flows. We believe that the media must remain firmly committed to the right direction of public opinion and, if it is not possible to present constructive opinions for the time being, at the very least, not to fuel or exacerbate social tensions。
In the case of “prefabricated food to school” hotspots, which are spread in school canteens throughout the country, they relate to hundreds of millions of students and their families, on the one hand, and to an economy of trillions of class and one million jobs, on the other. (c) the high demand placed on journalists to influence neither students nor industry. It is because of education that we have always been “quietly” and “quietly”, with a few points that are not easy to judge。
It should be noted that the bottom line for reporting on topical issues in the field of education is also our well-reported “blasters”. Only if there is sufficient assurance that the news story itself is not broken will we be targeted and celebrated with a professional and mature mechanism。
On 6 september 2023, rudd (second left), the staff member pandro (first left) and the students came back from the lalita. The iwa-script teaching point is a “micro-primary school” in the town of quinteng, quanang bui hmong autonomous oblast, guizhou province, with 28 pre-school children and 6 first-year students, and the only author teacher at this school site, rue cheng. In 2012, rue cheng, a graduate of the university, took the initiative to take the test to a remote iwa-foot teaching site, where the former substitute teacher moved to work and was primarily responsible for logistics such as student feeding (sinhua journalist yang wenbin/sun)
Iii. Experience in resources of research in education
In reporting on topical topics in the field of education in recent years, the internal political interview room of xinhua has explored a more ethical set of mechanisms and processes. In response to some of the major bottlenecks encountered in the day-to-day work, five treatment lessons emerged, taking into account the salient features of topical topics in the field of education。
(i) how quickly to judge? There's got to be research
Professional journalists should be able to make preliminary judgements in the face of topical issues. The basic judgements include whether the topic is suitable for analysis in the form of news? Does the topic have the potential to spread? Are there authoritative findings
In terms of detail, too ambitious, professional topics are difficult to reach audiences and are inappropriate to respond at the press level; local, occasional hot topic is neither universal nor appropriate for national media coverage; and conclusive topics do not need to be studied from the outset, and material can be found from existing materials to be delivered more efficiently. Basic judgement will determine the journalistic value of the topic and help journalists to focus and maintain their strength。
For example, the state council's opinion on the promotion of quality development in the consumption of services, issued in july 2024, proposed the promotion of social training institutions to improve the quality of services in response to public demand. This initiative has been interpreted by some as a “scientific training that will be liberalized”, but journalists should use experience to analyse the strict implementation of the “diplomatic reduction” from the policy level to the practical level, which contradicts the current clear orientation. With a calibration of the door, we can quickly find the right experts from the data store and the best examples at the grass-roots level, and quickly and precisely complete the coverage. Such a “blitz war” requires journalists to interact more daily with the education sector, grass-roots schools, authoritative experts and have a basic understanding of educational policy and practice. When “research in normal times” has accumulated, journalists can quickly deal with more complex topics with experience。
(ii) how can the coverage be secure? You have to be honest first
When hot topic emerges, people tend to stand up for themselves and express their views on the basis of their own experience, but it is not appropriate for the media to take a lead. When isolated incidents are magnified and some hot topics are subject to analysis over time, journalists must remain calm and must not be “flanked” by the internet language, which does not pre-empt views. In addition to securing an authoritative first-time response, the press should always ensure that “the truth is spoken”。
For example, last year's popular issue of “ten minutes of class constraints”, which was discussed many years ago, why ferment? Any new information? We contacted the ministry of education for an interview at the first time and assisted xinhua's xinhua visibility project in launching, in a very short period of time, "no free movement except to use the toilet"? The 10-minute survey of school hours for some primary and secondary school students will highlight the phenomenon and clarify the concerns of all parties, giving the news the first point。
(iii) how to reach out to new topics? We need a break in the interview
In the face of a new hot topic, journalists must interview a wide range of sources and respond, to the extent possible, to the statements of authorities and eminent experts. This is both a requirement for the objectivity of the press and an expression of the professional competence of journalists. Only by taking as comprehensive information as possible can the nature of the problem be more accurately captured and authoritatively responded to。
Also on the subject of “prefabricated food for school”, xinhua journalists have consulted the ministry of education on several occasions and have repeatedly reflected popular and expert opinions to the ministry. To that end, the ministry of education has taken the initiative to provide an exclusive response and guide public opinion through xinhua。
(iv) how can the interests of all be balanced? Think of the whole thing
In our day-to-day work, we maintain the habit of “interviewing a few more experts” and “connecting several more ministries” to “respond to a few more views”. Only then will we be able to fully grasp the concerns of all parties and stand firm in the positions of the parties and the people。
With regard to the reform of vocational education, for example, we are well aware that the reform of vocational education is an ongoing and systematic project, not only in the education sector, but also in the context of economic and social development and public awareness. In order to ensure access to information, we have strengthened research on the situation of teaching staff at the grass-roots level, conducted extensive interviews with experts and worked with runaway journalists in the human rights sector to provide adequate coverage of the pattern of changes that have taken place in the country's vocational education in recent years, to publicize and interpret the changes in the field of vocational education in a timely manner, and to reflect the confusion and difficulties of reform at the grass-roots level. After a period of effort, the views of all sides were effectively communicated and exchanged, and our reports became an important channel of information and communication。
(v) how can the strengths of journalists be reflected? It's a reasonable art
In practice, we are increasingly aware that news is not self-expression, not academic papers, and that good news stories must be well-written. A more professional opinion, if it is not expressed in a popular way, will ultimately be difficult to reach the audience. Fewer documents are written in terms of language, less terminology, more short phrases, more concrete examples, “inside and outside”, which are simple and difficult to do. In particular, in the case of critical reports, excellent rhetoric, particularly reflecting the mental and writing abilities of journalists, can play a key role in shaping public opinion。
The most influential of the xinhua's series, “ten minutes of intercuracy”, is the review returning ten minutes to children. This piece, which is less than a thousand words, has always stood up to the audience during the validation process, using a wide range of arguments that can resonate with the audience, the soundness of the language, the resonance of the broadcast and the resonance of many readers. The ministry of education has also responded promptly to this comment, following its attention. In fact, this set of articles has worked closely together, in the form of a “fact-of-fact”—justification (commentation)—conclusion (advisory soundings)” to form a complete logical closed-down, beginning and ending, which has largely contributed to abating。
On 2 august 2024, children presented their paper clippings at the “seven color summer school” of the biwashan community on the street of the jianning city, shandong province. In order to address the issue of “care problems” during the summer holidays for dual-worker family students and children left behind in the countryside, the young communist party jeining city and the city district council have been carrying out a “seven summer school” voluntary initiative since 2016 (sinhua journalist guo tae-ray/sing)
Iv. Inspired coverage of topical issues in education
As the country's economy and society continue to develop, the desire of the population to “go to school” continues to rise, with more and more topical and complex issues in the field of education. In the face of new challenges to the new situation, we share the following three principles of reporting。
The first is to remain proactive and indifferent at all times. While topical topics are difficult to cover, they are not without space. The key is attitude. Journalists need to be proactive at times, without fear of any new topic, “to fight at once”, and to remain indifferent, in order to keep the coverage smooth and move forward, in an effort to keep the tone on track. It is in this repeated exercise that educational journalists in the internal political interview rooms of xinhua are constantly improving their skills, growing rapidly and being able to look at education from a more macro-level perspective and improve the quality of reporting in the entire field of education。
The second is to continue to improve the proximity of educational coverage with a consistent audience. Education is a life-saving area and a reporting area directly related to human warmth. Good educational reporting requires a “human face” and a “complementarity capacity”. This requires that we do not look at issues in a simple, non-logic manner when dealing with topical issues, and that we try to be as inclusive as possible. For parties whose interests are affected, journalists need to learn to think in their own right and offer more “emotional values”; and when making disclaimers, they need to be on the right track and be on the right track。
The third is to learn to look at issues from a development perspective and to examine each story with strict standards. As society develops, the hot topic of education is changing and our educational outlook is evolving. “educate the people well” is a spiralling process, and educational journalism requires a forward-looking vision. For new topics of interest, more observation, more interviews and more information about their direction, without coloured glasses. Materials used in the reports are checked and calculated repeatedly to ensure the use of typical examples, reliable data and sound language. In sum, in the face of topical issues, journalists must be restrained by strict standards in order to create a quality that can stand the test of time for each article。
