Option B

The podcast discusses the issue of global media repression and the challenges faced by journalists in different regions. It focuses on the cases of journalists in mainland China, Hong Kong, and South Korea. Journalists in China face censorship, threats, and violence when covering sensitive topics. In South Korea, there are concerns about government influence over the media, leading to self-censorship and biased reporting. In Hong Kong, journalists face barriers and restrictions on press freedom. This repression affects trust in the news media, leading people to seek alternative sources of news. Media repression poses a danger to democracy and security worldwide, and it is important to support press freedom and independent media. Citizens should stand up to censorship and support democratic principles. Hello listeners, welcome to the podcast. Today we will secondatize the vital matter of global media repression. I'm your host, Tian Lun, and in this episode, we will immerse into the problems journalists encounter in different regions. We will be guided by our amazing guests. In the last decade, the global has become the ground of unprotected operation against journalists, and it takes many trying to succeed in this profession, while having to face censorship, threats, and avoidance. This problem, in a way, goes to the core of democracy as a free and independent media is one of the main competence of transparency and has accountability of those in power, while also forming a basis of enlightened citizenry. So, as to highlight the encompassing nature of this problem, I will do collecting the cases of three news consumers from various countries, mainland China, Hong Kong, and South Korea. Each one of them will later bring the challenges generally faced by journalists experiencing in their nations. The topic of media repression is the focus of this program. We will examine the effects of this issue on trust in news media. And then, let's restart. Hello listeners, welcome to our podcast. Today we are joined by student A. Thank you for being here. Student A, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background in consuming news? Thank you for having me. I am student A, a university student specializing in international relations. I am from mainland China and I have always taken interest in the world going on in our country, both locally and internationally. Excellent. Now, let's dive into the topic of repression of journalists in mainland China. What are your observations regarding the challenges journalists face in reporting the news? In our country, journalists in China face numerous challenges, including harassment, imprisonment, and even physical violence if they attempt to cover topics such as women's rights abuse, corruption, ethics, minority issues, or political divides. The government's voice about censorship or parachutes often refers to as the Great Firewall to monitor and censor online content, including news websites, social media platforms, and messaging apps. Oh, that sounds challenging for journalists in China. How does this repression affect your trust in the news media? It is definitely threatening. The repression of journalists in China and elsewhere serves as a reminder of the importance of a free and independent press in holding power to account, promoting transparency, and informing the public. When the journalists are unable to fulfill these roles, it can involve trusting the media and hindering the democratic process at the knees. It is important to critically evaluate sources and support media organizations that uphold journalistic integrity and transparency. Oh, it's understandable that you have seeked out alternative sources given the challenges faced by journalists in mainland China. How do you think the repression of journalists impacts society as a whole in China? Make up accountability with limited or no independent journalism to uncover the undoing of all jobs in the power accountable. There is a higher risk of corruption, human rights abuse, and other injustices going unchecked. Without a free press to investigate and report on these issues, there is less pressure of authorities to address them. Oh, thank you, Sun Wei, for sharing your insights and ideas about journalists in mainland China. Your perspective shed light on the challenges facing media freedom in your country. And thank you. Welcome back to our podcast. In our next segment, we are joined by Mina from South Korea. Thank you for joining us today. Mina, can you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your interest in Chinese news? Yes, of course. Thank you for having me. And I'm a student at a university that is majoring in sociology. And I have a deep interest in being updated about China's social issues and related human rights within my community and in the world. Fantastic. Now let's discuss the topic of repression of journalists in your home country. What are your observations regarding the challenges journalists face in reporting the news? Journalists in South Korea face a variety of challenges in reporting the news. Though the nature of these challenges differs, while South Korea has a democratic system, there are concerns about government influence over the media. Critics argue that the government exposes pressure on journalists and media organizations, leading to self-censorship or biased reporting, particularly on sensitive political issues. Like many media outlets in South Korea are owned by large companies, which can influence editorial decisions and cognition priorities. As you know, this concentration of media ownership can limit the diversity of perspectives, resulting in a lack of independent reporting, like many countries. Oh, that sounds like a complex situation for journalists in South Korea. How does this repression affect your trust in the news media? The oppression of journalists results into people losing confidence in the traditional source. A lot of people, including myself, tend to be superstitious when they see biased messages by the media. Interestingly, this situation has led to an increased trust in non-traditional news sources, social media platforms, and international reporting, to provide diverse points of view and catch up on stories that have been covered up. Thank you, Mina, for sharing your insights on the repression of journalists in South Korea. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Finally, welcome to our show. Now, we have a special guest joining us to share their perspective on the repression of journalists in their home country. Welcome to Student B. Of course, thank you for having me. I'm from Hong Kong, China, and I major in journalism. I have been a wide-reaching sponsor of media events around the globe. Not only do I read papers, online material, or social media, but I also pay attention to all that is happening in the world, the information and influence my media work. Oh, that's great to hear. Now, what are your observations regarding the challenges journalists face in politics? Well, unfortunately, journalists indeed come up against several barriers when protesting their repression in China and Hong Kong. Threatened press freedom with the world's prohibitions, seized violence, and the arrest of executive journalists. A wide-sensitive topic to investigate and question, won by a pro-Beijing entity, limiting independent reports to reporting. Foreign journalists are made structures for 10 or more reasons. Governments, monitors, and the censors are not safe. It's troubling to hear about such challenges. How does this repression affect your trust in the news media? It definitely has an impact on my trust in the news media. When journalists can't report in a free and stated manner, it will result in people having doubts and feeling about the information that is being forwarded. It comes to a point when I became doubting whether to read a news story, and the specific purpose or side effects and truths are being countered. Therefore, I learned how to look for alternative sources of news and perhaps re-evaluate each source for credibility before I make my opinion. Thank you for sharing your insights with us. It's essential to shed light on these two issues. Absolutely. Thank you for having me. Now, as we've been up-upshot today, let's revisit the ideas deployed by guests on the matter of media repression in the region. Moving to China, we have hundreds of stories about complex situations that journalists are usually facing with political interfaces, threats to personal safety in Hong Kong, and cyber harassment in South Korea. Finally, it's evident that media repression is a great danger to democracy and security throughout the world. Press freedom should be advocated for all times, and independent media needs to be supported to safeguard a free and informed society. I'm extremely grateful to have had you on this show. It's up to all citizens to stand up to censorship and fight for free press. Stay in the loop, act on your convictions, and as a team, let us support democratic principles.