Chinese lecturer reveals secrets of controlled news

Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut in space, answers questions at a media conference. Photo / Getty Images

As the nation held its collective breath, China's first astronaut, Yang Liwei, floated back to the motherland, having orbited Earth 14 times in Shenzhou 5, or Divine Capsule.

It was October 2003, and the national broadcaster carried live coverage of the momentous event, from Yang's famous pleasantries in space - "I feel good" - to the instant the capsule door opened to reveal the pale but smiling face of a hero, offering irrefutable evidence the voyage had gone off without a hitch. Or had it?

In a lecture to journalism students last month, an official at Xinhua, the state news agency, said the mission was not so perfect.

The official, Xia Lin, described how a design flaw had exposed the astronaut to excessive G-force pressure during re-entry, splitting his lip and drenching his face in blood.

Startled but undaunted, workers quickly mopped up the blood, strapped him back in his seat and shut the door. Then, with cameras rolling, the cabin door swung open again, revealing an unblemished moment of triumph.

The speech was intended to help budding journalists understand Xinhua's dual mission: to give Chinese leaders a fast, accurate picture of current events and to deftly manipulate that picture for the public to ensure social harmony.

Xia's lecture included other examples of Xinhua's work, notably coverage of ethnic rioting in the far west of China last year that left nearly 200 people dead.

Xia said Xinhua concealed the horror of the unrest for fear it would set off violence beyond Urumqi. Rioters burned bus passengers alive, he told the class, and decapitated children.

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