Edwin Maher responds in the Beijing Youth Daily

The Beijing Youth Daily (北京青年报） has published a large feature on CCTV 9 anchor Edwin Maher in today's edition. In it, he addresses the most recent comments surrounding his profile in the Los Angeles Times.

"During the last four years, the Chinese media has changed a lot and is still going through changes. I think indeed that the door has opened more wide than before; it is more balanced and more objective when reporting sensitive issues."

Edwin became serious when I asked about his opinion on Chinese news reporting. He said, in essence, working as an anchor doesn't mean you can insert your own news or political point-of-view into anything you read in front of the TV anywhere in the world. The anchor's responsibility is to read news clearly and improve the way you read it, but the standpoint is decided by the executives. Edwin believes, whether in the United States, Australia or in China, every media outlet has its own standpoint and has to face criticism from others. This is something can not be changed. It is impossible to satisfy everyone, and CCTV is no exception.

During the last four years, the Chinese media has had lots of changes and is still going through changes, something which makes Edwin happy. For example, more and more political talk shows and those kinds of programs are being broadcast live. Different opinions and standpoints can be expressed.

在过去将近四年的时间里，中国的新闻界发生了并正在发生着许多变化。"我确实觉得中国新闻的这扇门正在开得更大，对于敏感事件的报道也更加平衡、更加客观"

当谈到对中国新闻报道的看法时，埃德温严肃了起来。他说，就本质而言，世界各国的媒体有很多相似的地方。在任何地方做主播，都不意味着可以将自己的新闻观点或者政治立场加入到播报中，主播的职责是清晰地播报内容，提高节目的播报水平，而新闻的立场则是由更高层的人来完成。埃德温认为，无论是美国、澳大利亚还是中国，所有的媒体都有自己的立场。同样，每个媒体也都要面对来自不同方面的批评，这是无法改变的。让所有人满意不可能，央视也不例外。

让他感到欣喜的是，在过去将近四年的时间里，中国的新闻界发生了并正在发生着许多变化。比如，现在很多时政访谈的节目也开始直播，让不同立场、不同观点的声音得以表达。"我确实觉得中国新闻的这扇门正在开得更大，对于敏感事件的报道也更加平衡、更加客观。"

Previously on Zhongnanhai:

Edwin Maher controversy - which side is more balanced?