Traditional media shouldn’t follow new avatar

SOME PASSENGERS occupying other peoples’ seats on trains simply refuse to budge even after train attendants and police officers intervene. Netizens have nicknamed such people “seat lords” on social media after videos of their obstinate behavior were uploaded online. The netizens have condemned them for their selfishness, impudence and lawlessness. Guangming Daily comments on Tuesday:

With at least five such “seat lords” drawing netizens’ attention within one month, traditional and new media outlets have given the incidents wide coverage.

But the question is: Do these people deserve so much media attention and time?

The media rarely highlights such small topics over an extended period. Are they doing so just to provide the people with a target to vent their anger? Shouldn’t the media, traditional and social both, allow the railway officials and police to deal with such unruly passengers?

There are many important issues affecting people’s lives at home and abroad that deserve the media’s attention. Since the media are the conscience-keepers of society, they are obliged to set a proper agenda to veer public opinion toward important subjects, and promote constructive discussions on issues of public interests.

The traditional media are important public resources. They should not surrender their position and ability to set the agenda for public debate to social media, as by doing so they would ignore the bigger picture of society.

If the traditional media outlets are excessively influenced by the topics trending on social media, they will not be able to work for the well-being of society.

The raw rice was so musty that its color had turned green and it was full of worms. And the frozen chicken’s production date was sometime in 2017.

After some children told their parents on Sept 18 that they were served “smelly chicken legs” in the kindergarten, the parents insisted on “inspecting” the kindergarten’s kitchen. And when the guards didn’t allow them to enter the kindergarten, they climbed over the wall and witnessed the nightmarish scene in the kitchen.

Surprisingly, other cupboards in the kitchen were stacked with normal rice. On Sept 19, the local food and drug administration said they had already sent the food for laboratory test. And on Sept 23, the local police detained the headmaster, surnamed Liang, who could face criminal charges.

In another kindergarten run by the same headmaster, the situation was equally bad. There were molds on the steamed bread stored in the refrigerator, the kitchen was as very dirty with cockroaches and worms moving freely around.

If Liang is found guilty, he could face long imprisonment and a high fine.

Musty rice produces aflatoxin, a highly carcinogenic substance which could damage the liver. Some parents have already complained online that their children suffer from liver ailments, which is yet to be confirmed. But the possibility cannot be ruled out.

What if the parents had not climbed over the wall and entered the kitchen? Did the local food and drug administration officials neglect their duties? These questions must be answered, so as to prevent similar cases in the future.

Special inspection of river source areas