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Outspoken spokesman gets kicked upstairs and away from the press
By Chang Ai-ling |
October 13, 2009, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WANG Xuming has many titles: publisher, TV anchor, blogger. And since his first book hit the market in August, author. Yet, he is mostly remembered as "spokesman of the Ministry of Education," a title he lost a year ago when he was shifted to a less visible position.
Wang was perhaps the most controversial spokesperson of China's central government agencies.
Unlike many Chinese officials, who prefer to keep a low profile, Wang loved to be in the spotlight and was not reluctant to express his opinions.
Some journalists joked that he seemed to be the second in charge at the education ministry after the minister.
In a country where people traditionally believe an official should be prudent, modest and reticent, Wang broke the stereotype in many ways, for which he was both greatly admired and detested.
A bouquet of roses stands on the coffee table in his office. Long withered, it was a farewell gift from several journalists.
"I received the flowers on July 18, a year to the day I left the post of spokesman," said Wang.
Among all government spokespersons, he was the one most criticized by the press.
But when he left, many journalists seemed to miss him.
His appointment last year as president of the Language and Culture Press, a small state-owned publishing house, was widely reported. Given the fact that he was only vice director of a department in the Ministry of Education, the huge public focus on his job change seemed odd.
Rare species
Journalists generally agree that Wang was unique among government spokespersons for his candor and truthfulness. They also remember that he never once replied "No comment" and never read out documents at his press conferences.
When Wang was about to take the post in the publishing house, he did not conceal his love of the spokesman's post. "I am in tearless grief," he said.
He also told the media to protect and cherish good spokespersons because they are "a rare species like the panda." His remarks reinforced public speculation that he was ousted from the post because he was too outspoken, and talked too much.
Yet, Wang said, he is a step higher in the cadre ranking.
As president of the publishing house, his position is equal to that of director of a department in the ministry. But he understands why many would think that he has been consigned to limbo.
Wang admits that some of his colleagues advised him not to talk too much, thereby jeopardizing his official career, but he says he knew what he was doing.
Even in his new post Wang cuts a distinctive and dapper figure. Wearing a checkered T-shirt, sporting a neat haircut and giving off a hint of eau de cologne, he argues that he is always open to criticism.
However, he cannot accept the judgment of some people that as a spokesman, he was unprofessional and crossed the line.
Legacy
"Some said a spokesperson should only deliver government policies and information and avoid expressing opinions. I do not agree," he said.
After his five-year tenure as education ministry spokesman, Wang left a legacy of quotes, all bearing the imprint of his character. Those comments frequently got him in trouble.
They have appeared on the Internet in a compilation titled "The Quotations of Wang."
For example, on the report that college graduates had difficulty finding jobs and some chose to work as pig farmers, Wang advised the media: "No need for such a fuss about it. If someone goes into pig farming after acquiring so much knowledge, he is likely to be a creative pig farmer."
On the complaint that some universities were charging high fees, he said going to college was "like shopping for clothes - there are clothes costing 10,000 yuan (US$1,465) apiece, and there are those costing around 100 yuan."
In contrast to mixed public views, Wang's performance has been appreciated by many Chinese scholars, who participated in training government spokespersons.
"Whenever journalists saw Wang, they expected to get unexpected news from him," says Li Xiguang, executive president of the School of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University.
(The author is a writer at Xinhua news agency.)
Wang was perhaps the most controversial spokesperson of China's central government agencies.
Unlike many Chinese officials, who prefer to keep a low profile, Wang loved to be in the spotlight and was not reluctant to express his opinions.
Some journalists joked that he seemed to be the second in charge at the education ministry after the minister.
In a country where people traditionally believe an official should be prudent, modest and reticent, Wang broke the stereotype in many ways, for which he was both greatly admired and detested.
A bouquet of roses stands on the coffee table in his office. Long withered, it was a farewell gift from several journalists.
"I received the flowers on July 18, a year to the day I left the post of spokesman," said Wang.
Among all government spokespersons, he was the one most criticized by the press.
But when he left, many journalists seemed to miss him.
His appointment last year as president of the Language and Culture Press, a small state-owned publishing house, was widely reported. Given the fact that he was only vice director of a department in the Ministry of Education, the huge public focus on his job change seemed odd.
Rare species
Journalists generally agree that Wang was unique among government spokespersons for his candor and truthfulness. They also remember that he never once replied "No comment" and never read out documents at his press conferences.
When Wang was about to take the post in the publishing house, he did not conceal his love of the spokesman's post. "I am in tearless grief," he said.
He also told the media to protect and cherish good spokespersons because they are "a rare species like the panda." His remarks reinforced public speculation that he was ousted from the post because he was too outspoken, and talked too much.
Yet, Wang said, he is a step higher in the cadre ranking.
As president of the publishing house, his position is equal to that of director of a department in the ministry. But he understands why many would think that he has been consigned to limbo.
Wang admits that some of his colleagues advised him not to talk too much, thereby jeopardizing his official career, but he says he knew what he was doing.
Even in his new post Wang cuts a distinctive and dapper figure. Wearing a checkered T-shirt, sporting a neat haircut and giving off a hint of eau de cologne, he argues that he is always open to criticism.
However, he cannot accept the judgment of some people that as a spokesman, he was unprofessional and crossed the line.
Legacy
"Some said a spokesperson should only deliver government policies and information and avoid expressing opinions. I do not agree," he said.
After his five-year tenure as education ministry spokesman, Wang left a legacy of quotes, all bearing the imprint of his character. Those comments frequently got him in trouble.
They have appeared on the Internet in a compilation titled "The Quotations of Wang."
For example, on the report that college graduates had difficulty finding jobs and some chose to work as pig farmers, Wang advised the media: "No need for such a fuss about it. If someone goes into pig farming after acquiring so much knowledge, he is likely to be a creative pig farmer."
On the complaint that some universities were charging high fees, he said going to college was "like shopping for clothes - there are clothes costing 10,000 yuan (US$1,465) apiece, and there are those costing around 100 yuan."
In contrast to mixed public views, Wang's performance has been appreciated by many Chinese scholars, who participated in training government spokespersons.
"Whenever journalists saw Wang, they expected to get unexpected news from him," says Li Xiguang, executive president of the School of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University.
(The author is a writer at Xinhua news agency.)
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