From China Media Project:
In [traditional Chinese] dramas, the face of Bao Gong(ÂåÖÂÖ¨) is always black. This black symbolizes justice and strength. Out of respect, people often call journalists “the iron-shouldered bearers of justice”. If journalists, then, were to don dramatic faces, it stands to reason those faces would be black.
In the grind of real life, the best journalists are all black-faced. Come sweltering heat of summer or the bitter cold of winter, come war or disaster, if news is happening they will run to it. Their tireless efforts, running from place to place, day or night, racking their brains, have blackened their faces.
If black-faced journalists become white-faced, something’s not quite right. Last month we heard that a reporter named Chen Jinliang (ÈôàÈáëËâØ), who we understand was utterly incorrigible, was sentenced by a court to a one year jail sentence plus two years probation for accepting bribes. If we painted a face for him, clearly we should give him the white face of the villain. [Chen was from China Food Quality Newspaper, more here].[Full Text]
