Jonathan Ansfield writes on the Newsweek blog:
We’ve all noticed how Chinese state media’s reporting faster, further and much more energetically about the earthquake — yielding some ironic moments. At one point in the middle of a broadcast Monday night, thanks to a forward-leaning onscene reporter (who no doubt thought she was just doing her job), the state television flagship nearly leaked data that was either not ready, or not fit, for public consumption.
Soon after 10 p.m., the China Central TV news channel was hours into live breaking coverage, a CNN-style propaganda function that’s only become routine since the Iraq war, but is still reserved for must-cover developments. The presenters in the booth in Beijing announced the death toll had surpassed 7,000, according to the latest official figures circulated among central government media. Next the presenters turned to a female reporter in Sichuan, and asked her to describe rescue efforts on the ground.
The reporter piped in that she had just gotten the latest circular from the State Seismological Bureau, and pointed out a “discrepancy” with the count her colleagues just given. But before she could say any more, a male presenter broke in: “Now, let’s not quibble over the exact figures.” Nothing more was heard on the subject. It was an awkward exchange.
