Freedom of Information with Chinese Characteristics

In early September, China’s government released a set of rules regulating foreign news information.  Reading like legal code, the set of rules are stipulated in 22 articles, articulating the general parameters that foreign news agencies are to work within when releasing information in China.  Originally, foreign news agencies could sell and distribute information directly to the end user; now, agencies wishing to do business in China need to apply and seek approval from the conduit of the Chinese national news agency, Xinhua News Agency.   Many major news agencies, especially those involving financial news reporting are concerned about the practical implications of such regulations.  What these new rules will hold for news and information flow is yet to be seen. 
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Contributor: Brad Burgess, senior associate, Weber Shandwick
bburgess@webershandwick.com

Corporate Reputation and CSR: Beyond Philanthropy

In China, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) albeit a new concept, is slowly becoming an increasingly popular topic in the business community for both multinational (MNC) and local companies.

In the 1990s, when China was experiencing market growth, many MNCs initiated CSR activities.  These MNCs were profiting from China’s growth but were also concerned about the social criticism being levied at them. Many successful MNCs became easy targets of Chinese nationalism, or criticism. 

To tackle Chinese market complexity, more and more MNCs regard CSR as one of the most effective approaches towards reputation building, maintaining strong stakeholder relations, and enhancing corporate bottom-lines.

Corporate philanthropy is visible to the public and has always been a common approach when conducting CSR programs. However, CSR is now more than just philanthropy. Companies are engaging in activities that are aligned to societal goals in a wide range of areas, including:
● Environmental protection
● Reformed business practices, including anti-bribery
● Labor practices
● Work safety
● Product safety
● Corporate governance

It’s important to consider CSR as more than a just public relations approach; it must be embedded in a company’s business practice and corporate culture.

Companies must also stay accountable to their CSR practices, including work safety, corporate governance, and anti-commercial bribery. Strict laws and regulations in this area were previously in existence, but there was weak enforcement and legal loopholes. The amendment clears up many previously grey areas and demands stricter enforcement of corporate responsibility.

Source:
“China Matters” - China Public Affairs Newsletter from Powell Tate | Weber Shandwick Worldwide

Contributors: John Russell, Executive vice president, Weber Shandwick | Powell Tate
jrussell@webershandwick.com

Oh! Look at the Beautiful Baby!

The topic of babies in China is a hot one.  Whether it’s related to China’s One-Child Policy or not, Chinese people just love them.  The rise of interracial children, in particular, is certainly getting some attention. Children born with one Chinese and one foreign parent are stopping traffic as their parents bring out their strollers and take them downtown.  These dark-haired, fair-skinned babies have onlookers wondering at their parents’ nationalities with many stopping to come and touch the wide-eyed little beauties.

These ‘hunxuer’ (or ‘mixed bloods’ in Chinese) are also being frequently featured on television programs.  CCTV showed a series of programs in the past few months where numerous hunxuer were singing, dancing and performing in competitions. 

Michelle Yuan, senior associate with Weber Shandwick’s healthcare team, sums up the Chinese sentiment toward these mixed children as follows: “Chinese people have a great preference for mixed children. In their view, mixed children are always pretty, smart, multilingual...they have many advantages.”

China has had diplomatic relations with many western countries for scarcely 30 years.  It seems reasonable that certain things taken for granted in the West, such as intermarriage, are still fairly new to China.  As an example of one of such phenomena, hunxuer are understandably enjoyed and fawned over by the Chinese, and will remain to be so until they get used to seeing them. 

Reference about hunxuer on TV:

Contributor: Brad Burgess
bburgess@webershandwick.com

Beauty Is In the Eye of The Beholder – Or In The Pocketbook?

What do careers, new faces, pop stars, and holidays have in common?  – Plastic surgery!

Fashions come and go but there is now a current trend among Chinese women to have rounder shaped eyes. Chinese men want to look more like their chiseled-chinned idols. These trends have contributed to China’s cosmetic surgery business boom.

For China, the most favorable time to undertake cosmetic surgery is during holiday periods. Clinics in Shanghai reported a 25% increase in business during Golden Week last October.

A staggering 90% of the clients going “under the knife” are women. However more and more young men in China, usually aged 26-28, are undergoing procedures such as face lengthening. The reason behind surgery for males is interestingly not to attract the opposite sex, but to enhance career opportunities as many work in entertainment industries or are sales representatives. 

The most popular procedures in China among women are still eye lifts and reducing wrinkles, however breast enhancements, nose jobs and liposuction are gaining popularity.

Sources:

Contributor: Mariëlle Melissa De Silva De Freitas