How does the Central Radio and Television General Station report on anti-epidemic disease？
Author | Gao Xiaohong
来源 | 中国广播杂志(ID:zggbzz)
当前，我国正面临新型冠状病毒肺炎（英文简称NCP或COVID-19，中文简称新冠肺炎）肆虐的严峻挑战。新冠肺炎疫情是一场特别重大的突发公共卫生事件，极大地威胁着人民群众的生命健康安全。截至2月18日，全国已累计确诊72530例，重症 11741 例，死亡1870例。
2月3日，习近平总书记在中央政治局常委会会议上明确指出：“当前疫情防控形势严峻复杂，一些群众存在焦虑、恐惧心理，宣传舆论工作要加大力度，统筹网上网下、国内国际、大事小事，更好强信心、暖人心、聚民心，更好维护社会大局稳定。”
在此关键时期，“新闻媒体是突发事件报道的传播主体，也是责任主体，担负着信息沟通、抚慰民众、监督政府、动员社会等重要使命”。以中央广播电视总台（下文简称总台）为代表的国内主流媒体全力应对新冠肺炎疫情的防控，战斗在抗疫的一线，主动承担起主流媒体的抗疫使命，及时发布权威信息，准确公开报道疫情，回应社会关切，把握“时度效”，积极引导舆论，为抗击新冠肺炎疫情凝聚人心、增强信心营造了良好的舆论氛围。本文围绕总台在抗击新冠肺炎疫情期间的具体做法展开论述。
01
Unblocked information:
Give full play to the authority and professionalism of mainstream media
1, timely, open and accurate report on the progress of the epidemic
The report of unexpected events refers to the news media’s integration of media resources in the process of the occurrence and development of events, and their reporting and evaluation of various situations related to events to the society and the public. After the outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic, a major public health event, the whole society paid close attention to the epidemic information and the progress of epidemic prevention and control. China quickly launched a Class I response to major public health emergencies, and the National Health and Wellness Commission and the health and wellness commissions of all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government announced the epidemic information of infectious diseases in their respective administrative regions to the public. The information on epidemic situation of infectious diseases should be published in a timely and accurate manner. At the same time, the news media should also report the true information of emergencies in a timely and accurate manner according to the law, protect the people’s right to know, and contribute to the handling and aftermath of public emergencies.
Since the outbreak of the war of resistance against the epidemic, the general station has released authoritative information in time and continuously spread the epidemic situation around the clock. The News 1+1 column of CCTV, the general station, has been arranged as a whole and specially planned, and has continuously reported the COVID-19 epidemic since January 20th.
On January 20th, this column was connected with Academician Zhong Nanshan, the leader of National Health Commission high-level expert group, to introduce the basic situation of COVID-19 epidemic, which played a role of "setting the tone" in the information dissemination of COVID-19 epidemic. Since January 26th, CCTV News Channel of the General Station has launched "Special Report on the War Epidemic", with the theme of fighting the epidemic, continuously focusing on the national situation of fighting the epidemic, and releasing the latest data of the epidemic in time, so that people can know fairly well. It also connected with reporters from the front-line general station of the anti-epidemic in real time, showing the good mental state of all regions and departments in fighting the epidemic with one heart and one mind. At the same time, we will give full play to the advantages of the platform and share the program resources. From January 29, CCTV will broadcast CCTV programs simultaneously from 10: 00 to 11: 00 and from 15: 00 to 16: 30 every day.
In the reporting of major public health emergencies, the openness and transparency of information is very important. As a bridge connecting the government and the people, the mainstream media should disclose authoritative information at the first time and occupy the first place in the public opinion field.
From January 26th, the press conference of the State Council Press Office, National Health Commission Press Conference and the State Council Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism will be broadcast simultaneously by CCTV’s comprehensive channel and news channel, and broadcast simultaneously by China Voice. Every day, through the live broadcast of the press conference on epidemic prevention and control, the prevention and control information in COVID-19 can be disseminated openly and transparently, and the people’s right to know is fully respected and guaranteed. At the same time, speaking in a timely, active and rational manner has also curbed the spread of online rumors.
2. Interview authoritative sources and release authoritative information on epidemic prevention and control.
After the outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic, the spread of all kinds of information, especially the spread of new media space on the Internet, is very active, which makes the people contact with a lot of information every day, and the phenomenon of information overload appears. At the same time, the people are very concerned about the spirit of the central government and the policies, methods, and prevention and control process of epidemic prevention and control. Therefore, the mainstream media need to exert their authority and credibility and master the leading power of public opinion. This is also an initiative to set the agenda and master the right to publish, define and interpret issues. As the authoritative mainstream media in China, the reception desk gathers the advantages of interview resources by releasing official authoritative information at the first time, interviewing authoritative experts and frontline workers against the epidemic, and carefully sets the media agenda for fighting the COVID-19 epidemic.
3, professional team to fulfill the responsibility and mission of news propaganda work.
In the highly developed communication environment of online social media, the mainstream media put forward more stringent requirements for the authenticity, accuracy and security of information in this public opinion campaign against the COVID-19 epidemic. Because if the information is slightly deviated, it may cause the content to spread out of control, and then affect the credibility of the mainstream media.
On the one hand, the main station sent a professional team to the first scene to fight the epidemic, on the other hand, it strengthened the supervision of the contents of epidemic prevention and control to ensure the foolproof dissemination of information. From January 27th, the General Station set up the "Wuhan Live Studio of War Epidemic" in Hubei Radio and Television Station, and set the studio at the forefront of the fight against the epidemic. The broadcasting frequency of the main station gives full play to the emergency role of broadcasting in public health emergencies. By taking advantage of the advantages of wide broadcasting coverage, fast transmission speed and low listening threshold, the emergency reporting plan is launched at the first time, and the propaganda of epidemic prevention and control is intensified. All programs broadcast the progress of epidemic prevention and control in COVID-19 in a rolling way throughout the day. Every day from 19: 00 to 20: 00, the "Voice of China Special Report on Fighting the Epidemic" is also launched. During the week from February 3rd to 9th, there were 1,400 epidemic-related reports and nearly 7,000 written messages.
2018年，习近平总书记在全国宣传思想工作会议的讲话中指出：“做好新形势下宣传思想工作，必须自觉承担起举旗帜、聚民心、育新人、兴文化、展形象的使命任务。”
自新冠肺炎疫情爆发以来，总台央视《新闻联播》节目多次延长播出时间，增加抗击新冠肺炎疫情报道内容，体现出主流媒体的职业使命与担当，业务能力更是得到了社会的广泛认可。2月12日央视《新闻联播》主持人李梓萌念稿8分钟无任何卡顿，新闻报道的专业功底获得了网友的认可，“李梓萌低头念稿”登上了微博热搜榜，2月14日主持人海霞播音12分钟无卡顿，再登微博热搜（“海霞低头念稿”），同时“央视girls”也一并登上热搜，以上三条热搜的微博总阅读量超过7亿人次。
02
增强信心：
把握“时度效”，实现舆论引导效果
1、战疫情中舆论导向的重要性
在应对重大突发公共事件时，新闻媒体的舆论引导作用十分重要。习近平总书记指出，“让群众更多知道党和政府正在做什么、还要做什么，对坚定全社会信心、战胜疫情至为关键。”在抗击新冠肺炎疫情的关键时刻，新闻媒体做好舆论引导工作、把握正确舆论导向，有利于凝聚力量、振奋人心，引导公众理性、正确看待和分析疫情形势，科学地做好疫情防护措施，积极地应对疫情带来的可能影响，具有重要的作用。
过去的经验表明，对于重大突发事件的舆论引导基本上已经确立了两个立足点：一是用事实引导，即告诉公众事实真相；二是用价值引导，即影响公众正确地看待真相。在及时、公开、准确报道疫情及其防控信息的基础上，新闻媒体的舆论引导要始终把宣传报道习近平总书记的重要讲话和系列重要指示批示精神作为重心，坚定打赢抗击新冠肺炎疫情阻击战的决心和信心，凝聚社会共识，坚持党性和人民性相统一，弘扬主旋律，激发正能量。
总台各频道、频率运用全媒体矩阵及时传达党中央和习近平总书记的重要指示精神，发挥总台自主评论品牌的舆论威力，积极解读中央会议信号，严格落实党中央决策部署。《国际锐评》发布的疫情防控相关评论员文章向世界展现了中国战胜疫情、迎接挑战的决心和底气，《央视快评》发布的疫情防控相关评论员文章在抗击疫情宣传报道中提振了士气、凝聚了力量。
2、“时度效”原则的把握与创新
党的新闻舆论工作，要求把握好“时度效”原则，按新闻传播规律办事。具体来说，就是要处理好舆论引导中的时效、节奏，以及力度、分寸和效果等问题。
在时效和节奏的把握上，总台应对新冠肺炎疫情不仅做到及时发布，更实现了实时、全时报道，回应了社会关切，满足了人民群众对疫情信息的时效性要求和期待。与此同时，总台记者同时间赛跑，第一时间奔赴一线，专访相关机构领导，公开回应医疗防护用品紧缺等问题，访谈抗击疫情专家，了解疫情防控一线的工作内容以及重症、危重症患者的治疗情况；还就群众热议的话题和问题请专家正面解答，满足了互联网语境下人民群众对防控知识的深层次需求。
In terms of the strength and discretion of news reports, the epidemic reports of the main station are of high frequency, high intensity and high quality, thus achieving high coverage of epidemic prevention and control information.
According to the data of CCTV Advertising Management Center, from January 24th to February 2nd, the viewing rate of News Network increased significantly, reaching 11.72%, and the viewing rate of viewers aged 15-24 increased by 186% year-on-year. The outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic coincided with the Spring Festival. With the escalation of prevention and control measures, the extension of the Spring Festival holiday, and the implementation of personal home prevention and control measures, radio and television, as a family-accompanying media, just played a key role in spreading anti-epidemic information in families.
In terms of the effect and actual effect of public opinion guidance, the general station boldly innovated on the new media platform by means of media integration, and achieved outstanding communication effects. For example, from 8: 00 on January 27th, CCTV News launched an uninterrupted live broadcast of the special program "Common War Epidemic", which was broadcast simultaneously on CCTV Video, CCTV News client, Tik Tok, Aauto Quicker and other mobile new media platforms, providing viewers with an information channel that directly hits the front line of epidemic prevention and control 24 hours a day. The reporter from the General Station visited the epidemic prevention and control site and made a comprehensive, accurate and timely report on the detection, diagnosis and treatment of patients in various regions, the work and living conditions of medical workers, and the production, supply and transshipment of medical protective equipment. The live broadcast attracted tens of thousands of viewers from all over the country to interact in real time, and "Come on Wuhan, Come on Hubei, Come on China" was screened.
At 19: 00 on January 31st, CCTV News Network entered the "Aauto Quicker" short video community and began the normal live broadcast. Within 33 minutes of the first live broadcast, the cumulative number of viewers was nearly 20 million. Since February 1st, "News Network" has been broadcast live on Sina Weibo, with a cumulative audience of 17.658 million, with an average daily audience of 1.358 million. In addition, CCTV news official Weibo initiated the topic of "real-time broadcast of joint prevention and control of epidemic situation", which was read 3.36 billion times and discussed 374,000 times, with a maximum reading of 608 million times in a single day. The topic of "common war and epidemic" has been read 6.07 billion times, discussed 1.55 million times, and the highest reading volume in a single day is nearly 870 million times. Through the way of integrated communication, the mainstream media has exerted great influence among young people and achieved the communication effect guided by public opinion.
3. Storytelling: Reflect the people’s determination and deeds in fighting the epidemic.
"People-centered" is an important working principle of the party’s news and public opinion work. In the report on the fight against the epidemic in COVID-19, the reception desk pointed the lens and microphone of news reports at the people’s anti-epidemic actions. By recording touching stories and accumulating ordinary materials, it told the stories of people around us and described the greatness of ordinary people, conveyed the warmth of humanity and humanistic care behind the severe epidemic, and showed the spirit of the people of the whole country to unite as one and help each other in the same boat.
On January 29th, the Voice of China, the Central Broadcasting Station, launched the special program "Diary of an Angel". The content of this program comes from angels in white who are facing the COVID-19 epidemic and racing against death. It records the daily work of front-line medical staff in the form of voice self-report and first-person perspective. Angel Diary broadcasts an episode every day, and at the same time, it is launched on Himalayan FM audio platform, and published on Voice of China Weibo and WeChat WeChat official account. The program gives full play to the voice advantage of broadcasting, and spreads the positive energy story of fighting the epidemic with a keen perspective and delicate brushwork. According to the data, its single item in Weibo received the highest praise of 19,000 person-times, and the cumulative reading volume of WeChat WeChat official account exceeded 344,000 person-times.
In addition, since February 11th, News Network has launched a column "A Line of Anti-epidemic Groups" to report the effectiveness of joint prevention and control measures by various departments in various regions and tell touching stories about the front line of anti-epidemic. The book "Wuhan at Zero, Here are Stories You Don’t Know" by feature story of the Central Broadcasting Corporation truthfully records the voices of people in Wuhan in the middle of the night and bears witness to the determination and persistence of people from all walks of life. By reporting the great love and responsibility of front-line workers, the mainstream media has established an emotional bond for the people to overcome the difficulties together.
03
Stabilizing People’s Heart: Facing the Social Concern of Major Public Emergencies
1, timely counseling to resolve the crisis of public opinion.
The prevention and control of the epidemic situation in COVID-19 is all-round. In the field of news and public opinion, the first problem is to face and promptly dispel the possible public opinion crisis. The so-called public opinion crisis refers to the phenomenon that public opinion is at a difficult juncture because unfavorable public opinion occupies the central position in the public opinion field. In order to avoid and prevent the public opinion crisis and smoothly resolve the contradictions and problems caused by unexpected events, it is necessary to open the way, promptly guide and master the initiative.
After the occurrence of major public emergencies, the news media should fully predict the current public opinion environment, and make adjustments from the perspective of overall information dissemination, ensure the expression of opinions of the masses, reflect their voices, channel negative and negative public opinion, and encourage and advocate positive public opinion.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, so the festive atmosphere became heavy, and the people’s life focus shifted to preventing and controlling the COVID-19 epidemic and ensuring life safety. In this public opinion environment, the reception desk immediately made adjustments, and the 2020 Spring Festival Gala broadcasted a scenario report program "Love is a Bridge" with zero rehearsal. Through the form of scenario narration, it showed the touching scene of Wuhan people facing up to the sudden COVID-19 epidemic and the medical staff selfless treatment.
Later, in the recording of the Lantern Festival special program, we dug deep into the first-line story of epidemic prevention and paid tribute to the "most beautiful retrograde" who silently contributed to the epidemic prevention work, showing the great cohesion of the Chinese nation and the spiritual strength of the people of the whole country to work together to overcome difficulties, which was well received by the audience.
According to statistics, as of 10: 00 on February 5th, the epidemic news materials released by CCTV International Vision and the press conference signals held by state authorities were selected and broadcast by 1,721 overseas TV stations or channels in 112 countries and regions, including Fox and BBC, for more than 362,000 times, which won wide respect and support from the international community.
2. Relieve public panic.
After the outbreak of the epidemic in COVID-19, especially at the initial stage of the outbreak, the public was in a state of panic due to the fact that the focus of the epidemic has yet to be scientifically studied, the situation of epidemic spread is grim, the effect of epidemic prevention and control has yet to be observed, and the drugs for treating and preventing the epidemic have yet to be developed. The public’s panic is manifested in various ways, such as the spread of rumors and rumors, weak awareness of scientific prevention and group prevention and control, and panic buying of masks and medical supplies in some areas. During the prevention and control of COVID-19 epidemic, it is very important for the mainstream media to play the role of public opinion guidance to alleviate public panic. Previous studies have shown that if we can correctly use the guiding function of the mainstream media, we can promote the original absurd rumors to become a "pedal" for people to understand the truth and scientific knowledge.
On the basis of interviewing authoritative sources and releasing authoritative information on epidemic prevention and control, the Headquarters also launched a series of promotional videos in conjunction with the Propaganda Department of National Health Commission to popularize the knowledge of COVID-19 epidemic prevention and guide the public to enhance their awareness of self-prevention. Each of these popular science videos is about 1 minute long, which effectively and conveniently spreads the practical operation and prevention and control concepts of legal prevention and control, scientific prevention and control, and group prevention and control, and the communication effect is good. Up to now, the series of public service short films have landed on nearly 400,000 digital screens in 50 cities across the country, playing circularly at major airports, stations and ports, and landing in business districts, communities, enterprises and universities in Beijing, Shanghai and other cities.
In the communication environment of media convergence, the new comprehensive audio-visual media flagship "Central Video" 5G new media platform newly built by CCTV based on new technologies such as "5G+4K/8K+AI" was officially launched not long ago, which was put into the prevention and control propaganda of the COVID-19 epidemic. CCTV, the main station, opened up "War ‘ Epidemic ’ The topic "Frontline" includes vlog real shooting, exclusive interview, scientific inquiry, suggestions, real-time panorama and other sections. Record the true story of the "epidemic" front line, follow up the latest progress of experimental research and development, and introduce the knowledge of epidemic prevention science in the form of short video; "CCTV News" broadcasts "Common War" 24 hours a day, and works with hundreds of millions of viewers to supervise, watch, accompany and guard the cloud.
On the evening of January 27th, CCTV opened a 24-hour live broadcast port, and started the "slow live broadcast" of the construction of Huoshenshan Hospital and Thunder God Mountain hospital through the 5G+ optical fiber dual Gigabit network, and multiple aircraft seats presented live real-time pictures around the clock. Without the host, commentary and editing and packaging, it attracted nearly 120 million online "cloud supervisors". The series of live broadcasts were broadcast on 11 online platforms, including Tencent News, Today’s Headlines, Phoenix News, Youku and Wo Video. The total number of viewers exceeded 15 million and the number of interactive comments exceeded 13,000. The series live broadcast and slow live broadcast are broadcast on CCTV News client, @ CCTV News Weibo, CCTV Video client and Tik Tok, Aauto Quicker and Betta Fish. Among them, only the short video of "Tik Tok" was watched by more than 55 million people.
以上这些举措，不仅调动了人民群众在新冠肺炎疫情防控中的主动性和参与感，而且通过节奏相对平缓的“慢直播”，让人民群众在高强度、快节奏的信息环境中缓解焦虑心态，纾解恐慌情绪。
3、开展建设性新闻舆论监督
习近平总书记指出：“这次疫情是对我国治理体系和能力的一次大考，我们一定要总结经验、吸取教训。”“在疫情防控工作中，有些地方出现了形式主义、官僚主义现象。”习近平总书记还强调，“要多层次、高密度发布权威信息，正视存在的问题，回应群众的关切，增强及时性、针对性、专业性，引导群众增强信心、坚定信心，着力稳定公众情绪。”在新冠肺炎疫情的防控过程中，主流媒体积极回应公众关切、反映在治理过程中特别是疫情防控工作中存在的问题，发挥新闻媒体的建设性舆论监督功能，推动防控疫情工作的开展。
On January 29, the Central Steering Group sent an inspection team to Huanggang City, Hubei Province, where the epidemic was serious, for supervision and verification. CCTV reporters covered the whole process. In the report, the working ability of the person in charge of the local competent department was questioned. After the news broadcast, the role and effect of public opinion supervision were produced, and the director of the health and health commission in Huanggang City was immediately dismissed. In the supervision of news and public opinion, the mainstream media always adhere to the problem orientation, which can neither make a mountain out of a molehill to cause panic, nor make a mountain out of a molehill to make the work lax. We should correctly carry out constructive public opinion supervision, meet the audience’s higher-level pursuit of information disclosure in the all-media environment, and promote the solution of problems in the prevention and control of epidemic situation in COVID-19.
The whole people participated in the war against the COVID-19 epidemic, and the effect was obvious. With the unified and centralized leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the mobilization and participation of the whole society, and the comprehensive strengthening of prevention and control, the battle of epidemic prevention and control will surely win the final victory. At the critical stage of epidemic prevention and control, the authoritative mainstream media, represented by the Central Radio and Television General Station, adhered to the duty and mission of news and public opinion work, gave full play to the authority and professionalism of the mainstream media, grasped the principle of "time and effect" and carried out news and public opinion work "people-centered", which unblocked information, enhanced confidence and stabilized people’s hearts.
The author of this paper is Gao Xiaohong, Minister of Journalism and Communication at China Communication University, and distinguished professor, a Changjiang Scholar at the Ministry of Education. Cai Yu is a Ph.D. student at China Communication University, originally published in the third issue of China Broadcasting in 2020.
