Chapter 111: Pollution of the White River (3)
Jiang Ningyue sighed helplessly, "Now I heard that the environmental inspection has begun. Do you think Baihe City can escape this time?"
Director Zhao also looked somewhat helpless. "Let me put it this way. Environmental inspections are useful, but not very effective. Minor issues discovered by inspections are definitely resolved immediately. However, right now, the hardware facilities are substandard, and there's no way to solve them quickly."
80% of Baihe City's pipes discharge mixed rainwater and sewage. When it rains, the city's sewage treatment plants have to shut down, allowing rainwater and sewage to mix and flow into the river. However, separating rainwater and sewage is a major project, not something that can be accomplished in just one or two years.
Jiang Ningyue nodded after hearing this. Indeed, some problems can be solved simply by journalists exposing them, due to the inaction of some public officials. However, some problems cannot be solved even if journalists expose them.
"By the way, Director Zhao, besides the sewage problem, there's also the mine next to Xiaohewan Village. Isn't that also illegal? Not only is there dust and noise issues, but the distance is also clearly not in compliance with regulations, isn't it?"
“We also understand this problem…”
Director Zhao added, "We have already punished them this month. Next month, we will definitely fine them as soon as possible."
Jiang Ningyue: "..."
Now Jiang Ningyue was completely speechless. She was like a piece of meat on a rolling pin. Everything they said was done according to the rules, leaving Jiang Ningyue speechless.
Jiang Ningyue got up and left. Director Zhao walked her to the door and watched her leave.
Then, Director Zhao's face changed. He immediately took out his phone and dialed a number. "Mayor Zhang, Jiang Ningyue from the provincial TV station just came to interview us about environmental issues... I told you the truth. I said we fined them. It's within the rules, so we can only impose fines..."
In the car, Tian Jun leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples and saying, "This is going to be tough. Can we finish this now?"
"Why can't it be broadcast? Isn't this also considered a response?"
Many people believe that journalists who report negative news are merely reporting on the phenomenon. However, according to the requirements, after an interview, the relevant departments must respond. Of course, statements like "we can't control it" also count as a response.
After returning to the TV station, Jiang Ningyue had just walked out of the elevator when Director Chen called.
"Xiaoyue, are you back?"
"I'm back."
"Mr. Zhou asked you and Tian Jun to go find her."
"OK."
Jiang Ningyue called Tian Jun who was going to the non-editing department to collect cards, and the two came to the office of Editor-in-Chief Zhou of the leadership.
"Enter."
"Mr. Zhou."
Jiang Ningyue was familiar with Editor-in-Chief Zhou's office, but Tian Jun rarely came here and felt a little uncomfortable.
Editor-in-Chief Zhou put the documents on the table into the drawer, then looked at Jiang Ningyue and Tian Jun. "What did you just interview?"
Jiang Ningyue recounted her experiences in Baihe City. Editor-in-Chief Zhou frowned and nodded.
"Minister Wen just called me. Because the central environmental inspection team is conducting an 'environmental inspection review' in Haizhou Province, all negative environmental news has been suspended."
"Stop publishing all negative news about the environment?"
Jiang Ningyue and Tian Jun looked at each other. They had just gone to Baihe City to film environmental issues, and now they were about to stop publishing all negative environmental news.
Is this reasonable?
Is this another kind of tailor-made?
"Yes."
Editor-in-Chief Zhou nodded and said, "Don't get emotional. After all, this is the request of the provincial party committee leaders."
"What are the requirements of the provincial party committee leaders?"
Jiang Ningyue heard a hint of something in Chief Editor Zhou's words. "So, it wasn't decided at a Propaganda Department meeting, but rather a suggestion from a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee to Minister Wen, correct?"
Editor-in-Chief Zhou smiled and pointed at Jiang Ningyue, "Don't ask any more."
After saying that, Chief Editor Zhou turned to look at Tian Jun and said, "Xiao Tian, you've been shooting a lot of news about Donghe City recently."
Tian Jun nodded, "Any questions?"
Editor-in-Chief Zhou said calmly, "No problem, it's just easy to offend people."
Tian Jun smiled innocently, "It's okay, Mr. Zhou. As a journalist, I'm least afraid of offending people. Haven't I offended enough people over the years?"
Editor Zhou smiled and said nothing more. "Okay, that's it. You can go now."
After the two left, Tian Jun said thoughtfully, "Xiaoyue, why did Mr. Zhou mention the matter of Donghe City?"
"I don't know." Jiang Ningyue shook her head.
Tian Jun continued, "Tell me, is the person behind Donghe City and Baihe City the same person?"
"Your ability to connect the dots is incredible, isn't it?" Jiang Ningyue laughed. "Wouldn't it be like a piece of cake for the provincial Party committee leaders to deal with us? Why would they even need to beat around the bush?"
Tian Jun was silent for a moment and nodded casually.
After returning to her apartment after get off work that evening, Jiang Ningyue called the mysterious Mr. B. "Help me investigate the environmental pollution in Baihe City. You don't need to give me the information. Send it directly to the Central Environmental Inspection Team."
"knew."
Mr. B hung up the phone.
After doing all this, Jiang Ningyue breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the matter was over.
Unexpectedly, a special meeting was held within the TV station the next day.
Director Liu Zhen, editor-in-chief Zhou Fenglan, Director Xu of the News Center, Office Director Jia Feng, and the directors of the four interview departments gathered in the small conference room.
Liu Zhen glanced around at the crowd and slowly began, "A provincial Party committee leader has conveyed his opinion that the recent topics of public opinion supervision on the 'People's Livelihood 30 Minutes' column are a bit too sharp. Currently, the ratings of the 'People's Livelihood 30 Minutes' column are increasing, and the rate of online dissemination is becoming more and more widespread. This is a good thing, but some issues within the province have been under national scrutiny, which is also a problem for the Haizhou government's image. Everyone, please discuss this issue."
Zhou Fenglan frowned slightly and said, "I don't think this is worth discussing. Most of you here are journalists by profession, and you should all understand that public opinion supervision is a crucial tool in the modern fight against corruption, an effective means of state governance, a key function of the Party's news and public opinion system, and a fundamental responsibility of mainstream media."
Everyone nodded slightly after hearing this. Even the directors of the News Department, the Economic Department, and the Local Department, which basically do not shoot public opinion supervision news, all looked like they agreed with what Editor-in-Chief Zhou said.
Another key issue is that the value of "30 Minutes on People's Livelihood" has skyrocketed since it exposed the two news items, "Xisui City Real Estate Bureau" and "Provincial Catering Company".
Nowadays, many provincial departments and prefecture-level city governments try their best to contact the relevant leaders of TV stations and treat them to dinner, so that they can have a say when their departments or regions are on the news one day.
Therefore, the middle-level leaders of TV stations now feel unprecedented respect.
Now, the provincial party committee leaders want to hide the sword. Will the sword holder agree?
Jia Feng smiled and said, "Editor-in-Chief Zhou's words are truly insightful. Although I've never been a frontline reporter, I'm honored to share their experience. However, many leaders from provincial and local government departments have also complained to me about this. Some of our reporters on 'People's Livelihood 30 Minutes' currently have enormous influence. Even if a piece of news isn't broken out into separate segments or posted on Douyin, their fans will still screen-record it and post it online. Often, it's just a small story, but it can still get over 100,000 likes and millions, or even tens of millions, of views."
Director Chen smiled and said, "Director Jia, please explain clearly. You are talking about Jiang Ningyue, right?"
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