Fearful agencies press goodies on Chinese reporters
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On the later half of the journey, the driver insisted on offering us a free ride, saying he didn't want to leave tourists a bad impression on Xi'an.
What he really meant was probably that he didn't want to leave a bad impression on a journalist. I refused his offer, and our argument then turned into a debate about whether I needed to pay or not. We finally reached an agreement: He gave me a fat discount.
The title of "journalist" is an imposing one in China. It's so intimidating at times that even fake journalists could cash in on this title. It was reported months ago that there is a "journalist village" in Shanxi Province, where all the unemployed young people feed themselves by pretending to be journalists and blackmailing the local coal bosses with the threat of exposure.
This is an extreme evidence of the value of calling oneself a journalist.
In everyday life, being a journalist, even a fake one, may also bring benefits. A friend of mine once wanted to return a pair of trousers. He didn't convince the store owner to give him a full refund until he claimed that he was a journalist.
Being a real journalist, with an authentic press card, saves even more trouble. Back in this journey, both my friend and I considered the entrance tickets at many scenic spots were very expensive. For instance, it costs an ordinary tourist 120 yuan to visit Huashan Mountain. But my press card entitled me to a free pass. According to several netizens, journalists who contacted the sales promotion department of this scenic spot beforehand could even get free accommodation, free dinner and a few gifts.
Society tends to give journalists some privilege. But many times, such rights are just normal ones such as the right to be informed beforehand, to get proper refunds, and to be charged reasonable prices.
Personally I do enjoy the convenience my profession brings. But a system that gives those rights only to a few, rather than to everybody, isn't working.
China has made lots of social progress over the past years. Maybe someday society will stop singling out journalists for "special" treatment.
The author is a reporter with the Global Times. chenchenchen@globaltimes.com.cn
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