Deputy Chief Editor called his cousin, Liu Gang, into his office.
The door opens, and Liu Gang, in his thirties, enters and closes the door behind him. “Cousin, I heard the Publicity Department had called and warned our agency this morning.”
Pang Dabing nodded and thought nothing about it. “Just ignore them. Guang Ming Subdistrict had gotten a Role-model unit award, and the award presentation will be held in Beijing soon. Some people don’t want anything to happen to Guang Ming Subdistrict Office. The Publicity Department people are trying to cover up and prevent any scandals about the winners. If we worry over everything like them, all the newspaper agencies will close down. Why will the readers buy our papers if we don’t have any explosive news? Those people from the Publicity Department are clueless!”
Liu Gang laughed. Their Nan Qi Morning Post is the only newspaper agency that dares to ‘report’ everything. They dare to exaggerate reports to attract readers, while other agencies don’t even dare to report sensitive news. This is why they can maintain a high readership within Nan Shan District. After years of hard work, this newspaper had become the favorite newspaper of the residents there. Who cares about whether the articles are true or not as long as the readers like. They are in the media industry and have to think from the agency’s perspective. Reporting the truth, being objective will not increase their sales. No one will be interested in their papers.
Nan Qi Morning Post is entering a grey area, and the Publicity Department felt this was not right. But Nan Qi Morning Post is not entirely wrong, and they will argue over it. Nothing will happen in the end, as the papers had been published.
“Cousin.” Liu Gang asked. “What is our next move?”
Pang Dabing laughed. “Continue to investigate and find more witnesses. Dig up what Dong Xuebing had done since he assumed his position and look for his problems.”
Liu Gang asked. “Where should we be targeting?”
Pang Dabing tapped on the desk. “What do our readers like to read? What can resonate with them? It’s the unjust in our society. A Government Leader beating up others is good material. Since we had reported Dong Xuebing beating up others, we should continue in this direction. We still have the contacts of those residents injured during the forced teardown of illegal buildings. We can use them.”
Liu Gang thought for a while. “If we continue, will the Publicity Department….”
Pang Dabing waved his hand. “Haha… Someone will talk to them. Don’t worry and do your job.”
Liu Gang is overjoyed. “Yes. Dong Xuebing will not escape this time!”
“Work hard and try to collect as much material as possible.” Pang Dabing instructed.
Liu Gang nodded. “Cousin, you can rest assured. Even if Dong Xuebing had done nothing wrong, I would also create something out of nothing.”
Pang Dabing laughed. “Keep our conversation to ourselves. I don’t want anyone else to know about this.”
“I understand. Don’t worry.”
Liu Gang knows how the media industry works. People trust the newspaper, and they will believe whatever they are told. Very few will doubt the credibility of the reports. The reports don’t need to be true, and people will not believe Dong Xuebing even if he tries to clarify. Many people resent the powerful and wealthy, and they will think Dong Xuebing had used his connections to give an excuse for his actions. They will only get angrier with him, and a Subdistrict Office Director cannot get anything done without the support of the people.
This is the power of the media.
Liu Gang had worked as a reporter for years and knew his job well. He knows a District Leader might have to approach Pang Dabing to tarnish Dong Xuebing’s reputation. Even if you have reasons to beat up someone, or you did not lay a finger on others, no one will believe you once we publish the article in the papers.
Liu Gang came up with a plan when he stepped out of his cousin’s office.
Guang Ming Subdistrict Office.
Everyone is cursing and swearing about the article in the cafeteria during their lunch.
“This article is rubbish!”
“That’s right. They are picking a fight with us!”
“They are the ones who wrote Director Dong had beaten up those civilians. Those hooligans had used knives and other weapons against us. What’s wrong with us retaliating?! Are we supposed to stand there and let them hit us?!”
“Director Dong will not hit others for no reason.”
“All of us know this.”
“Sigh…. I wonder if Director Dong is affected by this article.”
Dong Xuebing had established his authority and gained his staff’s support over the past few weeks. Without Director Dong, their Subdistrict Office will still be suppressed by Ping An Subdistrict Office. They will not get the role model unit award. That’s why all the staff are unhappy with Nan Qi Morning Post’s article.
Work Party Secretary Office.
Dong Xuebing ate his lunch in his office and was about to wash his lunch box when the guard called from the guardhouse. “Director, a reporter wants to meet you.”
“Reporter? Which agency is he from?”
“Nan Qi Morning Post. His name is Liu Gang.”
“Liu Gang?” Dong Xuebing laughed. “Ok. Let me enter. I am in my office.”
I still have not found you, and you are here for me. Dong Xuebing put his lunchbox aside and waited behind his desk.
Liu Gang, wearing a short-sleeve shirt, enters the office. He took out his reporter pass and showed it to Dong Xuebing. “Are you Dong Xuebing, Director Dong? I am reporter Liu Gang from Nan Qi Morning Post. We had spoken over the phone previously. I wonder if you still remember.”
Dong Xuebing looks at Liu Gang. “Report Liu, why are you here?”
Dong Xuebing did not ask Liu Gang to sit, but the latter sat down on the office chair in front of him. “I wonder if Director Dong reads our papers. It is about your assault on the students and teacher in Yan Tai County. We are continuing with a follow-up report on this incident.”
Dong Xuebing narrowed his eyes. “Oh, you all have concluded it is an assault.”
“That’s right.” Liu Gang laughed. “You barged into the school and attacked three students and a teacher for no reason. I can’t think of any words other than assault to describe your actions. Don’t you think this is against the law? The student's parents had reported you. Their children suffered severe injuries and had fractures. They were furious when I interviewed them. I have also heard of many other incidents where you have beaten up other people in Nan Shan District. What do you have to say about this?”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “Fractures? Who suffered fractures? Tell me about it.”
Liu Gang continued. “We cannot reveal the names to you. But you should know how badly those students are beaten up.”
“Oh, I don’t know anything about this.” Dong Xuebing replied. “Can you tell me where did you get the injury report?”
Liu Gang laughed. “I cannot reveal this to you, but we had investigated.”
Dong Xuebing had controlled his strength when he hit those students. They had only suffered slight injuries and could even run around with their parents after that incident. How can they be severely injured with fractures?
“Reporter Liu, you don’t have evidence. It’s all your words, and you don’t even have the doctor’s injury reports. Do you think your words are more powerful than the injury reports?” Dong Xuebing looks at Liu Gang in his eyes. “You all can investigate if you don’t know what happened. Go and report to the Police if you want and let them speak to me. Who are you to claim they suffer fractures? Are you a judge?”
Liu Gang smiled and took out a notepad to record Dong Xuebing said. “Director Dong, is the how you behave at work? No wonder such incidents will happen. We also want to get the related authorities to justice for the victims. Still, all the government officials are in cahoots. That’s why we can only use our methods to get justice for them. If the authorities are not going to act, we will show the people your true colors.”
Liu Gang’s words are provoking Dong Xuebing.
Most people will think whatever that is written in the papers are true. For example, this morning’s article. They will think it is the truth because of how Nan Qi Morning Post wrote about the incident.
They still want a follow-up article and continue to tarnish my reputation?! Liu Gang is trying to provoke me to hit him, and he can use it against me.
“Haha….” Wishful thinking.
No matter how rash Dong Xuebing is, he will not fall for Liu Gang’s provocation. “Liu Gang…. You keep talking about justice, and I can see what your news agency’s ‘justice’ is all about. Do you think you all can abuse the people’s trust in the newspaper with your games? Do you think you all can attack anyone with your words and fool the people?” Dong Xuebing laughed.
Those who knew Dong Xuebing well will know he is furious now, and no one can save Liu Gang now.