Chinese journalists visit Daily Herald
Journalists from China visited the Daily Herald on Wednesday to discuss the industry and share ideas on how to best bring news to the next generation.
About 20 top leaders of newspapers, television stations and media companies in China have been visiting different American news organizations as part of a Beijing delegation organized by the 21st Century Institute in Oak Brook.
Jim Slusher, assistant managing editor/Opinion, and Robert Y. Paddock Jr., vice chairman and executive vice president of the Daily Herald, explained the Daily Herald's local role in the community and how the audience and delivery of news has changed as the Internet and social media continue to grow in popularity.
The Chinese journalists asked how newspapers in America make money and about the newspaper's choice to allow public opinion pieces from the community, like letters to the editor, into the publication.
Arlington Heights Village Manager Randy Recklaus also attended the session to discuss the relationship between government and media, which differs from here to China where many outlets are subsidized and come under varying levels of government control.
"The first time I see an article (about Arlington Heights) is when I pick up the newspaper, just like anybody else," Recklaus said.
Unlike the U.S. where major daily newspapers have put up paywalls and charge online subscriptions for their online content, China has a different approach, the visitors said.
"In China we seem to have a philosophy of Internet that it is supposed to be free," one visitor said through their translator. "So it's harder to charge for information. The print media suffers more in China."
While news organizations struggle to adapt to the changing business structure, the Chinese editors, as well as Daily Herald editors said there is still a growing passion and need for local news.
"There is a very big interest for information, news and services," said Aaron Chen, a program manager at 21st Century Institute in Oak Brook, who was acting as translator.