Life_as_a_journalist Ye_Shengtao

1 life journalist

1.1 first career, say, editor.

1.1.1 ye s publications


1.2 new era modern publishing
1.3 establishment of truth daily

1.3.1 background of may thirtieth movement
1.3.2 “who tell truth?”
1.3.3 new way journalism

life journalist
first career, say, editor.

“if asks career, say, first career editor, second teacher,” ye said. ye had spent of life on editing , publishing. shanghai commercial press starting point of ye’s editorship. became editor of press since 1923.

by end of 1930, ye quit post in shanghai commercial press , became editor of kaiming press (kaiming shu dian 開明書店). started edit books on chinese language , storybooks children.

“editing no easy task.” ye, being editor never job, career.“recklessness strictly forbidden in editing, have check in person. editors must earnest publications, reporters, , readers.” editor plays important role in monitoring final outcome. ye suggested “seriousness” key of being successful editor. had upheld attitude in works.

ye devoted himself editing , publishing whole life . enthusiasm on “first , ultimate” career had never stopped . during second sino-japanese war, ye moved leshan family , worked professor @ department of chinese @ wuhan university . in 1946, returned shanghai , resumed editorship @ kaiming press.

ye s publications

in entire life, ye involved in field of journalism. 1925 1929 ye s new era of publications. edited many famous magazines , newspapers, below of works:

new era modern publishing

ye s vision in modern chinese language catalyzed development of modern journalism in china.

ye eager advocate standardization of modern chinese language including standardization of grammar, rhetoric, vocabulary, punctuation, simplified character, , elimination of variant characters (異體字). compiled , standardized chinese character publishing , formulated chinese phoneticization scheme (hanyu pinyin fang’an 《漢語拼音方案》). efforts helped improve quality , organization of editorial work.

most importantly, ye promoted vernacular chinese in publishing. magazines , newspapers published in vernacular style, facilitated other journalists , readers read. these contributed rapid development of modern journalism in china.

ye excellent educator , talent scout, too. educated , discovered many outstanding young authors , editors ba jin, ding ling, , dai wangshu.

the establishment of truth daily
background of may thirtieth movement

on 30 may 1925, bloody massacre took place in shanghai, known may thirtieth movement (五卅運動 wǔsà- yùndòng). 2000 shanghai workers , students ushered in vigorous anti-imperialist movement, protesting imperialist domination , demanding abolish unfair treaties. demonstrators thundered down imperialists! . workers throughout china responded general strike , mass demonstrations. british police suppressed demonstrators violence , killed 12 chinese in event. till 1 june, more 20 chinese killed.

“who tell truth?”

none of shanghai newspapers reported tragedy .the front-page news gossip of players of chinese opera. shanghai newspapers refused mention incident because of political pressure. journalist, ye denounced “why journalists hardhearted ignore shocking massacre? why afraid of fact? it’s ridiculous nobody tell truth.” ye founded gōnglǐ rìbào (the truth daily 《公理日報》) zheng zhenduo , hu yuzhi (胡愈之1896－1986), aimed reveal whole picture of tragedy regardless of imperialist power, in order arouse awareness , nationalism of general public , promote spirit of may 30th movement across china.

a new way journalism

in addition reporting truth, truth daily provided forum public discussion, called “shèhuì cáipànsuǒ” (“tribunal of society”〈社會裁判所〉), encouraged reader express viewpoints towards society. ye , other editors of truth daily severely criticized unfairness of society. newspaper served watchdog on despotic power, , initiated concept of “freedom of press” in modern chinese society.

due financial difficulties , disagreement among editors, truth daily terminated after running 22 days. yet ye has never stopped pursuing truth. after second sino-japanese war (1937–1945), participated in struggle against nationalist government, striving democracy , freedom of press.