Foreign reporters make news during congress
Glowing quotes from overseas journalists spice up coverage, but don't always prove objective
The state-run media were more than happy to turn those who usually make the news into the newsmakers during this year's Communist Party congress.
Media outlets repeatedly turned to the reporters themselves to set a triumphant tone for the seven-day extravaganza of party, pride and patriotism. But not just any reporters; foreign reporters.
Forget the usual haranguing over foreign media agents conspiring to foment unrest and undermine the party - a story revived just last month with angry reaction to exposé about Premier Wen Jiabao's family wealth.
Last week, the press was buzzing with interviews with overseas reporters praising a re-emergent China and accounts of journalists grateful for an up-close look at the once-in-a-decade leadership change in the world's second-largest economy. Perhaps it was another attempt to convince mainlanders how much China has grown in global clout and prestige. Or perhaps party leaders have just grown bored with the hallelujahs they typically get from the state-controlled press.
"Experience gives foreign reporters wider view of progress", read one headline in , which went on to explain how these overseas scribes were "optimistic about China's future".
The congress' media centre was busy hosting events to keep foreign reporters distracted and entertained - and maybe a little informed - as party leaders went about their business, much of it behind the scenes.
The main party mouthpiece, touted how 1,704 reporters had come from overseas to witness the power transfer and quoted several praising "the successful party congress" and "the more open Communist Party".
