China's media revolution debated in Copenhagen. Photo: Rasmus Steen/IMS

"No sign of more space for freedom of expression in China". This was the conclusion of Mette Thunø , Pro-Dean at the University of Copenhagen following the conference on media in Chian organised by The Danish UNESCO national commission, IMS and CBS

The media development in China was the center of attention in a conference organised jointly by IMS, the Danish UNESCO Commission and CBS held in Copenhagen on 28 November. The conference was attended by 140 participants representing media, corporate Denmark as well as the academia.

Experts in the panel

Mr. Sun Yusheng, vice-president of CCTV at the conference in Copenhagen. Photo: Rasmus Steen/IMS

The organisers had succeeded in assembling a most competent panel of speakers. Most prominently featured the vice-president of China Central Television( CCTV), Mr. Sun Yusheng, who had accepted the invitation from the organisers. Also from afar, Ms.  Yuezhi Zhao, a Ph.D., professor and Canada Research Chair from the School of Communication at the Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. Canada, had accepted the invitation to speak about the impact of commercialisaion and globalisation of media on China's political structure.

From the University of Westminster in London, professor of Journalism and Director of the China Media Centre, Mr Hugo de Burgh, gave a presentation on perceptions of media in modern China. Other speakers included Mr. Hu Zhengrong, Dr., professor in communication and vice-president of the Commnication University of China; and Ms. Tong Jinrong, Dr., lecturer in journalism and media at the School of Media, Film and Communications in the Deanery of Arts and Humanities, Liverpool hope University.

High academic level

Mette Thunø, pro-dean at the University of Copenhagen and Danish journalist Mette Holm were invited to explore and challenge the panelists' presentations. Danish journalist Martin Breum moderated the debate and took stock of in-coming questions from the audience, that were transmitted through mobile via text messages.

- I found it to be a success in terms of the academic level of presentations and discussions and in terms of the audience. From the sound of the questions, it seemed to me that a broad range of sectors, ranging from the media field, to students, academia as well as the commercial sector were represented at the conference, says Mette Thunø.

Read the full report about the conference.