Financial Statements and the Monetary Situation of Morrisons Essay

Financial Statements and the Monetary Situation of Morrisons - Essay Example The report is aimed towards guiding interested shareholders to rationally invest in Morrisons Supermarkets. Morrisons is one of the largest chains of supermarkets located in the U.K. The firm has their headquarters located in Bradford, England. Morrisons is counted amongst the big four supermarkets in the U.K, after Tesco, Sainsbury, and Asda. Currently, the company holds approximately 11% market share in the supermarket sector of the U.K. The company had initially begun as retailers of butter and egg in the year 1899. However, the firm has remained successful in expanding itself and presently it has 515 superstores and 113 local stores spread across the U.K, England, Wales, and Scotland. The U.K supermarkets are highly competitive and also possess the ability to earn a very high level of revenues. Consumers, in general, are seen to gain benefits from such high competition as they are able to procure goods and services at reduced prices. The purpose of the paper is to understand how analysis of financial statements facilitates better investments decision making. Income statements are prepared to estimate the level of profitability existing in a firm. They also indicate the efficiency with which an organization performs and earns revenue. Investments decisions are crucial as they may either cause a shareholder to earn adequate profits or lose earnings on the capital invested. Shareholders face the risk of losing their savings if financial statement interpretations are not carried out effectively. The income statement is essentially a summary of the incomes and expenses of a firm presented in a summarised form for a particular period. By analyzing the incomes, expenses and the profits of a number of years, investors can understand how effectively a firm manages their internal operating expenses so as to earn sufficient profits.

Motivation Letter Essay Example for Free

Motivation Letter Essay I am new to this forum. While searching for samples of motivation letters, I came across many threads on this forum regrading this issue. I am a Syrian student, and this scholarship is so important for me because I can no longer complete my studies in Damascus. In the ranking criteria of this scholarships, the motivation letter has 20% of the application grading scheme. For this reason I need to make it as good as possible. Unfortunately I am new to writing this kind of letters, so I hope for some help. To make my letter clear, I just want to tell that the host university I chose is Technische UniversitÃÆ' ¤t Berlin. I am allowed to write up to 4000 characters. Here is my letter, â€Å"Where there’s a will, there’s a way,† one of the best proverbs I follow to achieve my goals and ambitions, starting from my early teenage. Since I was a student in the intermediate school, the major of study I wanted to take after high school was clear to me. Many difficulties faced me, but I could overcome all to achieve my dream in studying the major I want, Computer Science. I used to live in Lebanon during my childhood and teenage, but in 2006 the war obliged me to leave and move to Syria, my homeland. It was quite difficult to complete studying in the Syrian schools because of the huge differences between the Syrian and Lebanese curricula. Yet I succeeded, and graduated from high school with an average of 99.16 percent. In Syria, it is well common that the higher the student’s average is, the more probability the he/she chooses the faculty that requires high averages in high school, usually regardless what the student’s dream is. According to my average and this tradition, I was supposed to get into the major with the highest average, medicine. Yet I chose to get into the faculty of Information Technology Engineering, as the closest major to Computer Science (because this major is not found in Damascus University), ignoring all criticisms and oppositions I received. During the last three years of my study in this major, I gave very hard efforts. But unfortunately as the revolution started, its consequences had a negative affection on my studying and thus my average. Because of the absence of safety and stability, this academic year seems to be impossible to complete. I can hardly and sometimes never able to reach my faculty and attend the lectures; in addition to witnessing an hearing the sounds of explosions during all the studying hours in the faculty. For this reason, I had to look for a solution for this huge problem. The first step to take was improving my skills to raise my opportunities. I started to take intensive lessons in German, since most universities in German-speaking countries require a certain level of German proficiency for undergraduate programs. Still the bad conditions obliged me for about two months to stop the lessons. The second step was searching for convenient universities that offer the best opportunities and fit best to my needs. Through the search, I came across the announcement of Erasmus Mundus Program, which seemed to be the outlet I was looking for. Reading about all partner universities, the options were few because I was seeking a university that offers scholarships for degree seeking students, not just exchange students. Technische UniversitÃÆ' ¤t Berlin was the best choice for me because of the scholarships it offers and my knowledge of German language. Through further search, I found that TU Berlin has a very good rank in world ranking of universities in the major of information technology. All these reasons together made TU Berlin my number one priority among all universities. I want to study at TU Berlin because of its outstanding educational system, focus on gathering relevant work experience, and its excellent facilities. So I am confident of my decision. With many distinguished scientists as professors, I know that I will gain expert knowledge at the forefront of discovery. Further supporting professors lectures are the universitys use of advanced. All these strong positives allow me to pursue my dreams and ambitions. Given my past history of commitment to achieve my dream, I am confident that I will exceed the expectations, because of both my academic and interpersonal skills. I will enrich the program by enabling fellow students and professors to benefit from my ambitious and open nature. Furthermore, my international background will add more diversity to your program. Thank you for considering my application, and I look forward to your positive reply. Sincerely, Luna I like your essay, I can see the determination and will power you have in you. There are just a few grammatical errors which need to be corrected. â€Å"Where there’s a will, there’s a way,† one of the best proverbs I follow to achieve my goals and ambitions, starting from my early teenage. Since I was a student in the intermediate school, the major of study I wanted to take after high school was clear to me. Many difficulties faced me, but I could overcome all to achieve my dream in studying the major I want, Computer Science. â€Å"Where there’s a will, there’s a way,† Personally, one of my favorite proverbs and one which I have always followed to achieve my goals and ambitions? Ever since, I was a student in the intermediate school (do you mean secondary school?), the major of study I have wanted to pursue after completing high school was clear to me. I have faced many obstacles, but fortunately I overcame all of them to achieve my dream in studying the major I want, Computer Science. I used to live in Lebanon during my childhood and teenage, but in 2006 the war obliged me to leave and move to Syria, my homeland. It was quite difficult to complete studying in the Syrian schools because of the huge differences between the Syrian and Lebanese curricula. Yet I succeeded, and graduated from high school with an average of 99.16 percent. I lived in Lebanon during my childhood and teenage until the war in 2006 obliged us (you and your family?) to flee (or you can use the word return) to Syria, my homeland. I was struggling in high school because of the vast differences between the Syrian and Lebanese curricula. Yet, I managed to succeed and graduated from high school with an average of 99.16 percent. - In Syria, it is well common that the higher the student’s average is, the more probability the he/she chooses the faculty that requires high averages in high school, usually regardless what the student’s dream is. According to my average and this tradition, I was supposed to get into the major with the highest average, medicine. Yet I chose to get into the faculty of Information Technology Engineering, as the closest major to Computer Science (because this major is not found in Damascus University), ignoring all criticisms and oppositions I received. In Syria, it is a trend is/ usually/ etc/use something other than well common, that the higher a students average is, the higher the probability he/ she chooses the/a faculty (field/ major) which requires high averages in high school, regardless of what the students dream is. According to this tradition and my average, I was supposed to pick the major which requires the highest average, medicine. Yet, I chose the faculty of Information Technology Engineering, as the closest major to Computer Science (.), ignoring all the criticisms and oppositions I received.

Essay :: essays research papers

Unit 1: Narrative Essay Feeling complete with your own personal mental and physical standpoints is essential if you ever want a fulfilling relationship. Knowing your own ability to live vigilantly day to day, being gratified with the prospects of how you are living your life up untill this point. This is what determines wether your ready to take the step into entering a relationship. Every point in ones life is a learning experience. Treating past relationships as learning experiences help to better your understanding of what your really looking to gain out of future relationships. The following paragraphs discuss a story of my past. This story revolves around a relationship taking place at a negative point in my life. So my lesson to you is one I learned the hard way. Being happy with yourself is vital before attempting to by happy with someone else. To mentally set the scene for my story, I will give some background into my mental and physical standpoint. During the time of this story, I was under a lot of stress from various circumstances. I had just recently lost my job at Subway and had no source of income. Becouse I lost my job, I had no longer the money nor the resources to continue with athletic training. Taking the three months off from athletic training had a negative effect on my physical appearence. With a noticable loss of physical appearence, my self esteem began to drop slightily. So all together, threw one run of bad luck into another, i was spiraling down into a depression like state. It all started the first week of grade 10. I was walking to math class and i met up with a few of my lunch crew friends. I noticed my friend Ashlea talking to Erin Berring. Erin was an attractive, smart and fashonable girl. I always had a thing for smarties. In school she had straight A's, and was also the leader of the female wrestling team. I felt a little up on myself that day for some reason. I figured there was no better time then the present to chat it up a little. The conversation went quite well, which was different from what I expected. She even asked for my number so we could continue our talk later that night. "Why would she be interested in me?," I said to myself. After all, she seemed way out of my league.

“Broken Lives” By Estelle Blackburn Essay

The chapter â€Å"Another Gun, Another Unlocked Door† is a chapter from Estelle Blackburn’s expository text Broken Lives. This chapter focuses on one night of Eric Edgar Cooke’s murderous sprees where he steals a rifle and shoots a baby sitter, once again leaving the city of Perth in the hands of fear and danger. The purpose of this chapter is to fight for Cooke’s guilt. It shows that he had no fear of being caught and was a devious man when it came to him stealing, killing and the plans he came up with. Through particular aspects of its construction including point of view, structure, language, personality presentation and tone, our response to the ideas conveyed are able to be shaped and moulded to the ideas that are presented The point of view in â€Å"Another Gun, Another Unlocked Door† is from a third person omniscient view, looking in on the world surround Cooke. However the point of view is no ordinary third person point of view, it is in fact shifting, jumping from one character to the next so that we can get into the minds of all the characters and the emotions they are experiencing at the time of the ‘gunman’s rampage.† The point of view is shifting as to present the views of the many characters we come into contact with throughout the chapter. All people views on Cooke come to fruition and to our realisation. The fear that Cooke spread throughout Perth is exposed and our response to him and our feelings moulded. He shoots an innocent girl studying, through the point of view we can look in on his emotions and thoughts and the evil side of him. â€Å"†¦ He had a rifle and was in a killing mood †¦Ã¢â‚¬  This suggests that Cooke had been in this mood before when he has killed people previously and asks us the question, what sort of man is he if he gets in a killing mood. If Broken Lives was written from a first person point of view, we would not see the same emotions and feeling that we do from a third person omniscient view. The language goes hand in hand with the point of view. The sort of language that is used in â€Å"Another Gun, Another Unlocked Door† is one to convince people of Cooke’s guilt when it comes to these murders and shows how much of  a crazed killer he really was. It also proves how he enjoyed the fear of being caught and the fear that someone could see him. â€Å"†¦ He could see a short woman sitting in the lounge. He loved the risk†¦Ã¢â‚¬  What is this saying about Cooke? That he is a quiet, well-mannered, law abiding citicen? Or that he is a crazed madman that enjoyed the risks of robbing people and killing them without any remorse. The language even describes the look on Cooke’s face or the way in which his heart was beating. Even though some of this is fictionalized, it has been incorporated to shape our response towards Cooke so that we feel the same way in which Blackburn does about him. â€Å"Another Gun, Another Unlocked Door† is structured in such a way so that many points of view and characters are presented. The chapter jumps from one character to another, which results in many feelings and attitudes being presented. Through the numerous amounts of characters being presented we are able to see that it was not only a handful of residents of Perth that feared for their lives, but it was all people, ranging from the better off people to those that weren’t as well off. Through the way she has structured â€Å"Another Gun, Another Unlocked Door† Blackburn has successfully conveyed many ideas into one small section. By structuring the chapter in this way, Blackburn can also select the details that she wants to include, those that will support her view, and exclude other, those that will contradict her view. By selecting certain details from certain characters, Blackburn’s point can be made stronger without her need to fictionalise or fabricate some of the ‘facts’ that she is presenting to the reader. The way in which the characters are presented in â€Å"Another Gun, Another Unlocked Door† shapes our response and how we react when Cooke take the lives of people. When we are first introduced to Shirley Martha McLeod we are told of how she is a hard working science student at St Catherine’s College. She is presented in such a way that sets visual pictures in our  head of just what McLeod would have been like. â€Å"†¦ She had a satchel of books with her and told Dowd how she planned to work very hard for The rest of the university year†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This sets up an image of a young girl who concentrates on her school work and is well mannered and polite. â€Å"†¦ Dowd felt comfortable leaving baby Mitchell  in her care†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The way in which McLeod is presented sets up the fact that Cooke stole the lives of innocent, caring people that he did not know and had everything going for them. This proves that it was a case of wrong place, wrong time. By giving us this information, Blackburn can shape our response by playing on this. Blackburn can emphasise how much of a caring young lady McLeod was and ask us to question how Cooke could take the life of a person so innocent. Then there is also the way in which Blackburn portrays Cook’s personality. She describes him as a monster that was only out to kill and nothing else. â€Å"†¦ The feeling of power began to come over him as  ran his fingers along the barrel†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This is describing the feeling that Cooke got when he found the .22 rifle that would eventually lead to his demise. Through describing Cooke like this, Blackburn is reinforcing her previous opinion of Cooke’s personality. By doing this we are once again being shaped into responding in a particular manner. Does Blackburn know how Cooke felt or has she once again fictionalised sections to fight for the innocence of John Button? By putting a serious mood and tone to â€Å"Another Gun, Another Unlocked Door† Blackburn is setting up the fact that this was all real and it was not something she made up. Some sections of Broken Lives have a good-natured feel about them, especially when they are speaking of John Button. An example of this is â€Å"Life’s a Ball† where the tone is less serious as Blackburn is describing John Button and how he was a fine upstanding member of society. However by using a more serious mood and tone when speaking of Cooke, Blackburn is shaping our response to the ideas she presents. If â€Å"Another Gun, Another Unlocked Door† was presented in a lighter mood such as â€Å"Life’s a Ball† the chapter would not be as effective in proving Cooke’s guilt. Seeing as the purpose of Broken Lives is to assure us that Cooke was guilty and Button innocent, Blackburn would not go and put a humorous tone on something as serious as a young girl being murdered, especially when it was Cooke that murdered her, the one she is trying to prove guilty. â€Å"Another Gun, Another Unlocked Door† succeeds in it’s purpose of assuring us of Cooke’s guilt. Blackburn does this be presenting particular characters in particular aspects. Or including certain information that supports her argument or even just through the language she chooses. This chapter argues for Button’s guilt and just proves what type of a man Cooke really was. These particular aspects of narrative construction all shape the way in which we respond to the ideas the Blackburn is presenting.

Go Glow Grow Essay

Go Glow Grow is a nutrition curriculum developed for preschool children. In conjunction with the book Go Glow Grow: Foods for You, children learn about healthy eating, exercising and the importance of hand washing. Using a simplified version of MyPlate, children learn the connection between healthy foods and what they do for the body. †¢Grains are Go foods, they help you run, jump and play all day. †¢Fruits and vegetables are Glow foods; they help you have shiny hair and sparkly eyes. †¢Milk and meat & beans are Grow foods, they help you to grow big and strong. Each lesson includes teacher background information, two activities, snack recipes, and review questions. There is also a take home letter telling parents what their child learned along with an activity and snack recipe to make at home. Glow Foods Apple- Vitamin C Grapes- A, C, B6, Antioxidant Chico-Vitamins, Minerals Pechay- Vitamin A, C, Calcium, Phosphorus Monggo- Protein and Dietary Fiber Malunggay- Iron, Vitamin B, Calcium, Vitamin A Potato- Carbohydrates, Vitamin C, Iron, Fiber Vitamin B-6 Squash- Beta-carotene, Vitamin A and C, magnesium, fiber, folate, riboflavin, phosphorus, potassium and Vitamin B6 Grow Foods Fish- Protein, Zinc, Calcium Chicken- Zinc, Protein, Iron, Vitamins, Minerals 1. Go: Carbohydrates Foods rich in carbohydrates, or â€Å"Go† foods, provide healthy energy. â€Å"Go† foods include bread, cereals, pasta, potatoes and rice. Carbohydrate-containing foods are often high in B vitamins, fiber and other essential nutrients, and are a vital source of energy for the brain. An athlete might eat a plate of pasta before a competition to provide her with  the energy to compete at her best. According to the Food Pyramid, developed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), a healthy diet includes six to eleven servings of breads/grains per day. 2. Grow: Proteins Foods rich in proteins, or â€Å"Grow† foods, are foods essential for growth and healthy body development. These include milk and dairy products, eggs, meat, fish, nuts, beans and avocados. Proteins strengthen the bones and build healthy muscles. â€Å"Grow† foods keep the heart strong, and help repair and fortify body tissues. Protein foods are often rich in vitamins and minerals. For instance, salmon is high in calcium, magnesium, Vitamins D and E, and Omega-3 fatty acids. The USDA Food Pyramid recommends two to three servings of dairy foods, and 2-3 servings of non-dairy proteins per day. 3. Glow: Fruits and Vegetables Fruits and vegetables, or â€Å"Glow† foods, enhance the glow of skin and hair. Glow foods such as spinach, broccoli, oranges and plums are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. Soluble fiber such as prebiotics help nourish the friendly bacteria (probiotics) in the intestines to encourage healthy digestion. â€Å"Glow† foods are also rich in valuable antioxidants. Antioxidants include vitamins E, A and C, and minerals such as selenium. These help fight cell damage to keep the immune system healthy.

The Federal Government in the United States

The Federal Government in the United States Federalism and policy development The federal government has some powers over the States in the United States (Dye, 2010). In this regard, it makes choices on a range of aspects.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Federal Government in the United States specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The idea that the federal government has far-reaching powers over a number of issues raises questions regarding the extent to which the government should interfere with some aspects. Once the federal government decides on issues, in a way, it influences the behavior or the rights of individual citizens. Based on this, it is noticeable that federalism heavily influences policy making in the United States. Using the same line of thinking, the federal government sets the underlying regulations regarding public policy making. It is evident that the federal government decides the procedures or the rules that State governments have to observe regarding some activities. As an illustration, the federal government sets the percentage of revenue that the State governments retain as well as that that they remit. It is clear that the amount of revenue that States collect influence the level of development that States are able to carry out. As such, when the federal government policy puts demands that certain percentages be remitted to the national budget, it influences the developmental agenda of the States. If this holds, then it should also be noted that the State governments are in charge of certain functions at State level. These developmental activities affect the lives of the citizens at the State level. Since the federal government influences the activities, the States engage in, it also affects the lives of citizens. It is thus reasonable to conclude that federal policy activities affect the rights of citizens. Public Policy and Opinion Polls Political processes influence public policy in different ways (Dy e, 2010). Political processes may include elections, campaigns for elections, opinion polls, constitution making, etc. These political processes have varied effects on the policy making process although in unexpected ways (Gray, 2004). Regarding elections, it is noticeable that political parties give clearance to individuals who seek political office (Brown, 2009). As a rule, each political party has its policy agenda.Advertising Looking for research paper on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More By way of illustration, the conservative party leans towards American conservatism as reflected by its pragmatic approach to several issues. Concisely, each party has a policy line it seeks to implement upon assuming office. Additionally, upon winning elections, political parties appoint senior office holders in the country. Although, the leaders or office bearers run offices using set procedures, political affiliation may influence the decisions they make. Based on this illustration, it is discernable that the election process may influence policymaking. As presented in the case regarding political processes, public opinion is unstable. Public opinion changes within short spells and may have various degrees of influence on policymaking. As an illustration, it is established from the above point that public policy is a function of elections and the election process. It is noticeable that public opinion heavily influences elections. As an example, when the United States is at war, the public may hold a certain perception regarding the government. Such wars as the one against Vietnam led the public into holding divided views on the role of the government. If the public holds the view that the government is unjustified in engaging in a war, it is likely that the government would be voted out in the subsequent elections. Concisely, it is noticeable that public opinion affects the election process. In turn, election outcomes influence policy making as illustrated above. Reference List Brown, E. (2009). Public opinion and penal policymaking: An examination of  constructions, assessments, and uses of public opinion by political actors in New York State. State University of New York at Albany: ProQuest. Dye, T.R. (2010). Understanding public policy (13th ed.). Longman: Pearson Prentice Hall.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Federal Government in the United States specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Gray, J. (2004). Public Opinion and Polling Around the World: A Historical  Encyclopedia. New York: ABC-CLIO.

Conventional Media and the New Media Environment in Modern China

Conventional Media and the New Media Environment in Modern China Introduction With the emergence of telecommunication technology, the world is experiencing a major revolution in the communication sector. Theoretically, people are able to communicate with one another regardless of the distance separating them (Zhang, 2009).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Conventional Media and the New Media Environment in Modern China specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More After several years of market reforms and development, China’s media had big changes in terms of communication models, management philosophy, and ownership. More importantly, however, these changes have also drastically altered the way in which the government, media, and the public interact. This paper looks at how the Chinese state is dealing with the ever increasing adoption of new media and what the state is doing to control the way citizens communicate and receive news whether local or international. Various situations are examined to help understand how the relationship between the Chinese state and the media has changed over the years as a result of development and reforms in the communication sector that has led to the expansion in the number, variety and ownership of media outlets (Shirk, 2011). The Impact of New Media To better understand the impact of new media on the Chinese state and how this has been and continues to be dealt with, different avenues of access to information will be examined to determine their effect. Specifically, Citizen News, Official Television News and Newspaper and the Internet use will be discussed. Citizen News In 2003, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Hu Jianto announced set of guidelines requiring that any news reporting be as close as possible to reality, close to livelihood, and close to the people. CCP further published a report that suggested a decreasing level of coverage on leaders’ activities (Hewitt, 2010). Unanimously, Chinese media researchers agree that innovations such as Citizen News and telling people’s stories are in line with CCP’s approach to propaganda. Citizen News later received recognition as a permissible type of news reporting for local Chinese television stations.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More While some communications researchers feel that Citizen News is helpful in reinforcing the credibility of television news reporting, many do not believe it. These critics assert that Citizen News is full of trivial coverage such as family disputes, neighbor’s arguments, and cases of vandalism and cheating. Furthermore, critics are convinced that content that may be regarded as newsworthy is rarely covered by Citizen News. Despite the lack of attention to significant political news and social injustice, Citizen News programs do offer the general public a view of re al life, as well as an opportunity to speak out about different issues. Through the kind of news programs presented on Citizen News, mainstream propaganda and commercial culture are combined to create an atmosphere of caring about people’s livelihood and nurturing a harmonious society. As a result, sensors tend to be tolerant of such programs. In a similar manner, some audiences have gradually become dissatisfied with such comparatively shallow news coverage and are disheartened by their inability to find any serious news reporting on local television (Midford, 2011). Official Television News Official television news is news as represented by Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) news. All television stations in China are required to broadcast CCTV news on their main channels simultaneously. For example, cable television users in the Beijing area receive about fifty channels but more than thirty of them broadcast CCTV news from 7.00 to 7.30 pm every night. This central monopoly on national news coverage is generally well established. During the Cultural Revolution, the only news resource for the general public was the official media. National news was primarily reported on China National Radio every night at 8.00 pm and many people were regular listeners to the program. In the year 1982, the central government declared that any important news should be released first on CCTV news at 7.00 pm before being aired on any other media.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Conventional Media and the New Media Environment in Modern China specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Apparently, the rule is still being in force. (Bittner, 2008). With the growing popularity and availability of television sets, more people tend to pay close attention to CCTV news. The results of a survey conducted in the Beijing area indicated that only 8.8 percent of the people said that they almost never watched CCTV news, 30.5 percent watched it at least three times per week, 30.7 percent watched it at least four or five times per week, and 25.7 percent watched it six to seven times per week (Shirk, 2011). Clearly, the requirement by the state that official news first be aired on CCTV news was a means of putting measures in place to control how citizens interact with media and to ensure that traditional media remained the only popular means of receiving news both locally and internationally. Newspaper and Internet Use In urban areas, newspapers are seen to be one of the most popular sources of news, ranking second after television. In Beijing, for example, about 80 percent of the residents read newspapers (Shen Breslin, 2010). Given that reading requires literacy, those who do not read any newspapers also indicate that they do not have the time to read newspapers and they already feel sufficiently informed by electronic media such as television or radio broadcasting. Generally, the Chinese citizens read newspap ers in the late afternoon or evening. Most people spend about forty two minutes reading newspapers on a daily basis (Hsing Lee, 2010). Considering that only a minority of Chinese readers subscribe to newspapers, most people usually get to read the newspapers at work or purchase them at a newspaper stand. Apparently, this habit makes it possible for Chinese readers to switch very frequently between newspapers and read a greater variety of them. Average readers peruse two newspapers but some report reading as many as ten different papers per day. While most readers have a clear preference for non official papers, only 36 percent of readers choose reading official newspapers (Shen Breslin, 2010).Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As far as using the Internet is concerned, the Chinese citizens connect quite freely to the Internet within China despite being very much aware that their activities and messages may be monitored by the government (Scotton Hachten, 2010). Some researchers inside China, however, claim that the government is very effective in ensuring that foreign information does not reach its citizens. It is generally believed that the Chinese government is capable of blocking access to outside sites rather easily since all international traffic must pass through a small number of state controlled backbone networks. The government also has the technology in place that blocks web pages and cancels links that would lead to unacceptable sites ranging from pornography to international news (Scotton Hachten, 2010). Quite a number of people believe that Chinese Internet controls can easily be evaded. As the censors work in China to limit access to the Internet sites although individuals and teams overse as are determined to frustrate such efforts. Some Chinese researchers argue that due to social pressures and technological development, it is simply impossible to hide on the Internet. Another problem faced by censors is the lack of a clear policy regarding what is banned from the Internet. The speed of communication via this new media also makes it difficult for the Chinese government to execute any form of control on information flying around. The presence of the Internet and mobile phones in hands of the citizens facilitates a faster transfer of information making it difficult for the government to control what eventually is available to people. Media experts believe that official newspapers in China publish propaganda while non official papers publish what is regarded as real news. To media specialists, propaganda is based on subjective opinion aimed at guiding the reader in a certain direction and often omits important facts, while real news provides the audience with the compl ete story and includes negative aspects. To stay safe, the state is forever suppressing the efforts of the non official papers that are always making attempts to push the boundaries set by the state (Yu, 2009). Official media sources are considered to be experts on the position of the state and are aimed at manipulating public opinion. On the contrary, non official media sources are seen as reporting from the perspective of the public in a less biased way. Taking into account that media credibility requires high levels of both expertise and objectivity, official sources tend to rank lower in terms of credibility than non official ones. Unlike newspapers, however, the Web is a less popular information source. In the year 2009, less than 30 percent of Chinese citizens had access to Internet. The number is, however, growing at a very rapid pace. In the year 2008, for example, the number of Internet users grew by 41.9 percent. Most urban Chinese consent to the fact that their own lack o f skills and access to facilities constitute to the two main reasons for not being able to surf the Web. In addition, access to the Web requires a computer, which is still costly and unreachable for the majority. As a result, the proportion of the population who use the Internet is still quite low. However, reading the news is the second most frequently used online service. Currently, two important alternative means exist that allow citizens to go online. While some people would access the Web at work, others would do so through cyber cafes. Still others would use both alternatives depending on where one would be at a certain time. Effects of Operating Based on CCP’s Guidelines As the primary television propaganda machine, CCTV news has always adhered to the principle of publicizing the policies of the CCP and the government. Its reports focus on the activities of the Chinese leaders and political conferences. They are full of meaningless content and presented in an inflexibl e style. Rarely will information of real interest be aired through CCTV news. According to a survey undertaken by Professor Zhou Xiaopu of Renmin University in Beijing, political news coverage accounted for 52.3 percent of the program and it mostly involved CCP leaders’ activities, propaganda campaigns, and political announcements. International news on the other hand accounted for 7.3 percent and was always placed at the end of the program. In addition, studies have shown that, on average, events are reported on CCTV news two days after they actually had happened. State Controlled Transparency Controlled transparency is one of the tactics which for a very long time has been employed by the Chinese government to guarantee the continued existence of traditional Chinese media. By ensuring that citizens are mostly confined to state controlled media, the penetration of new media in the China is certainly suppressed. Over the years, senior court officials have repeatedly emphasize d the importance of greater transparency in China’s courts. As noted by the Supreme People’s Court, there is need to police the courts. Every single court is required by the state to voluntarily release information about important cases, cease being passive in response to media coverage, and strengthen their propaganda systems so as to lead the media to report positively about the courts (Yu, 2009). Similarly, his predecessor spoke of the importance of courts opening themselves to media supervision and balancing legal outcomes with the needs of the nation and the CCP. In May 2009, the Supreme People’s Court issued directions to lower courts concerning implementation of the concept of justice for the people, calling on courts to respond quickly to negative reporting, in order to improve relations with the media and to voluntarily provide tips to the media with the intention of encouraging positive coverage. These comments and rules reflect two strategies that hav e been used by courts in response to increased media pressure. Courts have spoken of the importance of supervision and have publicly welcomed greater coverage. At the same time, however, courts have stepped up efforts to manage information flow to the media, attempting to control access to the courts as well as the content of news reports about the courts. Regulations adopted by the Supreme People’s Court in 1999 state that most cases should be made open to the public and the media but also include numerous vague exceptions and require reporters to obtain advance permission from the court hearing the case. Practically, the regulations give judges and courts significant discretion to deny access to the media. Courts have also become proficient when it comes to encouraging positive media coverage. They frequently draft articles for the media or provide details about cases to journalists. Courts reward judges with praise and bonuses for obtaining positive coverage or for authori ng articles that help to strengthen the courts’ public image. Many courts also require local media to seek approval of articles from either court propaganda officials or the judges hearing a particular case prior to running a report (Reilly, 2008). Failure to seek approval can result in journalists being barred from further reporting on the court. In 2006, the Supreme People’s Court also announced that it was creating an official press secretary and that judges were henceforth forbidden from speaking to the media without prior approval. In solidarity, local courts also implemented the same. This has, however, not been received well by media commentary which has portrayed the system as an effort to restrict critical coverage as it stops other judges from speaking to the media. As such, the courts have been criticized as being afraid of media scrutiny. Although the media are allowed to cover cases once they have been decided, regulations strongly oppose reports that diff er in opinion from the courts and in effect banning criticisms of decisions made by the court. In 2005, the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Broadcasting prohibited television and radio stations from reporting on cases while they are still pending and forbid local media from covering events outside their home jurisdiction. Repeatedly, the Supreme People’s Court officials have stated that in sensitive or high profile cases, the courts speak with a unified voice and only official spokespeople are allowed to talk to the media. In support of all these regulations, judges argue that controls on media coverage are extremely necessary so as to prevent biased reporting. On the other hand, however, journalists complain that judges are increasingly using the rhetoric of judicial independence to prevent media oversight of the courts. Although numerous defamation related cases have been presented before Chinese courts, a significant portion were against the media. To the media, i t appears that defamation litigation is being used as a new form of control to ensure that media practitioners are forced to toe the line. According to Shirk (2011), there are four trends that can help to explain the impact of defamation litigation on the Chinese media. First, both anecdotal and empirical evidence suggest that the media often lose the majority of cases brought against them. The vagueness of Chinese defamation law is blamed for facilitating decisions against the media and for allowing the courts to find the media liable for even very small errors. Second, defamation litigation is now a significant means of retaliation by targets of public opinion supervision. This is well reinforced by making sure that numerous cases are brought by officials or state or CCP entities in response to critical coverage (McCargo, 2003). Individuals and corporations have been made to bring suit in response to critical reports that are designed both to retaliate against the media and to blo ck further reporting. Courts and judges themselves have brought a small number of defamation cases in response to critical coverage. Despite the different perceptions of media credibility, it is important to note that most Chinese citizens widely accept the need for propaganda for the collective benefit. The widespread acceptance of the propaganda has drawn together people with divergent and possibly incompatible positions on media control but willing to accept it for the sake of ensuring social stability. Similarly, it would be wrong to conclude that official media sources do not serve an important function in Chinese society (Thorburn, Jenkins Seawell, 2004). Although it is common knowledge that official news organs aim to manipulate public opinion, they are useful for learning the goals and policies of the government. The cost of obtaining official news is also comparatively low for individuals given that they have access to such information sources at the workplace. Furthermore , ordinary citizens will also prefer such sources when they have incentives to seek out information about the position of the government. The utility of official sources does not, however, imply that they are perceived as being credible. Nevertheless, the credibility issue is of great concern to the officials spreading propaganda, who are worried about their credibility to guide public opinion thorough the media. Chinese political leaders continue to regard the news media as a necessary instrument to hold China together and to push forward reform policies. Chinese communication researchers have, therefore, been hesitant to report public opinion data that suggests the low credibility of official media sources (Mansell Raboy, 2011). Although official media still give non official media a sense of direction for news reporting, non official media still prevails in terms of the ability to influence public opinion. This notwithstanding, non official media outlets are always regarded as t roublemakers by the Chinese officials rather than as useful tools to guide public opinion. Officials have become particularly concerned about the role of the non official media in challenging the official line of the state and serving as catalysts of public opinion crises (Reilly, 2008). However, it is the perceived disassociation from the government that lends credibility to the nonofficial media, improving their ability to influence public opinion. Ironically, media challenges to state control can boost the ability of the state to manipulate public opinion as long as the state retains some control over news content and can deter media outlets from deviating too strongly from the official line. Citizens’ Views on Restrictions Placed on News Content Studies by Waldman (2011) indicated that public perceptions of media outlets matter a great deal to the Chinese government and especially when a person’s beliefs strongly diverge from the official line of the state. As poin ted out earlier, despite their lower levels of credibility, official sources still remain useful to individuals who need to know the official position of the government regarding different national issues. It may appear that this is an approach taken by the government to see to it that control systems put in place function effectively. Conclusion State control of Chinese media is nothing of a secret. Despite the commercialization of media in China, journalists and editors claim that all news media are owned by the state and have not brought any form of independence. There is nothing like fully commercialized or private media in China. As a way of ensuring that traditional Chinese media is not swallowed by the new media the Chinese government has had to make radical decisions that have made it possible to keep the activities of the private media under check. Through discussions presented in this paper, one can clearly notice that to a great extent, the Chinese government has been abl e to ensure that traditional media remained relevant to its people in the presence of stiff competition in an environment filled with incredible new technology (Waldman, 2011). Even though China’s courts are not unique in restricting media coverage and that many Western countries impose significant limitations on coverage of pending cases, such restrictions may be quite damaging in China, given the very limited history of transparency in the legal system and the numerous problems that continue to undermine the authority and the ability of the courts (Gascoyne-Cecil, 1912). 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