BBC Monitoring: China’s live topical debate show still in their infancy

Monitoring journalist wrote in his July 29th article after watching the live-broadcast topical debate program aired by a TV channel in Jinan, Shandong province on July 26 that Chinese media become braver to challenge oversights about political broadcasts and want more government transparency under President Xi's anti-graft campaign.

负责收听收看世界各国媒体节目并向BBC及英国相关部门汇报信息（类似于中国《参考消息》——BBC注）的BBC Monitoring记者在收看中国山东济南台7月26日现场直播的电视问政节目后，对比英国类似节目，认为在反腐新政下，中国媒体似乎更敢于直接挑战和督促政府执政透明化。

The live program is similar to the UK's Question Time, the report said.

报告中说这个济南台播出的是类似于BBC"问答时刻"（Question Time）的新节目。

Similar programs have been aired before in Wuhan and Nanning, but the live topical debate show sponsored by Jinan TV is the largest-scale and is well-received across the nation. 

尽管此前中国的武汉和南宁等地电视也已经尝试过直播电视问政节目，但是这次济南台的声势最大，而且在中国各地获得的好评也最多。

The report said, in the first live show with an environmental theme, Shandong’s environment officials showed embarrassment and unease.

报告还称，现场的山东环保官员似乎不适应直播电视问政的方式，在镜头上显得"尴尬与不自然"。

Jinan citizens have been dissatisfied with the local environmental protection department for its failure to tackle the pollution issue.

据悉，首期问政的主题是："问环保——整治污染，成效几何"。在济南市民眼中，当地环保部门的成绩单一直不能令人满意。

Officials inquired in the program included the director of Jinan Environmental Protection Bureau and the heads of the city’s Development and Reform Commission, Urban and Rural Construction Committee, Public Infrastructure Bureau, and Urban Management Bureau. 

现场被问政的对象，除济南市环保局局长外，还有市发改委、市城乡建设委员会、市市政公用事业局、市城市管理局的"一把手"，其职责范围涵盖污水、扬尘、渣土车等环境整治的重要方面。

Staffs from the above departments were also present. They have to stand up to answer questions related to their duties if necessary.

现场台下坐满了上述单位的相关部门工作人员，直播过程中，他们需要随时起身回答自身工作领域的相关问题。

It has a live audience and people could also ring in to ask questions. The heads of the departments had to face real tough issues.

随着暗访短片播出以及电话热线、现场观众提问等场内外互动环节的推进，一个个难题被真真切切地摆在"一把手"面前。

Pollution is an important issue for Jinan residents and it is also an important national issue for China.

污染不但是济南民众面临的严峻挑战，也是全中国人面临的严重问题。

China Youth Daily said on July 28th that China had finally come to an "era of live television politics". Shanghai Morning Post said live broadcasts had a sense of presence and impact.

报告引述《中国青年报》28日发表的文章称，中国终于进入了一个"电视直播问政时代"，上海《新闻晨报》28日发表的文章也赞扬了电视直播问政节目的表现与力度。

Although live topical debate shows are becoming increasingly popular, they are still in their infancy.

类似的直播问政节目尽管大受欢迎，但是仍然为数不多，但（对比起西方国家广电受众习以为常的直播问政节目来说）还属于"初级阶段"。

The report quotes Chinese officials as saying that similar programmes are at least "awakening" local officials’ sense of responsibility, and they need to give more transparency to the public during President Xi’s anti-graft campaign. 

BBC Monitoring的报告引述中国官员对媒体发表的言论表示，类似的直播节目至少开始让中国基层官员开始意识到，为官是要负责任的，他们在习近平政府的反腐运动中有必要在执政方面更加透明化。