The concluding round of the public speaking contests for Chinese female journalists was held on Dec. 30, 2014. The theme of the competition was "implementing the core socialist values."
Before 2014 ended, the final round of the public speaking contest among female journalists was held in Beijing, wherein 19 competitors of varying types and levels received awards.
The journalists tried to best one other using their touching stories showcasing the core socialist values, which include "prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, the rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity and friendship." These values were emphasized by President Xi Jinping during the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Nov. 2012.
This journalism competition was organized through the joint efforts of the Capital Women Journalists Association, the Beijing Women's Federation as well as the people.com.cn. The journalists' entries revolve around their touching real-life working experience in media reporting. The stories have to demonstrate the core values to qualify.
Contestants of the said competition were chosen based on a recommendation basis. The recommendations were handled by varied media organizations in Beijing. The competition became fiercer as the final round neared. The final round only included 30 lucky competitors from the many entries initially included.
The contest has a political undertone. The Chinese government deemed it a nice way to reinforce as well as revisit the best examples of core socialist values. Journalists themselves stand to benefit as the competition improves their working morale.
One of the core organizations behind this contest, the Capital Women Journalists Association was established on March 6, 1986. The organization was designed to unite women journalists within and outside the country.