In response to President Xi Jinping's comment during an art seminar held in Oct. 2014, the Chinese government has decided to set the direction of how online literature sites produce and publish creative work.
China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) has issued a guideline to improve the quality of online published materials over the next three to five years.
According to the watchdog, online literature has become an integral part of the country's publishing industry that it appeals to the younger generation. Hence, the administration's guideline will ensure that published materials will be free from stereotypical, plagiarized and derivative contents.
Literature that serves the people and socialism are only two points indicated in the directive. In this light, literature must adapt with the times and promote values that will improve the society.
Writers and publishers are given the role of uplifting the morale of the people by making them central to their work. Additionally, these entities must ensure that all works present innovative ideas for an added appeal.
The guideline also calls for serious regulation of the industry by implementing an administrative mechanism for writers, training in professional ethics, and a registry and inquiry system for online literature.
Further, the internationalization of Chinese online literature has been proposed. Under this rule, the government will guide critics of online literature, make an assessment system, advance technologies for the industry, bolster copyright protection, and crack down on harmful content.
Aside from financial support, the government also encourages state-owned publishing companies to use the Web as another outlet.
During the October art seminar, Xi urged artists to create works that are "artistically outstanding" and "morally inspiring" to assist the government in promoting the core socialist values.
Art should not be a "slave" to the market and should not bear "the stench of money," the president remarked.