Media professionals expect to interact more with both their counterparts and the public following the launch yesterday of the country's first official website for journalists.

More than 200 media professionals from across the country took part in the inauguration ceremony for the news portal, www.zgjx.cn, yesterday in Beijing. The site's main sponsor is All-China Journalists' Association.

Zhai Huisheng, executive vice-chairman of the association, said the website's goal is to provide timely and comprehensive online services to the country's media professionals, facilitating communication among reporters and the public.

The site will feature information on professional training, expertise exchanges, public feedback and breaking news.

"New material will be added regularly, and documentaries will be composed to make the website a sort of news museum for the country's media industry," said Zhai.

This year marks the association's 70th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the association plans to hold a series of activities on the website to showcase examples of good journalism and highlight the achievements of Chinese media professionals during the past decades, Zhai said.

He also urged the public to participate in the website to help oversee the media's performance. The public will be invited to participate in the giving of several prominent news awards.

Media professionals hailed the website's launch.

"It's really nice to have such an online gathering place, where you can catch up with the latest news in the industry and exchange views with thousands of others who share the same vision as I do in seeking truth, honesty and objectivity," said Wang Haiping, a reporter with the Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post.

Wang mentioned that he regularly consulted a dozen or so privately run websites and online chat rooms designed for reporters in the country.

"But most of them are small in scale and one cannot expect much valuable information there," said Wang.

Statistics from the country's press administration show that China has about 150,000 certificated reporters. Altogether, about 700,000 people are involved in the country's media industry.

(China Daily 02/02/2007 page3)