"Tibet has a complete modern system of newspapers, radio and television stations, employing more than 1,600 journalists," said Gou Tianlin, a publicity official of the region.

He revealed that Tibet now has 23 newspapers, including the authoritative "Tibet Daily" published in both Chinese and Tibetan and overseen by the regional committee of the Communist Party of China.

Major news organizations of the Party and the central government, such as "People's Daily" and Xinhua News Agency, have established bureaus in Tibet.

Radio and Television programs reach 68 percent and 63 percent of the population, respectively, and have become the most effective means of relaying news.

Gou said that Tibet's first news institution was a radio station established by the People's Liberation Army in the 1950s. Tibet had its own TV station in 1985.

The region now has two radio stations and three TV stations.

Next year will see the 50th anniversary of China's peaceful liberation of Tibet.

(www.eastday.com 11/20/2000)