CCTV report on Starbucks triggered storm of internal dissent
Editorial staff felt segment attacking coffee chain for its pricing was silly but criticisms could not be expressed openly, sources say
A CCTV investigative report accusing Starbucks of overcharging mainland customers for coffee triggered enormous disquiet among journalists at the network and even some soul-searching after it aired.
The October segment - the brainchild of a network executive who noticed Starbucks coffee cost more on the mainland than in Britain - was mocked by internet users and criticised by economic experts.
But the reaction inside CCTV, which has targeted numerous foreign firms this year, was just as harsh, said a person with direct knowledge of how the report came together, and a former employee who left weeks ago.
However, those misgivings were all expressed in private or on a mobile phone chat application, illustrating how journalists are still reluctant to challenge editors in a system beholden to the Communist Party.
"I couldn't find you a single person at CCTV who genuinely agreed with that report. Everybody thought it was very silly," said the person with direct knowledge of the segment. "Of course, during meetings, the higher-ups all said it was right to do the report and no one disagreed." The person didn't want to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.
CCTV did not respond to requests for comment.
The network has taken many foreign firms to task this year over their pricing, poor quality and shoddy customer service, including Apple and Samsung Electronics. In some cases, the reports have won plaudits from viewers and forced companies to change their practices. For example, Apple apologised to mainland consumers for poor communication over its warranty policy and changed some of the terms.