News Summary: Chinese summit embraces social media

NEW TOOLS: Party officials have embraced social media, hoping it can help guide public opinion and stir up excitement about this week's staid and scripted leadership transition summit.

EXAMPLES: Typical posts include pictures of grinning delegates on Tiananmen Square, snapshots of poinsettia arrangements and chandeliers from inside the meeting and rhapsodies about China's rise. State media also are posting microblog interviews with officials and shooting out updates about the congress schedule.

BLOWBACK: But the public is also using social media to poke fun at and critique Beijing's propaganda.