The agency was described by media scholars as the "eyes and tongue" of the Party, observing what is important for the masses and passing on the information.[10] A former Xinhua director, Zheng Tao, noted that the agency was a bridge between the Party, the government and the people, communicating both the demands of the people and the policies of the Party.[11] People's Daily, for example, uses Xinhua material for about a quarter of its stories.[citation needed]