IFJ Press Freedom in China Campaign Bulletin: November 2011

IFJ Press Freedom in China Campaign Bulletin

Welcome to IFJ Asia-Pacific’s monthly Press Freedom in China Campaign e-bulletin. The next bulletin will be sent on December 8, 2011, and contributions are most welcome.

To contribute news or information, email ifj@ifj-asia.org. To visit the IFJ’s China campaign page, go to www.ifj.org.

1. Threats to Journalists in Southern China

The IFJ is deeply concerned by reports that an officer of the Haikuo Municipal Government Procurement Centre Cai Donghai used ”commercial secrets” as an excuse to refuse questions and illegally detain a journalist on October 9. According to a Xinhua report, the journalist discovered that a shell company may have successfully tendered for three contracts from the government without any evidence demonstrating their capacity to satisfy the requirements of the tendering process. When the journalist approached Cai, he initially used “commercial secrets” as an excuse to not answer questions, then asked a colleague to detain the journalist.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-concerned-by-illegal-threats-to-journalists-in-southern-china

2. Reports of Forced Closure of Investigative Magazine

The IFJ is deeply concerned by reports that Great Wall Monthly, an investigative news magazine in China, has apparently been shut down without an official explanation. According to an open letter published by the magazine’s editorial team on September 28, the magazine’s editorial and marketing teams were forced to leave the publication due to “reasons known to all.” The monthly magazine failed to publish an October edition on the 15th as scheduled after the dismissal of these staff. It is alleged that the magazine’s changes are a direct result of pressure from Chinese authorities.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/reports-of-forced-closure-of-investigative-magazine-in-china

3. Chinese Government Must Prevent Media Harassment

On October 28, Cai Sheng and Wang Shaoyang of the Shanghai Media Group’s Radio and Television of Shanghai stations, were involved in an altercation with a group of people in the city of Hengshui, in China’s northern Hebei province. During the incident, Cai was struck on the back of the head by an unidentified individual. According to a Radio Free Asia report, Cai and Wang were assaulted during a visit to an electronics store in Hengshui’s Shenzhou district, adjacent to Shenzhou Prison. The visit was part of an investigation into corruption involving correctional officers, prompted by the escape of a prisoner on September 11.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/chinese-central-government-must-prevent-media-harassment

4. SARFT Orders Reduction of Entertainment Programs on Satellite Television

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) of China announced in a directive on October 26 that all satellite televisions must reduce the number of entertainment programs which are deemed by the authorities to entail "excessive entertainment”, in order to "build morality and promote the core values of socialism" in 2012. The announcement followed a decision made by leaders of the Communist Party of China on October 18, which adopted guidelines to expand China’s soft power and promote the development of “socialist culture”. A plenary session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, held in Beijing from October 15 to18 declared that reform of China’s cultural system is needed to improve Chinese citizens’ sense of identity and confidence in Chinese culture. It also announced that China must enhance its international media influence, including through the internet.

5. Survey Reveals Nearly Half of Investigative Reporters Consider Changing Employers

The results of a survey released by Sun Yat Sen University on October 10, reveal that nearly half of investigative reporters in China are considering changing employers in the near future. According to the survey conducted by Professor Zheng Zhian, around 70 per cent of the interviewees admitted they considered changing jobs because of the poor working conditions for reporters. The average annual salary for investigative reporters is RMB 5,000 to 10,000 (USD 640 -1,280), with 15 per cent of respondents reportedly earning less than RMB 5000. The survey also revealed that investigative journalists have very limited freedom to report, with directives issued by the authorities limiting the scope and depth of their investigations.

6. Calls for End to Criminal Defamation in Taiwan

The IFJ joins its affiliate, the Association of Taiwan Journalists (ATJ), in expressing concern over the continued use of criminal defamation laws to curb press freedom in Taiwan. ATJ chairperson, Lin Chau-yi, a reporter for independent news website Newtalk, and Su Jeng-ping, the website’s administrator, were sued for criminal defamation by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator Hsieh Guo-liang. The legal action was taken in response to an article published by Newtalk on September 2. The article reported meetings between Hsieh and members of Taiwan’s National Communications Commission prior to their public hearing of an application regarding one of Taiwan’s largest ever multi-media acquisitions.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-calls-for-end-to-criminal-defamation-in-taiwan

7. Hong Kong Police Commissioner Urged to Ensure Transparency

The IFJ is concerned that Hong Kong police failed to properly release information regarding a number of attacks in Hong Kong’s Tseung Kwan O district and have breached the police department’s own commitments to transparency. Four people were physically attacked in separate incidents in Tseung Kwan O over a twelve-hour period on October 2 and 3. However, police did not release official information to the media about the incidents until after reports of the attacks emerged in Hong Kong newspapers almost a week later, on October 9. In refusing to promptly release information of the attacks, Hong Kong police failed to honour their promise, made when their communication systems were upgraded from analogue to digital, to disclose information to the media as soon as possible.

See: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-urges-hong-kong-police-commissioner-to-ensure-transparency

8. Hong Kong Legislative Council Addresses Treatment of Journalists

The IFJ is concerned by restrictions on the movement of media within the new Hong Kong Government complex, Government house and the Legislative Council. On October 12 a number of Hong Kong journalists and photographers were prevented by security agents from taking photos at the entrance to the Legislative Council Building when Hong Kong Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, entered the building to prepare his policy address. A photographer was also jostled by the head of a security team outside the Legislative Council. After receiving several complaints, the Secretary of the Legislative Council, took steps to rectify some of the restrictions and announced the government will consider providing training to their security team on the rights of journalists.

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