New York, March 19, 2008—The Chinese government has expanded its obstruction of foreign media covering the violence in Tibet into the neighboring provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, and Sichuan, as well as the capital, Beijing, according to international news reports that quoted a foreign correspondents group. The Foreign Correspondents Club of China (FCCC) told reporters they…
New York, March 18, 2008—With international attention focused on the unfolding violence in Tibet, the Chinese media are confronting massive censorship, leaving the Chinese public largely in the dark, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The Chinese government has barred or expelled virtually all international reporters from the region, and the state media presents…
New York, March 17, 2008—The Chinese government should abide by its promises to the international community not to restrict the news media, and it should immediately halt efforts to block domestic and foreign coverage of protests in Tibet, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Chinese authorities expelled journalists with six Hong Kong broadcasters from…
Washington, February 27, 2008—Conditions for domestic journalists remain poor in China despite the government’s promises to improve the press freedom environment before the Beijing Olympics, the Committee to Protect Journalists told the Congressional-Executive Commission on China today. Bob Dietz, CPJ Asia Program Coordinator, told the commission in Washington that China is holding at least 25…
New York, February 11, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of imprisoned journalist Yu Huafeng on Friday after his sentence was reduced, but remains concerned about conditions for critical reporters in China. Yu’s appeal lawyer, Pu Zhiqiang, confirmed the release in an e-mail to CPJ. The deputy editor-in-chief and general manager of…
Hong Kong, February 5, 2008–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about today’s nearly simultaneous sentencing of Chinese journalist Lü Gengsong and the unexpected release on parole of veteran Hong Kong reporter Ching Cheong. “While CPJ welcomes Ching Cheong’s release after nearly three years behind bars, the goodwill was dissipated by Lü Gengsong’s prison…
By Joel SimonIn August 2008, when the Olympic torch is lit in Beijing, more than 20,000 journalists will be on hand to cover the competition between the world’s greatest athletes. Behind the scenes, another competition will be taking place. If the Chinese government has its way, this one will remain hidden. It will be a…
When Press Freedom and Democracy Are Out of StepBy Tom RhodesBallots may have replaced bullets in much of Africa since the dawn of this new century, but one of the great political ironies for at least part of the continent has been a loss of press freedom following the voting. Leaders in a large swath…
Rewriting the Law to Make Journalism a CrimeBy Nina OgnianovaIn its 17 years on the air, Moscow-based Ekho Moskvy Radio has enjoyed, by Russian standards, extraordinary editorial independence. Nearly alone among Russian broadcasters in its critical approach, the station employs some of the country’s most outspoken journalists, who produce in-depth reporting on the most sensitive…