Chinese reporter accused of fabricating story held on unclear charges
New York, July 23, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for greater transparency in the arrest of a Chinese reporter accused of fabricating news. Police arrested Beijing TV reporter Zi Beijia last week and are holding him in criminal custody following accusations that he faked a report on contaminated steamed buns, according to state news…
Economics newsletter ordered to shut down
JULY 4, 2007 Posted July 17, 2007 China Development Brief CENSORED Beijing authorities ordered publishers of the Chinese edition of China Development Brief to cease publication, and they barred employees from maintaining the newsletter’s English language Web site, according to its British founder and editor, Nick Young. China Development Brief, a monthly founded in 1996,…
Mother of jailed Chinese journalist calls for international protest
New York, June 18, 2007—The mother of imprisoned Chinese journalist Shi Tao has called on the international community to maintain pressure on Chinese authorities to release her son ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. “My son is not guilty. You should keep up pressure on the Chinese government to release him,” Gao Qinsheng…
Chinese reporter arrested following months of police harassment
New York, June 4, 2007—A Nanjing-based reporter whose online video, audio, and written news reports had angered authorities is in police custody today along with his wife, according to his employer at the U.S.-based news Web site Boxun News. Following the May 30 arrest, police accused Sun Lin (known by his pen name Jie Mu)…
China issues decree on government transparencyNew rules contain significant limitations and do not ease state’s control of the press
New York, April 24, 2007—China’s State Council today publicized a decree signed by Premier Wen Jiabao to boost the transparency of government offices. But the new rules make broad exceptions for information deemed by authorities to threaten national security, social stability, public safety, and economic security.
In China, writer sentenced to six years in prison for critical articles
New York, March 20, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is appalled that freelance writer and former Web site editor Zhang Jianhong was sentenced Monday to six years in prison by a court in Ningbo, in the eastern province of Zhejiang. Zhang was arrested in September 2006 and charged the following month with “incitement to subvert…
Prominent editor released early after three years in jail
FEBRUARY 12, 2007 Li Minying, Nanfang Dushi Bao LEGAL ACTION Li, the former editor of Guangzhou-based newspaper Nanfang Dushi Bao, was released after spending more than three years in jail, half of his sentence. His colleague, former deputy editor-in-chief and General Manager Yu Huafeng, remained jailed on an eight-year sentence.
CPJ urges continued support for Radio Television Hong Kong
Dear Chief Executive Tsang: The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the future role and editorial integrity of government broadcasting in Hong Kong. Recommendations made in the Report on Review of Public Service Broadcasting in Hong Kong, written by a seven-person committee and made public on March 28, suggest that Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) might be replaced or its role diminished as Hong Kong considers establishing a public service broadcaster.