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China loosened its regulations on foreign journalists working in the country last January. (Image: Radio86)
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Beijing Olympics: The key to media freedom in China?
"The trend of opening up is irreversible." CRI Nordic
"Local propaganda offices in China regularly bar newspaper editors and TV station directors from reporting on sensitive issues such as high-profile corruption cases and disasters." Yahoo!News
Despite China's pledge to grant more freedom to foreign media up till and during next year's Olympic Games, reports of journalist being harassed or detained while working keep surfacing across the country. Will China be able to keep its promise of greater media freedom, and most of all, will the liberties afforded to the foreign press be canceled once the Olympic flame goes out?
China lifted many restrictions on overseas reporters operating in the country in January, but still 40 percent of journalists have reported experiencing some form of interference in their work this year, Yahoo!News says. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) believes China will make good on its promise that when the Olympics start, foreign media will be allowed to operate as freely as they have at previous Games, according to Fox Sports. The loosened regulations do not apply to journalists working for China's entirely state-controlled media, who still face strict controls on what they can report, the same source specifies. China's General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) has admitted, in this regard, that some organizations and individuals have interfered with legal news reporting, CRI Nordic writes. IOC member Kevan Gosper says he believes the concessions made for international media will eventually trickle down to the national press, The Australian writes.
At a World Trade Organization meeting this week, China faced more criticism concerning its foreign media policy. Canada, the United States, Japan and the European Union asked China to elaborate on measures introduced last year, which prohibit foreign news agencies from selling financial information services to Chinese clients without first going through an affiliate of the state news agency Xinhua, AFP reports. China views the media opening up as a matter concerning state security, which is why it is being approached with cautious determination, CRI Nordic explains. Will the Olympic Games unlock the door to media freedom in China?
| China | Europe | North-America | From elsewhere |
|---|---|---|---|
| China's Road of Free Information Flow Cautious But Resolute: Experts CRI Nordic - 8th November 2007 Chinese researchers said China is cautiously but resolutely on the road to media freedom. Authority Assures Journalists of Right to Report CRI Nordic - 8th November 2007 No organization or individual shall disturb or stop legal news reporting as it is under the protection of the law, the GAPP said. Beijing Olympic Organizers Promise to Ensure Media Service CRI Nordic - 12th October 2007 Beijing Olympic organizers reiterated that they will provide qualified service for all media covering the 2008 Olympic Games. Crackdown on bogus reporters China Daily - 12th November 2007 The authorities are cracking down on bogus reporters to guarantee a fair, open and clean journalism environment for overseas reporters. China to share reporter profiles with interviewees Reuters - 11th November 2007 China is to share information about thousands of foreign reporters covering the Beijing Olympics with potential interviewees, the country's top press official said. Kinesisk database over OL-journalister Politiken - 13th November 2007 Oplysninger om knap 30.000 udenlandske journalister skal forhindre 'snyd og afpresning'. |
China defends databases on foreign journalists Reuters - 13th November 2007 Chinese Olympic officials defended the collection of information on journalists. China announces crackdown on reporters covering Olympics AFP - 12th November 2007 China, already under fire for curbing press freedom, will crack down on unlicensed reporters to ensure a "clean journalism environment" for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. China under fire at WTO for restrictions on foreign media AFP - 13th November 2007 China was criticised at the World Trade Organisation for its restrictions on foreign news agencies who are unable to sell their information to local media. Kinas Udenrigsministerium nægter at være i besidelse af database over udenlandske journalister Radio86 - 14th November 2007 Udenrigsministeriet nægter at Kinas regering er i besiddelse af en database over de næsten 30.000 udenlandske journalister, der skal dække OL 2008. Derimod har Beijings Olympiske planlægningskommite en liste over udenlandske journalister. |
China Tracks Summer Olympics Journalists Yahoo!News - 13th November 2007 The Chinese government has created profiles on thousands of foreign journalists coming to report on next summer's Beijing Olympics. China announces crackdown on reporters covering Olympics Yahoo!News - 16th November 2007 China, already under fire for curbing press freedom, will crack down on unlicensed reporters to ensure a "clean journalism environment" for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Chinese deny creating database of Olympic journalists The Star - 16th November 2007 Chinese officials are denying reports they're keeping dossiers on foreign journalists. Rights group urges IOC to press Beijing on Olympic media freedoms, says promises unmet Fox Sports - 7th November 2007 The International Olympic Committee must press China to allow complete freedom for foreign media ahead of next year's Beijing Summer Olympic Games, a human rights group said. |
Games may open door to press freedom The Australian - 18th October 2007 The Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games has promised that when the Beijing Olympics start, foreign media will be allowed to operate as they have at previous Games. Media database for Beijing Games The Australian - 14th November 2007 Beijing Olympic organisers are building a database on foreign journalists but the government denied plans for a media crackdown. Beijing Olympics media freedom sham Eurekastreet.com.au - 4th October 2007 China has a bleak reputation when it comes to freedom of the press, having a history of media censorship that few nations can match. |
