Media Release: China
April 18, 2013
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is
concerned that China’s Department for the State General Administration of
Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television has issued a notice to all media outlets and personnel forbidding
them from quoting foreign, Hong Kong, Taiwan and
Macau news agencies without prior censorship and approval.
The order says the
media must guide public opinion and keep its reports “positive”.
The IFJ Asia-Pacific Office says journalists are required by their
professional ethics to report fairly and truthfully, with balance and honesty.
“This is a worrying encroachment on the professional responsibilities of
journalists by an arm of the state. The order does not explain how the new
procedures will ensure proper, accurate reporting or why non-Mainland news sources would suddenly be considered unreliable.”
The IFJ added: “The
decision imposes further restraints on press freedom, impedes legitimate
newsgathering and dissemination and is an attack the ethics of professional
journalists.”
The IFJ urges Cai
Fuchao, director of the State General Administration of Press, Publication,
Radio, Film and Television, to clarify the uncertainties surrounding the order and
to take steps to ensure the media can fulfil its legitimate role of reporting
the news honestly and truthfully using a multitude of legitimate new sources rather
than become a mouthpiece for propaganda.
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0950
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131
countries
Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific
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