Journalists Ordered Not to Report China Rape Case

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is worried by reports that two journalists were asked to file a self-assessment report explaining their motivations for covering a rape case in Beijing on August 6.

 

A journalist, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the IFJ that two journalists and their senior supervisors at Southern Weekend were reportedly asked by the newspaper’s chief editor to file a self-critical assessment after publishing information about a rape case in which police were alleged to be involved.

 

The journalists told the IFJ they were made to write a self-critical assessment of how their professional work in reporting this case affected China and the Communist Party.

 

The IFJ also learnt that soon after the article was published, it was deleted from the Southern Weekend website while the Central Propaganda Department issued an order to all media outlets banning reporting on the case.

 

“Journalists have a professional duty to report on matters of public interest,” IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said.

 

“Intervening to prevent reporting on a case of public interest is yet another example of censorship in China.”

 

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

 

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide