Communist Party demand punishment of media worker

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly criticises the actions by the Central China Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party in reprimanding a local media worker. The IFJ reminds the Chinese Government that they should be not be exercising control and power over the country’s media.   According to the China Discipline Inspection Daily, on August 9 a unit of the Central China Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party (CPDIU) within the State Administration of Press Publication Radio Film and Television (SAPPRFT) demanded that the China Central Television (CCTV) CPDIU punish Bi Fujian following his actions at a private banquet in April 2015. Bi, who is a program host with CCTV, was suspended from his position in April after videos surfaced showing him singing a song which mocked Mao Zedong, the former Communist Party leader. According to the report of China Discipline Inspection Daily, directly control by Central China Commission for Discipline Inspection of Communist Party which is a governing body of Communist Party members, the party said they would be increasing its control of party members and would punish any members that violate any code of conduct. The IFJ Asia Pacific Office said: “Action and activities undertaken by journalists and media workers in their private time should not impact their job security or work. The Communist Party of China continues to increase its control and power over China’s media, which is ultimately forcing SAPPRFT to punish Bi.” These actions are a violation of Article 12 and 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that people have the right of privacy and the right to work. The IFJ urges the management of CCTV to withstand any undue interference from governing bodies in the handling of Bi’s case. We also call on CCTV to immediately reinstate Bi. 

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