Press Restrictions in China

Campus Report ^ | July 30, 2008 | Melinda Zosh

[bs9021]

Press Restrictions in China

by: Melinda Zosh, July 30, 2008

In 2001, when Beijing won the fight for the 2008 Olympics, the Chinese government promised that it would guarantee total press freedom. However, China did not keep its promise, according to Shirley Wu, Ph.D.

“Journalists, scholars and observers have been expecting that the Chinese government [would] fulfill its pledge for seven years,” said Wu. “…[Yet] China is still the country which jails the largest number of journalists.”

China’s press freedom was 84 on a scale of 0 to 100, 0 being the freest press and 100 being the least free. In that same set of rankings from Freedom House, the human rights watchdog group, by way of comparison, America’s press freedom was rated 18.

“As the Olympic Games approach, the Chinese regime has intensified its repression on press freedom,” said Wu. “Foreign correspondents constantly face harassment, detention and intimidation at the hands of Chinese security forces.”

Wu spoke at the National Press Club on July 23 to discuss how the United States can engage more effectively with China before and after the Olympic Games. Wu said the only way to effectively engage the issue is to transfer the truth to the Chinese people, but the Chinese government won’t allow the truth if it conflicts with the government’s agenda.

“Even outside of China, Chinese media, under political and financial pressure…avoid reporting in certain sensitive areas, such as human rights issues, corruption… and even things like the severity of natural disasters and epidemics,” said Wu.

Wu said that “the current regime has also been purposely misleading China’s public opinion on western countries and values.”...

[areukiddingme1]

“As the Olympic Games approach, the Chinese regime has intensified its repression on press freedom,” said Wu. “Foreign correspondents constantly face harassment, detention and intimidation at the hands of Chinese security forces.”

Hhhhhuuuummmm, Communist Chinese - repression on press freedom...

Hhhhhuuuummmm, U.S. House of Representatives - “fairness doctrine....”

Communist Chinese - repression on press freedom. U.S. House of Representatives - repression on press freedom.

Hhhhhuuuuummmm....coincidence...or similar ideology....hhhhhhuuuuummmm.

[RetiredArmy]

And you are surprised by this development?????? The Soviets did the same thing during the Olympics that Carter held our people out. Where is the surprise? If it were in North Korea, do they actually think that the little Gargoyle would give them free access to report on that country? Not even. No surprises here.