Posted on 08/01/2007 7:31:43 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Chinese reporter accused of fabricating story held on unclear charges
By CPJ
Jul 23, 2007 - 11:28:22 PM
New York, July 23, 2007―The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for greater transparency in the arrest of a Chinese reporter accused of fabricating news. Police arrested Beijing TV reporter Zi Beijia last week and are holding him in criminal custody following accusations that he faked a report on contaminated steamed buns, according to state news reports.
"Whether or not Zi Beijia was guilty of fabricating the report, authorities owe it to him and to the public to deal transparently with this case and make known any criminal charges against him," said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon.
Domestic and international news media relayed a July 8 Beijing TV report showing a street vendor filling buns with a mixture of pork and pieces of scrap cardboard soaked in caustic soda. But on July 18, Beijing TV aired a broadcast apologizing for the report, which they said was fabricated by freelance reporter Zi.
The official Xinhua News Agency reported that Zi confessed to making up the story after he was unable to verify a tip and felt pressured to produce a report.
Linked to this latest fabrication are reports of hazardous contaminations of food and medicines coming out of China. A thickening agent used in antifreeze was added to medicines, killing 94 people in Panama, according to The Associated Press. Dozens of dogs and cats in the U.S. died from pet food that was contaminated with melamine, which is normally used in plastics. On the heels of these incidents the U.S. has rejected imports from China of everything from toy trains and toothpaste to toxic fish and juice.
"Authorities can expect public doubts to persist as long as authorities keep the lid on issues of crucial concern to health and safety," said Simon. "Clarifying the charges against Zi would be one step toward reducing those concerns."
Seven other people have also come under investigation in connection with the Beijing TV story, according to state media. It is unclear whether any of the others were taken into custody.
Police said they had conducted an investigation into the matter, and found no cardboard-filled steam buns at dozens of stalls in the city. But Xinhua also reported that consumers in Beijing were skeptical of the police investigation.
Residents of the area where the buns were made, a courtyard in eastern Beijing’s Chaoyang district, said that producers there make fake tobacco and wine and low-quality food with the cooperation of local government officials, according to the Hong-Kong daily Ming Pao. The paper said an unidentified man shoved and threatened one of its reporters who attempted to investigate the work site that had been featured in the Beijing TV report.
Party propaganda departments overseeing print, broadcast and Internet media have suppressed further news coverage and online commentary on the incident, according to unconfirmed reports by bloggers in China.
CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit
Ping!
I am proud to say that I seriously doubted that story. (It’s a strange thing to be proud of, but that’s just the way it is....)
Faux cardboard steamed buns
World wide story. Dan Rather would be proud.
Fake stories about fake buns.
I’m confused
The reporter is currently getting a reminder that he lives in a Communist country and doing something that makes the country look bad in the world of the eyes is not appreciated.
We report. You deride
I suspect the original story was 100% accurate, and this poor stooge is now being punished for the RESULT of that accurate reporting.
There is no freedom of the press, in China. There is however, a long tradition of hitting the nail which sticks up, with the hammer.
There has never been free speech in China. Never has been. Never will be. Ever. No chance.
(for those who still are naively ‘waiting’ for China to somehow magically become a democracy despite never having been anything like, in 5000 years of history, simply because we’ve been stupid enough to send ALL OF our manufacturing capacity and money to them, let me repeat that)
Never.
“Boxun News”
Motto: All the latest news on buns mades of boxes
In the local market I usually see salmon steaks on sale from Chile and Canada...Guess where they came from last night? Righty-O Steverino!...China! PASS!
Why are my ears ringing every time I pass a steel bridge?
I think HE is going to end up in in a bun.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.