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Journalism in China is facing stricter laws in media control, forcing some journalists to go underground

if a couple of Canadian coffee shop operators can face charges of stealing state secrets by the Beijing government, imagine how carefully Chinese journalists must tread to research and write a story. We hear from two Chinese journalists who know first hand the perils of trying to do their job....
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The Current27:29Journalism in China is facing stricter laws in media control, forcing journalists to go underground - September 01, 2014
if a couple of Canadian coffee shop operators can face charges of stealing state secrets by the Beijing government, imagine how carefully Chinese journalists must tread to research and write a story. We hear from two Chinese journalists who know first hand the perils of trying to do their job.

For the majority of Chinese journalists, their lives are straightly following the rules or taking risks and getting caught one day. There is no choice in between.Song Zhibiao, journalist recently fired after new laws came into effect

The Chinese government has historically been effective at controlling the flow of information, and hasn't put a high value on freedom of expression.

While Chinese citizens often pushed at the limits, the explosion of social media has allowed them unprecedented access to foreign news and domestic controversy. The central government has been forced to respond to issues they might once have easily ignored.

Many government officials desire a return to the old days. Just Sunday, China imposed limits on voting reforms in Hong Kong - which, according to show pushing for free votes - essentially give the state control over the choice of Hong Kong's Chief Executive.

This summer, new regulations cracked down on what journalists post on social-media accounts. There has also been an attempt at isolating domestic media from the rest of the world. Accredited journalists can no longer write for foreign media outlets, or quote foreign news reports in their domestic work.

Song Zhibiao was one of the first people fired after new restrictions on journalists came into effect. We reached Mr. Song at his home in Guangzhou and spoke to him with the help of a translator.

Thanks to Sharon Wu for the translation. And to actor Simon Sinn for the voicing in English.

The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that 32 journalists are imprisoned in Chinese jails. The situation leaves our guest uncertain about her future. She is a journalism student at a university in China. She's now carefully considering what type of work she will do when she graduates. We are withholding her name because she fears government reprisals.


We've invited a response from the Chinese embassy in Ottawa, and are waiting for a reply.


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This segment was produced by The Current's Leif Zapf-Gijle.

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