China to create journalists blacklist

Beijing, Feb.13 (ANI): A China Press and Publishing Journal report has said that the Chinese Government is creating a blacklist of journalists who break its reporting rules.

According to the agency, moves are on to establish a database of media professionals who have bad records.

The proposed list will include reporters who violate rules or laws.

"Their names will be entered into the list and they will be restricted from news reporting or editing work," Li Dongdong, deputy director of the General Administration of Press and Publication, was quoted as saying.

The database is among a series of regulations being proposed to boost government supervision of news coverage, Li said.

Among them are tightened reviews for press credentials as well as standardised qualifications for newspaper and magazine editors.

Li said the measures were needed to "resolutely prevent fake reporting".

China's state-run media are tightly controlled and regularly censored in reporting the news. Sensitive or negative issues are often ignored while Chinese journalists have been imprisoned for aggressive reporting on corruption in the private sector or the government.

The measures don't apply to foreign journalists in China, who are regulated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Chinese citizens are prohibited from working as journalists for foreign media organisations. (ANI)