Freedom of the press in China

Freedom of the press in China refers to the journalism standards and its freedom and censorship exercised by the government of China. The constitution of China prohibits media workers, including internet users from publishing, writing, circulating or otherwise posting fake news, misinformation, disinformation and propaganda related to the various subjects such as national security, terrorism, ethnic hatred, violence, and obscenity. However, most of its private journalism is limited or restricted to freely share their views and opinions to the general public.^[1]

Media organizations and its workers, explicitly foreign media working within the country "must" obtain license before they engage in journalism compiled with standards which are regulated by the foreign affairs authority. Foreign media has a limited access or freedom to press conferences of the National People's Congress, however the law of China allow state-owned media with "free press" such as raising questions or concerns in the press conference.^[1]

China's self-censorship on the press has been a topic of discussion since 2013. It has also been engaged in misinformation and spreading propaganda in favour of government policies.^[2] Authorities often label independent or investigative coverage as "fake news".^[3]

Since Xi Jinping was elected as the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (paramount leader), news media experienced troubles, and various professional workers such as commentators, protesters, feminists, lawyers, journalists, and activists were allegedly arrested, detained, jailed, and threatened for exercising free press.^[4][5]

Background[]

China introduced Article 35 of the constitution of China that provides its citizens right to observe "press freedom" in a free environment, however Article 51 prohibits such activities for the national interest which limits press freedom in the country. Chinese mass media such as radio and television broadcast news under Article 25, which limits their ability to broadcast plays, news, and other form of information in free journalism standards, which according to the Regulation on the Administration of Publishing prevent transmitting of such content that poses risk to sovereignty and public interest.^[1]

A book titled 'Freedom of the Press in China: A Conceptual History, 1831-1949 by Yi Guo has also been published in August 2020 by Amsterdam University Press, consisting a detailed analysis of press freedom of China from 1831 to 1949.^[6][7]

Global rank[]

The global rank of China declined to 177 out of 180 since Chinese Communist Party came into power. China has been one of the countries with nominally freedom of press regulations. Reporters Without Borders, a non-government organisation dedicated safeguarding right to information published an annual report Press Freedom Index indicating that the Communist Party of China, the ruling party, is exercising self and direct-censorship on the press.^[8]

Censorship[]

Chinese authorities, accounting to the Committee to Protect Journalists are often argued to have been involved in press suppression. It is often referred to as one of the frontline-countries where freedom of mass communication and its associated people such as journalists persistently experience troubles.^[9] China often blocks news websites, social media platforms and other services such as Facebook, Gmail, Google, Instagram, and Pinterest, and has limited their access to the general public. The Great Firewall has blocked most foreign news websites such as Voice of America, VOA Chinese, the BBC, The New York Times, Bloomberg News. In 2017, Chinese authorities also removed about "300 politically sensitive articles" from the Cambridge University Press, however article removal was later contested online on Change.org. In 2019, some scholars and writers deleted their posts or permanently deleted their feeds after authorities asked for doing so. Some writers were warned for retweeting or liking posts.

Prior to 2012 when Hu Jintao was the Communist Party's leader, the press was free to share their views online, however, Xi Jinping is arguably using technology as a propaganda tool and often blocks sensitive information through Great Firewall.^[10] The authorities often raid pro-democracy activists and media owners in an attempt to suppress the press.^[11] In 2019, China blocked all available versions of Wikipedia in the country without any notice to Wikimedia Foundation.^[12]

Chinese journalists are often detained for alleged negative coverage. In 2016, more than twenty journalists, including commentator Jia Jia were arrested after an open letter was published calling on Chinese leader Xi Jinping to resign. A report published by Committee to Protect Journalists in 2016 asserted an estimated 49 journalists are serving prison terms, indicating China a "prolific jailer of media workers".^[13]

Cult of personality[]

The Chinese authorities have also been engaged in various consultancies such as offering money to some uncertain foreign and local newspapers and journalists in an attempt to broadcast or transmit news story in favour of government. Some publishers such as the China Central Television (CCTV) has been allegedly involved in paid publications. Communist Party chief Xi Jinping has also been engaged in exercising cult of personality.^[14] The government-controlled media are often argued publishing in favour of Chinese Communist Party's policies.^[15]

Books[]

• Guo, Yi (2020). Freedom of the Press in China: A Conceptual History, 1831-1949. Amsterdam University Press. ISBN 978-9-0485-4462-2. Retrieved 9 March 2021.

References[]

Further reading[]

• "Foreign journalists in China see 'rapid decline in media freedom': survey". U.S. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
• Yu, Elaine (8 March 2021). "Will Hong Kong's Free Press Survive?". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 8 March 2021.