In Other (State-Run) Media News...

By: Hillary Profita
Topics: Media Issues

(CBS/AP)

Considering that there are enough news outlets from all over the world available to provide daily fodder about media for this blog (and about a bazillion others) it isn't easy to imagine what it would be like to find out that the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television has heretofore "prohibited local TV and radio stations from using international news coverage from foreign news services." Welcome to China. United Press International reports:

From now on, local broadcasters must restrict their coverage of overseas events to reports generated by state-run China Central Television and China Radio International.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, in a notice on its Web site, warned news broadcasters to "strengthen their political sensitivity" and avoid using footage taken from international satellite services, the South China Morning Post reported Thursday.

"Recently, some overseas news services and media have used various methods to sell international news material to domestic stations, and the reports have a clear political intention," the administration said.

The media watchdog said the rule was designed to "ensure a healthy and orderly development of international TV news reporting and maintain a correct propaganda direction."

Many local stations, especially those in large cities, have started to use footage and news reports supplied by foreign news services as competition for news demands more timely and diverse reporting angles.

CBC has some more background, noting some other recent decisions on censorship:

In March, a Chinese version of Rolling Stone magazine stopped production after only one issue because the government invalidated the approved partnership between local producers and the U.S.-based music magazine.

In February, the government banned cartoon programming that blends animation with live-action actors, purportedly to protect a burgeoning local animation industry and curb foreign influences on young Chinese viewers.

In August 2005, China barred new foreign television channels, promised a new set of content guidelines for foreign channels already existing in the country and said it would not allow the import of new newspapers and magazines, electronic publications and audiovisual products.

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by peterbaldwin-2009 April 14, 2006 12:28 AM EDT: When you read about what's happening in China - Shanghai adding the equivalent of NYC in skyscrapers in one year, 300 million people in its nascent middle class, world class rail service to be manufactured in-house - you wonder if the old guard with its penchant for thought control is becoming anachronistic and irrelevant, like a bad smoking habit that just won't go away.; Reply to this comment


by ohiomeister April 13, 2006 8:49 PM EDT: Of course, it is the Moonies reporting that (i.e. Rev. Moon owns UPI).; Reply to this comment


by tvgenius April 13, 2006 2:42 PM EDT: Doesn't "foreign news services" include AP, UPI, Reuters, etc? So is China going to be sending their own reporters to cover every story in the rest of the world?; Reply to this comment