Beijing Olympics 2008: Winning Press Freedom - World Press ...

Beijing Olympics 2008: Winning Press Freedom
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Reading between the lines
Agnes Gaudu
China Editor, Courrier International magazine
I have been working for the weekly Courrier International since 1997, where I read the
Chinese press in search of significant news. So it is from this vantage point, as a journalist
and as a reader, that I'll try to make a few observations on how the control of the press
makes itself felt.
The Chinese press acts as a barometer of the political situation. This is particularly true in
times of political crisis. In the past few weeks, Chinese newspapers have provided their
readers with hardly anything but the official viewpoint. This can be interpreted as the
result either of self-censorship by journalists, or a toughening of the political guidelines
issued to them. In any case, the press stops carrying anything new or investigative
whenever the leadership is faced with any kind of challenge, such as the Tibetan crisis.
Some issues are totally and permanently excluded. Even if we weren't aware of the details
of the strict guidelines for journalists issued by the authorities, the restrictions imposed
are easily observed. In general, the following topics are not raised in the Chinese press:
opposition, dissidence, contemporary events directly linked to dissidence, and any
information about politically motivated arrests. For instance, in recent months, nothing has
been revealed to Chinese readers of the arrest and sentencing of Hu Jia, a prominent acti
human rights and environmental activist who was given 3 1/2 years in jail earlier this
month. The activists best known in the outside world are totally unknown to Chinese
readers.
The press does not cover any historical events that are highly sensitive politically, such as
the Cultural Revolution and the anti-rightist campaign of 1957.
Other topics can be covered, but only from the official viewpoint, including Taiwan,
relations with the Kuomintang and the development of relations across the Taiwan Strait;
anything relating to the Falun Gong and religion in general; questions about the quality of
the administration, unless a solution has already been found by the authorities; trials or
police inquiries; and strikes, or petitions. Of course, the situation in Tibet and Xinjiang
under Chinese rule are also on this list.
Access to international news is limited. International coverage consists mainly of news
agency dispatches giving factual information. Occasionally, authorized analyses by Chinese
experts and reflecting the state of thinking at the helm of the country do get published.
Diplomatic issues are often treated with delays of a few days, if not a few weeks.
International news with major implications for China is severely restricted. The most
striking example of this was in September 2007, when the Chinese media did not cover
demonstrations led by the Burmese monks. Chinese readers had access several days later