China jails journalists over bribes

China blacklisted nearly 100 media workers in 2009

China’s press watchdog blacklisted nearly 100 journalists and convicted 20 for their involvement in receiving illicit payments through bribery and blackmail.

Nearly one hundred media workers were blacklisted in 2009 and more than 10 newspapers nationwide were either warned or suspended for publishing false reports,state run Xinhua news agency reported today.

Twenty journalists were also convicted for the offenses,it said.

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The figures were released after reports in late March that nine journalists from eight media organisations had received jail sentences – ranging from one-and-half years to 16 years – for taking hush money to cover up a deadly coal mine accident in north China.

The nine journalists,who were sentenced,had accepted money from the owner of a coal mine in Weixian County,Zhangjiakou City,in northern China’s Hebei Province,in return for not reporting an explosion that killed 35 people on July 14,2008.

According to Li Dongdong,deputy head of the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP),more than 10 newspapers nationwide,including the Beijing Times and the

Guangzhou-based 21st Century Business Herald,received warnings or were suspended for publishing false reports.

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The GAPP will strengthen supervision and management of media organisations that have repeatedly violated rules,Li said yesterday at a nationwide meeting here on the management of newspapers and periodicals.

The GAPP dealt with 556 cases – including 76 instances of journalists taking bribes or blackmailing others – in 2009 after receiving tipoffs from the public.

Li said authorities will step up punishment of media workers involved in false stories and bribery,vowing to make public any major cases that are confirmed.