China’s Media Policies for Olympics

The foreign news media in Beijing (and the rest of China) are cautiously optimistic after new regulations were announced this morning. Many of the guidelines are technicalities about equipment and visas. But the most prominent things in the new nine “articles” that stand out (China Daily, and government site):

• Article 1: These Regulations are formulated to facilitate reporting activities and… to advance and promote the Olympic Spirit during the Beijing Olympic Games and the preparatory period.

Nice public relations move and pleasant wording.

• Article 6: To interview organizations or individuals in China, foreign journalists need only to obtain their prior consent.

This seems like it could be liberating, if you don’t need a government handler trailing a video news team (as you have now). However, organizations and companies may still feel they had better clear it with the local authorities. Also, I would find it hard to believe this would be an absolute policy.

• Article 7: Foreign journalists may, through organizations providing services to foreign nationals, hire Chinese citizens to assist them in their reporting activities.

Again, the choke point could still be these “organizations providing services” who might need to clear things with authorities. Still appears that PRC nationals will not be able to serve as full bylined journalists for foreign publications. Will have to see how significant this is.

• Article 9: These Regulations shall come into force as of 1 January 2007 and expire on 17 October 2008.

Unfortunately they do have a definite length. A possibility for permanent change after 2008?

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This entry was posted on Friday, December 1st, 2006 at 2:25 am and is filed under China, Politics, Journalism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.