China Reminds Domestic TV Outlets Of Ban On Foreign News Reports

China reminds domestic TV outlets of ban on foreign news reports
281 words
13 April 2006
06:39 AM
Associated Press Newswires
English
(c) 2006. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
BEIJING (AP) - China's television regulator has warned domestic television outlets not to use news footage from foreign news organizations unless provided by authorized agencies, saying such reports could be used to corrupt public opinion.

The move is part of a campaign to tighten restrictions on television programming by Chinese officials worried about the social impact of imported news material.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said in a notice issued Tuesday that local broadcasters can only use international news reports provided by the state-run China Central Television and China Radio International, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Thursday.

The notice was a reminder of rules first announced in 2002 that some broadcasters, in their enthusiasm for livelier, more appealing programming, have stopped heeding.

The agency quoted the notice as saying that regulators have discovered that "some foreign news agencies and media have used a variety of methods to sell international news material to domestic local TV stations, which have clear political intentions."

The report gave no specific examples.

News in China is strictly censored by the central government, and television news has become the most watched-over area by official censors. Officials frequently ban coverage of sensitive domestic issues -- such as the Falun Gong spiritual movement, environmental disasters, health scares and rural unrest -- and make sure international reports hew to the government's line.

The notice was issued to "ensure public opinion followed the correct direction," the administration said in a statement posted to its Web site.

Broadcast administrators were told to review the operations of local broadcasters and "correct any wrong operations," Xinhua said