China seeks to eradicate 'vile effect' of independent journalism

Online portals permitted to publish stories on sensitive topics only
if sourced from government-controlled news agencies

Tom Phillips in Beijing
Tuesday 26 July 2016 04.00 BST

Top Chinese internet portals had been forbidden from producing original reporting on politically sensitive topics in what experts say is the latest step in President Xi Jinping’s battle to bring Chinese journalism under control.

Internet giants including Netease, Sina and Sohu were ordered to pull the plug on their current affairs operations on Monday, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), Beijing’s internet watchdog announced.

Such independent journalism had “seriously violated regulations and had a completely vile effect,” the watchdog’s Beijing operation said, according to Reuters.

Citing a CAC official, the Global Times, a Beijing-controlled tabloid, said online portals were permitted to publish stories on “social and political issues” only if they had been sourced from government-controlled news agencies.

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