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Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, meets meets the delegation of the Communist
Chinese Party, headed by Li Changchun (AP)
Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, meets meets the delegation of the Communist
Chinese Party, headed by Li Changchun (AP)
Journalistic Freedom Takes a Hit in Latest Olympic Development
Despite promising not to, China has blocked media access to certain Web sites, deflating journalists’ hopes of freely covering all aspects of the games.
30-Second Summary
According to Reuters, the International Olympic Committee “cut a deal to let China block sensitive Web sites despite promises of unrestricted access.”
Earlier this month, Chinese officials reiterated that foreign journalists would be able to report freely during the Olympic Games. Senior Chinese leader Li Changchun told journalists, “I hope you could truly and fully cover the event and tell the world (about) a true China,” but that sentiment seems to have changed.
This week, journalists in the Olympic village have complained of blocked access to “sites deemed sensitive to its communist leadership,” such as Amnesty International, which released a report denigrating China for not honoring its pledge to protect Olympic human rights.
Meanwhile, President Bush has drawn criticism from human rights activists for his recent interviews with two media outlets controlled by China’s Communist Party known to edit interviews and articles as they see fit.
The Chinese government has an advanced Internet censorship system, but holes have appeared in recent months. Access to the BBC online is now allowed, and bloggers have figured out ways to bypass government firewalls.
Despite censorship and various issues of concern for Olympians and journalists heading to Beijing, hope for a turnaround in China is still expressed. The Games could ignite change, some say.
Earlier this month, Chinese officials reiterated that foreign journalists would be able to report freely during the Olympic Games. Senior Chinese leader Li Changchun told journalists, “I hope you could truly and fully cover the event and tell the world (about) a true China,” but that sentiment seems to have changed.
This week, journalists in the Olympic village have complained of blocked access to “sites deemed sensitive to its communist leadership,” such as Amnesty International, which released a report denigrating China for not honoring its pledge to protect Olympic human rights.
Meanwhile, President Bush has drawn criticism from human rights activists for his recent interviews with two media outlets controlled by China’s Communist Party known to edit interviews and articles as they see fit.
The Chinese government has an advanced Internet censorship system, but holes have appeared in recent months. Access to the BBC online is now allowed, and bloggers have figured out ways to bypass government firewalls.
Despite censorship and various issues of concern for Olympians and journalists heading to Beijing, hope for a turnaround in China is still expressed. The Games could ignite change, some say.
Headline Links: China tightly wrapped
According to Reuters, despite promising not to limit media freedom during the Olympic Games, China is still blocking certain Web sites. Officials from the International Olympic Committee are allowing China to block access to Web sites “deemed sensitive to its communist leadership,” such as Amnesty International.
Source: Reuters
The Washington Post reports that on the same day China announced it would limit media access to certain Web sites, President Bush was interviewed by “the People’s Daily newspaper and the Central China Television network, both controlled by China’s ruling Communist Party.” Activist groups criticized Bush for doing so.
Source: The Washington Post (free registration may be required)
Background: Broken promises
In early July 2008, senior Chinese leader Li Changchun said Olympic officials “would effectively implement regulations that ensured foreign journalists would be allowed the freedom to report.”
Source: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Related Topics: The Internet in China; Beijing overhaul
In China, the government censors much of the Internet. But in March 2008, users detected a loosening of restrictions when the BBC Web site became available. This article contains a link to Human Rights Watch, which explains how China’s Ministry of Information Industry oversees the technical aspects of Internet censorship.
Source: findingDulcinea
Bloggers are devising new techniques, such as writing backwards, to bypass Chinese government censorship of news and criticism on the Internet. China’s “Great Firewall,” a highly sophisticated Web censor, has been circumvented by various methods employed by relentless bloggers.
Source: findingDulcinea
Beijing has been working hard to overhaul its image before the start of the Olympics. The city has removed dog meat from its restaurant menus, limited how often people can drive, and forcibly evicted people from their homes during Olympic preparations.
Source: findingDulcinea
Opinion & Analysis: A chance for change
A Huffington Post blog entry discusses China’s obstruction and harassment of journalists, which “increases the likelihood of making censorship the hot story of the 2008 Olympics.” However, the Games could be a chance for China to change its propensity for “brutality and intimidation of the press,” the blogger indicated.
Source: The Huffington Post
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