Press curb retrograde

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-24 07:42

A recent proposal by the Donggguan government in Guangdong province, which seeks to issue special certificates to journalists wanting to interview its officials, has called into question the efficacy and appropriateness of a proposed rule that effectively conflicts with central government pronouncements on media's watchdog status.

The controversy stems from a document published this week on how to better facilitate the work of reporters. One of the ways the Dongguan government plans to do this is by issuing special certificates to reporters for interviewing local government officials. The certificate would be examined and renewed annually, the proposal outlines.

Although the proposal sounds innocuous enough, the catch lies in the details. Those reporters whose reporting of important local meetings or events is not accurate or inconsistent with the facts would see their certificates revoked, the document proposes.

This makes it clear that all that rhetoric in the document about facilitating reporters' interviews is nothing but empty talk. What the proposal intends to do in reality is to put constraints on reporters.

It is well known that the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) is the only authority empowered to issue cards to journalists. Related rules stipulate that no government department or individual has the right to obstruct reporters from conducting interviews or intervene with their work. They further stipulate that journalistic activities by reporters enjoy legal protection.

It cannot be made clearer that all that a local government needs to do for those card-holding journalists is facilitate interviews in the best possible manner and to dutifully provide the information the reporters need.

Therefore, it is clearly unnecessary for a local government to issue any document or set their own rules when it comes to facilitating a reporter's job, even if these rules are meant to make things easier for the reporters.

Those in the publicity department of this local government are expected to know the central government rules in this regard. Neither should they be ignorant of the principle that no local government rule should be inconsistent or in conflict with those of the central government.

It is obviously against central government rules for a local government to set obstacles to the working of journalists by issuing them special certificates. This act itself is a direct challenge to the authority of the GAPP and the cards it has issued to journalists.

A relatively independent and free media has proved to be an important watchdog in supervising the work of the government, with the recent uncovering of scandals involving officials at all levels of governance. Central government leaders too have reiterated on different occasions the importance of the media's watchdog role.

Governments and officials who commit themselves to serving the people should not be afraid of being supervised by the media. Government officials make mistakes and so do governments. While mistakes do happen, what matters it that these are corrected at the earliest. Covering up these mistakes just makes matters worse.

By issuing special certificates to reporters, this city government apparently sought to bring journalists under its control. But, we are afraid, this ridiculous and unlawful act will backfire and will probably make people question whether this government and its leaders are really committed to serving the people or not.

(China Daily 10/24/2009 page4)