Monday, July 25, 2016

China Bans Political And Social News Websites From Independent Reporting

Customers use computers at an internet cafe in Taiyuan, Shanxi province March 10, 2010. REUTERS/STRINGER

Bloomberg: China Bans Internet News Reporting as Media Crackdown Widens

* Internet portals must shut all original reporting operations
* Web services can now carry only state-approved media news

China’s top internet regulator ordered major online companies including Sina Corp. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. to stop original news reporting, the latest effort by the government to tighten its grip over the country’s web and information industries.

The Cyberspace Administration of China imposed the ban on several major news portals, including Sohu.com Inc. and NetEase Inc., Chinese media reported in identically worded articles citing an unidentified official from the agency’s Beijing office. The companies have “seriously violated” internet regulations by carrying plenty of news content obtained through original reporting, causing “huge negative effects,” according to a report that appeared in The Paper on Sunday.

Read more ....

WNU editor: These independent Chinese news websites have been enjoying incredible growth in the past few years .... far surpassing state-run media in terms of readership and viewership. My Chinese contacts tell me that this was expected .... the hope now is that after President Xi's term in office is over, his replacement will be more "accommodating". In the meantime .... aside from state-run media, social media will become the main source for the Chinese to get their news.

More News On China Banning Political And Social News Websites From Independent Reporting

China shuts several online news sites for independent reporting -- BBC
China internet regulator fines websites over reporting -- Reuters
China to shut political, social news sites run by websites -- AP
China Halts Original News Reporting By Non-State Media -- Variety
China Bans Websites From Original Reporting -- Zero Hedge

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