winning press freedom conference

Controlling and censoring the media in a country of 1.3 billion people is a monumental task.

The Chinese government, however, does a marvelous job at it, micromanaging what it’s said and how with pains-taking detail.

But as Agnes Gaudu, China Editor of the Courrier International Magazine, told the Paris conference, even the best censor lets a few in once in a while.

Daring to Differ
By Agnes Gaudu

Chinese readers have only read the official points of view. Some issues, the most politically sensitive ones, are totally and permanently excluded from Chinese press.

These include politically motivated events, arrests, controversial historical events and the Cultural Revolution. There are topics that will be treated only from the official point of view, such as religion in general, anything that questions the authorities, like the situation of Tibet or Taiwan.

Access to international news is very limited. There is a delay of few days or a few weeks of international news. In September, the Chinese media didn't cover the Burma uprising. Only later, some information was allowed, but with a lot of delay.

Some types of news is prohibited, anything that is controversial is banned. In spite of this, Chinese journalists aren't shy of saying things.

There's a big push among journalists for reform. The press has expanded their coverage of the economy. The social aspects of the growing economy can be found in the most serious newspapers.

Debates among academics are allowed more space. Some other controversial issues have made their way t the pages of newspapers, including human rights, the death penalty, and convicts proven innocent after their deaths.

It's believed that by the end of last year, the number of those put to death is thought to be lower because of these discussions, but because the number of those killed is a state secret, we can't know exactly how effective it was.

There has been a public outcry against bad practices, scandals, modern slavery, and ecological disasters. But in China some think that the press is detrimental to good governance.

The SARS crisis clearly revealed the disastrous results of a news blackout. In March, when the illness spread to Hong Kong, the epidemic was exposed through a major German publication. Transparency now has become a big issue. The government knows about the consequences of a blackout now.

Chinese press with its extraordinary commercial reach has its political implications as well. China's press has sunk into ideology now with the Tibet situation. Some publications have taken an editorial position against the official position.

Agnes Gaudu is the China Editor of Courier International Magazine.