2014-12-16
Protesters holding banners in support of greater media freedom confront police officers (L) near the headquarters of Nanfang Media in Guangzhou, Jan. 10, 2013.
AFP
Updated at 5:20 p.m. EST on 2014-12-16
China led the world in imprisoning journalists in 2014, with a total of 29 behind bars, amid fears Beijing may be exporting its model of censorship within the East Asian region, a Paris-based press freedom group said in an annual report on Tuesday.
China is also holding 73 netizens out of a global total that also came to 178.
As the global environment for freedom of information worsened slightly overall in 2014, China has continued to exert tight control on its official media, while extending its reach and influence to journalists beyond its borders, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in its annual Press Freedom Index.
China fell two places to rank 175th in the world, just fifth from bottom, the group said.
“The authorities have arrested more journalists and bloggers, cracked down harder on cyber-dissidents, reinforced online content control and censorship and stepped up restrictions on the foreign media,” the report said.
Former journalist at the Chengdu Commercial Daily and Shanxi Evening News Li Jianjun said journalists are under increasing censorship and political pressure from the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
“I think things are getting worse and worse for freedom of expression in China,” said Li, who is currently out of the country. “If I went back, I would likely contribute to the numbers in jail.”
“They tend to use pretty hardline tactics like threatening and arresting journalists, coupled with softer tactics [to apply pressure],” Li said.
“It’s not just journalists who are worried; it’s news organizations as well, because they are having to step up self-censorship, as the parameters get narrower and narrower,” he said.
Growing risks
Two prominent Chinese journalists contacted on Tuesday by RFA declined to comment on the report.
“I won’t agree to this interview, because … the risks have grown recently,” former state newspaper columnist Zhai Minglei, told RFA.
And Chen Baocheng, who writes for the Caixin website, also declined to comment.
“I haven’t thought carefully about the questions you are asking me, so I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to reply,” Chen said.
“I am traveling right now, so it’s not very convenient,” he said. “I can’t really say any more now.”
Li said there are far fewer options now open to Chinese journalists who wish to do useful work.
“Either you keep your mouth shut and tell lies according to their requirements, or you speak the truth and risk being arrested,” he said.
“There is no such thing as reporting the truth with no danger; that’s just not going to happen, or it’s highly unlikely.”
He said fewer and fewer articles are appearing in Chinese media that attempt to hold the government to account.
“There have been far fewer articles that hold officials to account during the past year,” Li said. “Including right across the Internet.”
