Pro-government All-China Journalists Association publicly rebuked police actions against journalists in unprecedented move 

Location: China, Hebei

Date: March 13, 2024

Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the impediment of journalists in China, including state television CCTV reporter Yang Hailing, as they reported at a site of a deadly blast that killed two and injured dozens in the Hebei province on March 13. Police obstructed the journalists covering the explosion. The forcible removal of journalists from their duty while they reported on a fatal blast is deeply concerning. Women Press Freedom urges the Chinese authorities to cease their harassment of journalists and to ensure that the press can perform its vital role without hindrance, particularly in incidents concerning public safety. The right to know is fundamental to the public, and journalists must be allowed to provide accurate reporting to fulfill this need. The apology from the local city government of Sanhe for the "poor communication skills" of security personnel is a step in the right direction, but far more is required to ensure that such incidents do not recur and that the press can operate freely and without fear of retaliation.

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On March 13, 2024, CCTV reporter Yang Hailing and her colleagues faced unwarranted obstruction by authorities while reporting on a devastating explosion that claimed lives and caused numerous injuries. 

Videos circulating on social media showcased the explicit hurdles faced by journalists, including physical obstruction and verbal appeals for help during live broadcasts. These visuals not only corroborated the claims of harassment but also triggered a broader conversation about the challenges of reporting within China's tightly controlled information landscape.

“We are three reporters surrounded by a dozen people, a dozen people pushed [us] apart, come and take a look,” Xu was heard saying in the video.

In an unprecedented move, the All-China Journalists Association (AJCA), a body backed by the Communist Party of China, publicly rebuked police actions against journalists. This rare denunciation underscores a significant moment of contention between governmental control and journalistic freedom within China, marking a departure from the organization's typically reserved stance on issues of press interference.

In a statement, the AJCA emphasized that "legitimate interviews are a journalist’s right," arguing against the brute force obstruction of media personnel. This stance directly challenges the government's usual narrative control tactics.

“They must not obstruct the normal duties of reporters in a simple and rough manner just to control public opinion," their statement read. “With such a major public safety incident, people are looking forward to learning more information. Journalists use a professional lens to record the actual disaster situation and the rescue process.” 

The AJCA's forthright commentary is markedly out of character for an organization within a country known for its stringent control over the media and press freedom. It represents a bold, albeit risky, defense of journalistic rights in a regime where such freedoms are often tightly restricted. The statement, which was later removed from the AJCA's website but remained accessible on social media platforms like WeChat, highlights the growing tension between the state's inclination towards censorship and the journalistic community's push for greater reporting liberties.

Yutong Su, who works for Radio Free Asia, tells Women Press Freedom that the organization issued a statement because reporters from CCTV were blocked by the local government when they went to cover the incident. This is unusual, she explains, as CCTV — the “top propaganda media of the Chinese Communist Party,” according to SU — will not encounter any obstruction under normal circumstances.

Su believes the AJCA statement is not a defense of press freedom but rather “helping the Chinese government resolve public anger.”

Another exiled Asia correspondent, who requested to remain anonymous, tells Women Press Freedom that the decline in press freedom in China has become so severe that even an organization linked to the government is willing to criticize it.

“There is probably a very strategic reason why this has been made so public by the AJCA,” she says. “From everything I know about how the Chinese mindset would operate, this is something that should be considered.”

In response to the backlash, the local government of Sanhe issued an apology, citing "poor communication skills” of the security personnel involved as the reason for the unfortunate incident. "We are deeply aware that safeguarding the legitimate reporting of journalists is needed to satisfy the public's right to know," the statement read.

This gesture, although indicative of acknowledgment, does little to address the systemic issues of press freedom and the recurrent pattern of harassment faced by journalists in China, as documented by Women Press Freedom. Most recently, we documented the disappearance of seasoned journalist Minne Chan following her attendance at a security conference in Beijing in November last year. 

Women Press Freedom vehemently condemns the unacceptable harassment and obstruction encountered by journalists covering a tragic explosion. It is deeply concerning that journalists from both state-owned and foreign media outlets were met with confrontations and barriers by authorities, complicating their efforts to film and conduct interviews at the site of the explosion. Women Press Freedom urges the Chinese authorities to cease the harassment of journalists and to ensure their ability to report freely, especially on incidents involving public safety. 

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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