More than 70 journalists, rights advocates, press freedom groups and related organizations have joined the Coalition For Women In Journalism’s call to demand that the Chinese authorities immediately release journalist Zhang Zhan from prison.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is concerned over Beijing’s move to ban private investment in news media amid stringent regulations already in place. We are cognizant of the state’s control and interference in the country’s existing media landscape and have been monitoring the situation. The CFWIJ urges Beijing to drop plans to ban non-state investment (private companies) in the establishing, operations or broadcasting of news agencies, newspapers, radio or television stations and related events.

There are concerns that Chinese authorities might have apprehended the journalist along with Wang Jianbing, a labor rights activist. The CFWIJ is alarmed by the possible detention of Sophia and demands Chinese authorities acknowledge and investigate her disappearance.

Journalist Zhan Zhang is currently being held at the Shanghai City Women’s Prison. She was already hospitalized once while in custody in July this year, however, her health appears to be failing still.

The health of journalist Zhan Zhang is rapidly deteriorating in prison. She was arrested last year in May for reporting on state mismanagement and negligence in their response to the COVID crisis. She was sentenced to four years in prison in December 2020 on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”. The journalist has pre-existing medical conditions that her family has already raised the alarm on.

July 27, 2021- Beijing bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times, Alice Su, colleague Katrina You were harangued, alongside their crew members, by members of the public in China.

On July 25th, The journalists were covering the devastation caused by torrential rains and floods in Zhengzhou, Henan province when they were surrounded by an angry mob who yelled at them to leave China. Both Alice and her fellow crew member found themselves in the middle of chaos with nowhere to escape. A video available on Twitter shows Alice trying to deescalate the situation by translating the crowds' messages. CFWIJ is dismayed by the hostile attitude towards foreign media in the country. This recent incident is a direct violation of the basic principles of press freedom. We urge the Chinese authorities to investigate this pattern of harassments and take necessary action.

The Chinese authorities resorted to a slander campaign against the Chinese Australian journalist, Vicky Xu. The journalist, who regularly reports on the human rights crisis in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, opened up on Twitter regarding the state-backed harassment she has had to face through new media outlets and online trolls for her work.

Journalist Haze Fan was detained in December 2020 on suspicion of endangering national security. Haze was escorted from her apartment and currently remains in the custody of Chinese authorities. Fan is a Chinese citizen employed by an American publication house.

The Chinese government has officially arrested journalist Cheng Lei after almost six months of detention on charges of "illegally supplying state secrets overseas". Australian Foreign Minister, Marise Payne assures everyone that her office is in touch with the Chinese authorities and the Australian consulates in China regarding the matter.

A female reporter was beaten and injured by men in the city of Qixia in China’s Shandong province. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the brutal treatment of a journalist working in the field.

A female journalist in Kunming City of China’s Yunnan province is being commended for negotiating with a kidnapper holding a young boy hostage. The Coalition For Women In Journalism applauds the reporter’s bravery.

Zhang Zhan, a Chinese citizen journalist was sentenced to four years in prison in Shanghai on Monday due to her coverage on the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan. She was found guilty of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”. Such accusations are regularly used to intimidate social activists. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) is utterly dismayed with the court’s decision. It is yet another, worrying manifestation of the suffocating environment for press freedom in China. No journalist should be subjected to vicious, legal persecution, especially when informing the public about a deadly epidemic spreading across the country.

Zhang Zhan, a Chinese citizen journalist based in Shanghai, was first detained in May for reporting on the Covid-19 outbreak from Wuhan. After being arrested in June, the journalist faces up to five years in jail for allegedly spreading false information. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is deeply concerned for Zhang Zhan’s safety and demands she be released immediately. No journalist should be subjected to such mistreatment, especially when informing the public about a deadly epidemic spreading across the country.

Investigative journalist and reporter Bao Choy stands trial over charges of making false statements when seeking access to data. The trial was adjourned until January 14, 2021. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is alarmed by these constant infringements of press freedom and calls for a retraction of these accusations.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is severely worried about the health of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, who is the only woman journalist who remains under bars for reporting on Covid-19 pandemic.