Foreign journalists have applauded new regulations that offer
them free access to report from China in the run-up to, and during,
the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The regulations, which take effect on January 1, allow foreign
reporters to interview and report on all aspects of China, not just
the Olympics.
The most appreciated change is that foreign journalists will no
longer need to apply to local government authorities for permission
to report they only need to obtain consent of the organization or
individual they want to interview.
The regulations represent an important move the Olympic
organizers have taken to honor their promises and commitments on
press freedom made during Beijing's bid to host the Games.
"We can talk with anyone or shoot pictures just about any place,
as long as the interviewees agree," said Jaime FlorCruz, Beijing
Bureau Chief of CNN. "It is a welcome change."
There are currently 606 resident journalists from 319 foreign
news organizations of 49 countries working in China. About 3,000 to
5,000 foreign journalists visit China each year, according to a
Xinhua report.
"Previously, each city we went to, we had to go to the local
authority for approval. But sometimes, we didn't even get it," said
Osman Erol, representative correspondent of Cihan News Agency of
Turkey.
Erol was once told to wait for two or three days when he applied
to take some photos at a mosque.
"Time is very important in the media industry. We couldn't wait
that long," he said.
While welcoming the new rules, foreign reporters have raised
concerns as well particularly over how the regulations are
implemented.
"As we say, the devil is in the detail," FlorCruz said.
"If we go out to do stories, especially in provinces or small
towns, will the local officials follow the regulations?" FlorCruz
said it is vital for central government officials to make sure
local officials observe the rules.
"Local officials need to be told that foreign journalists can
freely report in their areas," he said.
Obstacles crop up at places other than Beijing because local
officials still worry that journalists will only report bad news,
FlorCruz said.
"They see us as trouble-makers, especially when we do stories
that look into official abuse, disasters, and personal tragedies
just like what most Chinese media do," he said.
In fact, free access helps both sides, he said.
"It will help improve our reporting in China in both quantity
and quality," FlorCruz said. "So our readers or viewers can have a
deeper understanding and more complete picture of what's going on
in China. Thus it is good for China, too."
FlorCruz hopes that the regulations will be in force even after
the Olympics and foreign journalists will enjoy more freedom in
China.
Cai Wu, minister of the State Council Information Office,
responded yesterday by saying that the regulations might be
extended.
"If the new regulations prove beneficial to our development and
exchanges between us and foreign media there will be no need to
change the policy," he told a news briefing.
Yu Guoming, associate dean of the School of Journalism and
Communication at Renmin University of China, said the regulations
are just an experiment.
"If they bring benefits, the government will surely let them
stay in place," he said.
Rong Jiaojiao, with a domestic media organization based in
Beijing, said: "The new rules will help foreign reporters produce
more balanced stories with more sources and background
information."
"It will be a challenge and a good chance for us to learn from
each other."
(China Daily December 29, 2006)
