The Media in Beijing 2008: New Freedoms or Lip Service?
With the summer Olympics due to open in Beijing in August, Chinese media censorship has become a worldwide concern. While the Chinese government has thawed some existing restrictions for foreign journalists, the International Olympics Committee has agreed to examine China’s policies in light of a recent charge that authorities blocked media access to the website of Amnesty International.
Does China’s relaxation of media control for the Olympics truly represent progress or is anything short of full media freedom a farce?
Should journalists be pragmatic and accept existing terms like Google? After the Olympics, will domestic journalists be given greater latitude or will freedoms disappear with the international press?
An update: since this post last month, the stabbing of local CEO Todd Bachman in Beijing prompted efforts by the government to silence the media. Read more here.
Leave a comment to tell us your thoughts on the Olympic media controversy. Or read the Poynter Institute’s thoughts here.
Tags: Censorship