Journalistic Self-Censorship in China

A culture of self-censorship has proven more effective than direct orders from official state propaganda departments.  The thin line between permitted news and taboo is unclear and constantly shifting places, which forces journalists to practice self-censorship to avoid crossing it and attracting unwanted attention. Hard news and sensitive issues often appear on the internet, where articles are posted, blocked and re-posted in a game of online cat and mouse.  Jeremy Goldkorn discusses how China’s censorship policy pushes traditional media such as newspapers, magazines and television away from controversial topics and towards soft news and entertainment.