2006 China Media Yearbook & Directory, 2006

China's conservatives usher in more restrictive media environment

James F. Paradise

This review was originally published by AsiaMedia on April 24, 2006. Republished by permission

2006 China Media Yearbook & Directory
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Media liberalization in China suffered a setback in 2005. This is a recurring theme in the 2006 China Media Yearbook & Directory, a publication by China Media Monitor Intelligence that provides a wealth of information on the Chinese media industry.  In regard to the print media sector, the publication states: "Hopes that the 'fourth generation' of Chinese leadership under Hu Jintao would allow greater freedom of the press in China have been largely disappointed. While significant steps have been taken to open up the sector to foreign capital, efforts to control content have been redoubled."

Others have reached similar conclusions. Reporters Without Borders noted that the Chinese government has stepped up its enforcement of some media regulations, e.g. not to use film footage from international media organizations, or formulated new polices to give it greater control over the media environment. In its Worldwide Press Freedom Index for 2005 (covering events between September 1, 2004 and September 1, 2005), the organization ranked China 159 out of 167 countries, ahead of only Nepal, Cuba, Libya, Burma, Iran, Turkmenistan, Eritrea and North Korea. The Committee to Protect Journalists said that China had more journalists in jail in 2005 than any other country -- 32. According to Human Rights Watch, concerns about stability have apparently led to the shelving of plans by some officials "to ease regulations and give more room to civil society."

One area of big concern is the Internet. In 2005, the Chinese government introduced a variety of regulations to give it greater control over Internet content. These regulations included requiring that all websites in China, including sites and blogs run by individuals, register with the government, and that online news services be subject to restrictions on the reporting of political, economic, military and foreign news. The Chinese government also has created an Internet filtering regime which an extensive report in 2005 by the OpenNet Initiative, a partnership between the University of Toronto, Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge,  describes as "the most sophisticated effort of its kind in the world." Among the components of the regime are blocking of websites and the removal of some results from search engine lists. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions described new Internet regulations by China in 2005 as "an extremely worrying development that once again leaves Chinese Internet users unable freely to seek information from a full range of sources online in the interest of forming a balanced view."

Another area of concern is television broadcasting. After greater openness in 2004, when international joint venture production companies were permitted, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) pulled back in 2005, issuing new regulations that curtailed foreign involvement in the industry. The regulations made partnerships between Chinese and foreign broadcasters more difficult, and none were actually approved with an unofficial ban in place. In addition, Chinese regulators decided not to grant landing rights to any new foreign satellite television companies.

Details of the policy changes and reassertion of control in the television and other media sectors can be found in 2006 China Media Yearbook & Directory. The publication has sections on television, audio video products, radio, print media, film, new media and advertising. Each section describes major developments in the sector and highlights important themes. With its statistical information, directory of media organizations and companies, and translation of important Chinese media laws and regulations, this publication remains one of the most useful resources for persons interested in the Chinese media industry, everyone from academics to businessmen.

Even with the policy changes, the Chinese media industry is still very different from what it was several decades ago -- a fact made abundantly clear by the yearbook and directory. Among the elements of the new Chinese media environment are reality television, mobile radio, Chinese editions of foreign magazines, online gaming and a fast-growing advertising industry. The publication also highlights the variation within the industry -- advertising is still a relatively open sector and there are still opportunities for foreign and private capital in the retail print media sector.

The question remains why the Chinese government is backtracking on what appeared to be moderate liberalization of the media industry in certain respects only a few years ago. Policy oscillations are nothing new to the analyst of China, and it may be the pace of change was too fast and government officials were afraid of losing control in a more commercial environment, especially with a more conservative government, including a new head of SARFT, Wang Taihua. There may be more mundane considerations in the case of some sectors such as advertising -- a desire to protect Chinese companies from strong foreign competition.

In taking a heavy handed approach to regulation, however, one cannot help but think that the Chinese government is doing serious damage to its image ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, is reducing the potential of the Internet as a tool for economic progress and may be undermining the very objective it seeks to achieve -- regime stability. At a time of increasing social protests, media liberalization in the sense of a freer press can function as an important feedback mechanism, channeling information about social concerns to political leaders and providing a force for better governance.

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James F. Paradise is an AsiaMedia writer and advisor. He has more than a decade of experience reporting from Asia and is currently researching China’s participation in the World Trade Organization. AsiaMedia provides daily coverage of media trends and policies.