The journalists' union, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA), has called on Australian journalists to support their striking colleagues at Chinese newspaper Southern Weekend.
MEAA federal secretary Christopher Warren has written to members to encourage them to sign a letter in support of the striking journalists. The letter is to be delivered to Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping.
The ever-present issue of press freedom in China erupted once again over a tampered editorial in the Southern Weekend which appeared on 1 January. The editorial in question was changed from one which called for political reform to one which praised the party's policies.
It has been alleged the alteration was made by the Communist Party's propaganda chief in the Guangdong region, Tuo Zhen, where the newspaper is based. The paper's journalists went on strike to demand editorial independence and the dismissal of Tuo.
Warren said in a statement: “The journalists at Southern Weekend have taken a courageous stand to uphold the ethics of the journalism profession and to fight for the public's right to know. This brave action demonstrates their commitment to strong, ethical journalism that respects the truth and the public's right to information.
“The significant changes taking place in China cannot be ignored or turned back. China's people demand ethical and independent media to keep them informed. Journalists should be allowed to do their job without expecting to have their vital work tampered with by government bureaucrats.
“It's time for China to acknowledge press freedom will be a vital step forward in its rapid development.”
Meanwhile, The New York Times reported the Central Propaganda Department has blamed the dispute at Southern Weekend on “the meddling of hostile outside forces”.
Press censorship, especially of political issues, is still common in China. The Central Propaganda Department has issued an order that no domestic media are to report, comment or forward any messages related to the strike.
The incident has come at a time when the world is looking to China's newly installed leader Xi for signals of political reform. Some commentators have said the journalists' strike is one of few incidents of overt political protest since the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations.
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