MCLC: reporters turn to weibo

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: pjmooney <pjmooney at me.com>
Subject: reporters turn to weibo
***********************************************************

Source: SCMP (7/30/13):
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1292945/chinese-reporters-try-weibo-
expose-corruption-when-print-fails

How Chinese reporters have turned to weibo to expose corruption
Zhang Hong

On a cloudy morning in early December, a deputy editor of Caijing magazine
came up with a novel approach to expose official corruption, and his
method has since gained popularity among journalists.

"Since so many people are using their microblogs to disclose corruption,
why don't I try it using my real name?" Luo Changping , 32, recalled
thinking, in his new book.

In December, Liu received damaging information about a then deputy
minister for the National Development and Reform Commission, Liu Tienan.
The information, which came from a former mistress to the official, showed
that he had faked his master's degree, had affairs and took bribes.

One year earlier, Caijing, a respected business magazine, had published an
article about a corruption case, without naming directly. The report,
however, did not receive much attention from anti-corruption officials.

This time, Luo decided to take measures into his own hands using his
microblog account, hoping to get the attention of the Commission for
Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the Communist Party's anti-graft watchdog.

"The biggest risk for me was being fired," Luo said. "But Liu could lose
his top job and even go to jail."

In May, Luo's saw his efforts pay off. Liu was sacked and put under
investigation by the CCDI. Speaking to local media, Luo said his success
in taking down a corrupt official was an isolated case and unlikely to be
Duplicated.

However, his victory has emboldened more Chinese journalists to follow
suit.

In mid-July, Economic Information Daily reporter Wang Wenzhi used his
real-name microblog account to accuse the management of China Resources
Power of agreeing to overvalue some coal mining assets in Shanxi province
by five billion yuan (HK$6.3 billion).

As a result, China's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration
Commission audited China Resources Group, the parent company of China
Resources Power.

Wang said he posted the information because he and his family had received
anonymous threats by phone after publishing a related investigative report
in his newspaper in late June. He told local media that he felt safer
after posting the allegation.

Days later, Zhou Fang , a Xinhua journalist made a microblog post saying
that a certain ministry-level propaganda official had attended sex parties
held by wealthy businessmen.

Professor Zhan Jiang , who teaches communications at Beijing Foreign
Studies University, said the rapid development of social media has
resulted in an increased number of mainland journalists turning to
microblogs to expose official corruption.

"Journalists have much more freedom to say what they want to say on social
media than they have with the traditional media platforms for which they
work. The success of Luo Changping has also encouraged other reporters to
follow suit," Zhan said.

Shui Pi , editor in chief of the China Times, agreed: "Journalists'
real-name accusations on microblogs are much more influential [than
traditional reports] and can attract public attention and quickly develop
into a news event."

"The swift reactions from relevant authorities, such as the CCDI, has also
emboldened other journalists," Shui added.

However, the stakes for such whistle-blowing are high.

"These journalists might have done a careful risk assessment, either for
their own safety or of their careers, before getting into such activism,
because the targeted officials are not ordinary folks," Zhan said.

Many media insiders attribute Luo's success partially to the strong
background of his magazine's owner, Wang Boming , who has close ties to
senior party leaders such as CCDI boss Wang Qishan . Wang Boming has
backed up Luo.

So far, neither Wang Wenzhi nor Zhou Fang appeared to have suffered any
serious backlash. Sources close to Wang said he continues working as
usual, although he has been warned about "violating discipline". Zhou said
he was working as usual and denied a report about his dismissal.
Additional reporting by Raymond Li