#Newspaper

Chinese state TV broke Ofcom rules with biased Hong Kong coverage

//China’s state television channel repeatedly breached British broadcasting rules with biased coverage of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, according to a decision by the media regulator that could set up a diplomatic clash between the two countries.

//the channel – which has been dubbed a propaganda outfit – often focused on violence by protesters against police officers, while downplaying attacks by the authorities on the public.

//However, as part of its efforts to avoid sanctions – which could include a substantial fine – CGTN found itself arguing that the protests by millions of Hong Kong residents were not entirely without purpose.

//In an attempt to avoid breaches of British broadcasting rules it had hired Nick Pollard, a former Ofcom board member, as an adviser. However, he resigned last year in the middle of the Hong Kong protests. CGTN is still facing separate ongoing investigations by Ofcom into claims it broadcast forced on-air confessions by Chinese prisoners, as well as wider questions about its ownership.

//The channel said one of its Hong-Kong-based correspondents had tried to approach or contact more than 50 young protesters or opposition figures while reporting on the demonstrations over the past few months. However, it said “most of them have rejected such approaches as they are hostile to the media from mainland China and to Mandarin-speaking reporters”.

//Ofcom concluded that simply because pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong were reluctant to appear on the channel, it did not mean CGTN should not seek to represent their views in order to meet the standards of due impartiality.

Full article: The Guardian, (26-May)

Further reading:
U.S. Hits Back at China With New Visa Restrictions on Journalists
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/09/us/politics/china-journalists-us-visa-crackdown.amp.html

#ChinesePropaganda #CGTN #HongKongProtest