POPULAR GLOSSY CENSURED OVER ARTICLES ON CULTURAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 024311 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2031 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KCUL SOCI CH SUBJECT: POPULAR GLOSSY CENSURED OVER ARTICLES ON CULTURAL REVOLUTION, TIBET REF: A. BEIJING 10507 ¶B. 05 BEIJING 2479 Classified By: Political Section Internal Unit Chief Susan A. Thornton. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The high-circulation lifestyle magazine Sanlian Life Weekly has been censured for recent articles that crossed censors' redlines on the Cultural Revolution and Tibet, Sanlian staff and other contacts confirmed. The editor in chief has received a reprimand and may be fined or fired. Journalists said that while the incident does not presage a wider crackdown aimed at Chinese magazines, editors will likely be extra cautious in steering clear of Propaganda authorities' sensitivities. In this context, the Sanlian flap reflects the difficulty reporters continue to face in attempting to publish aggressive pieces on sensitive topics and has resulted in some bitterness in Chinese newsrooms. End Summary. Two Inflammatory Articles -------------- ¶2. (C) Sanlian's cover story for the October 30 issue commemorated the 30th anniversary of the end of the tumultuous Cultural Revolution. The dramatic cover design showed a photo of Jiang Qing, Mao's wife, standing trial after Mao's death as a member of the Gang of Four. The words "Cultural Revolution" appeared next to the picture. Sanlian's editorial decision flew in the face of Propaganda Department guidelines issued at the end of 2005 restricting coverage of the Cultural Revolution (ref A) and other sensitive anniversaries during 2006. ¶3. (C) The other offending article appeared in the October 23 issue and dealt with the system for appointing Tibetan leaders during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, long a sensitive topic for the Chinese Government. Cai Wei (protect),the author of the Tibet piece, told POLOFF he is surprised and disappointed that the article has been singled out, especially because it appeared in the context of an edition dedicated to travel in Tibet. Cai, who wrote other material on Tibet for the issue, drove his own car from Beijing to the region for a six-week reporting trip. Moved by the experience, he said he plans to write a book on the subject, although given his recent trials, he said he doubts the manuscript would survive the censors' scrutiny. "Two Strikes and You're Out" -------------- ¶4. (C) With a circulation of about 1.2 million, Sanlian Life Weekly is one of China's most popular glossy news magazines. It caters to middle class, urban readers and regularly publishes articles about entertainment, sports and travel. Nonetheless, this is not the first time that Sanlian has ignited controversy. In early 2005, an article identifying the income levels that qualify Chinese households as middle class caused problems both for the magazine and the National Statistics Bureau (ref B),which released figures that served as the basis for the story. One reason Sanlian's editor in chief, Zhu Wei, may receive a harsh reprimand this time is because Propaganda authorities are adhering to an unwritten "two strikes and you're out" rule in terms of crossing content red lines, said Zhou Qing'an (protect),a free lance journalist who contributes regularly to The Beijing News. If an editor allows one unsanctioned piece, he or she receives a warning. The second time, penalties can range from hefty fines to being sacked, Zhou said. ¶5. (C) Against this backdrop, publications continue to be careful about their content. Most practice self-censorship, said He Jiangtao (protect),a journalist at Citizen Magazine, whose editorial mission is to encourage the development of civil society in China. For example, Citizen's publisher, Guangxi Normal University Press, opted not to distribute the September issue. The cover featured a big portrait of Mao next to the words "Mao-style Business Model." The related article discussed the prevalence of strong Chief Executive Officers at Chinese companies. Another article teased on the BEIJING 00024311 002 OF 002 cover, entitled "How Many Chinese Are Not Tax Evaders?", made the publisher nervous about attracting unwelcome attention from the censors. Guangxi Normal University Press printed galleys but declined to distribute the issue because of its political sensitivity, said He. Censors Quiet on Some Sensitive Issues -------------- ¶6. (C) At the same time, the Propaganda Department has taken a hands-off approach to certain sensitive issues in recent weeks, said Wang Feng, an editor at the influential bi-weekly Caijing Magazine. After the October 9 North Korean nuclear test, Caijing expected the Propaganda Department to issue strict coverage guidelines on the incident. None came and Caijing ran an article that Wang and other editors felt crossed a redline by calling for a reassessment of China's relationship with North Korea. The piece attracted no negative comments from the authorities, Wang said. ¶7. (C) In addition, Caijing and other publications have presented considerable coverage of the sacking of former Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Liangyu. Some articles have "gone over the top," but the censors have remained mum, Wang observed. In both these cases, Wang surmised that lack of guidelines was calculated. Press excesses on North Korea signaled official dissatisfaction with the DPRK's actions, while undercutting Chen only drums up support for the current leadership's anti-corruption campaign. (Note: Wang added that his journalist friends in Shanghai were celebrating the dismissal of Chen, who was notoriously restrictive when it came to the media. End Note.) Whack-a-Mole -------------- ¶8. (C) Despite his recent run-in with the censors, Cai of Sanlian said he is still enthusiastic about journalism and his magazine. He said he expects the editor Zhu to weather the current storm, adding that the editorial staff remains dedicated to finding ways to expand the space for aggressive reporting. In the end, Cai said, it is the Propaganda officials themselves who have the thankless job. "Being a censor is like playing Whack-a-Mole," Cai remarked. "Once you smack down one sensitive article, another pops up somewhere else." Randt