Appendices
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Press
The Central Propaganda Department has a tight hold on official media and all other arms of traditional media in China. State-run news outlets routinely fail to cover stories that would otherwise make news, and the Central Propaganda Department regularly issues directives to editors on what to cover and how, and what to censor. The Central Propaganda Department dictates that “negative news” is nearly always ignored, and anything that could be considered controversial is off-limits. In the face of major tragedies, the propaganda department typically calls on editors to highlight instead positive stories. Nearly all news, especially political or regional, is never to be sensationalized. Regional papers are urged to recycle news stories from Xinhua News Agency and People’s Daily, the two main mouthpieces of the government.98
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Publishing
Books with political content not to the liking of the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), including works of fiction, are typically banned in the mainland. This form of censorship is not limited to the writing of dissidents— even members of the official Chinese Writers Association, many of whom speak of practicing self-censorship in order to be published, have had their books banned. Private publishers must buy ISBNs (International Standard Book Numbers) from the government, and can have their supply cut dramatically for publishing controversial works. This ensures a level of self-censorship even among the independent presses, and those that become too adventurous can be forced to close.
Those reporters and editors who step out of line— or those whose papers do—risk being fired or suspended from their positions. Journalists who are found to have leaked directives have been prosecuted for “revealing state secrets.” •
Surveillance
Official surveillance of China’s citizens, as well as visitors, is ubiquitous. Millions of surveillance cameras dot city and village streets, shopping malls, and supermarkets, as well as the homes of dissidents. Phone lines are often tapped. Email, Skype, and other online accounts are monitored. In some instances, plainclothes police monitor the movements of those suspected of dissent. In 2011, China’s domestic security chief called for the creation of an advanced database of all citizens that would include details such as tax records and educational history in order to improve “social management.”99
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