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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| China reporter Chen Yongzhou 'confesses on TV' | China reporter Chen Yongzhou 'confesses on TV' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An imprisoned Chinese journalist whose newspaper has made front-page appeals for his release has confessed to wrongdoing on state TV. | An imprisoned Chinese journalist whose newspaper has made front-page appeals for his release has confessed to wrongdoing on state TV. |
| "I'm willing to admit my guilt and to show repentance," said reporter Chen Yongzhou, arrested over claims he defamed a partly state-owned firm. | "I'm willing to admit my guilt and to show repentance," said reporter Chen Yongzhou, arrested over claims he defamed a partly state-owned firm. |
| State media said he had admitted writing false stories for money. | State media said he had admitted writing false stories for money. |
| Analysts say there have been a number of televised confessions recently in high-profile or politicised cases. | Analysts say there have been a number of televised confessions recently in high-profile or politicised cases. |
| But campaigners have frequently criticised the practice, saying the confessions are often made under duress and violate rights to due process. | |
| 'Hankered after money' | |
| Mr Chen wrote several articles for the Guangdong-based New Express newspaper alleging financial irregularities at a construction-equipment company called Zoomlion. | Mr Chen wrote several articles for the Guangdong-based New Express newspaper alleging financial irregularities at a construction-equipment company called Zoomlion. |
| "In this case I've caused damages to Zoomlion and also the whole news media industry and its ability to earn the public's trust," he told state broadcaster CCTV. | "In this case I've caused damages to Zoomlion and also the whole news media industry and its ability to earn the public's trust," he told state broadcaster CCTV. |
| "I did this mainly because I hankered after money and fame. I've been used. I've realised my wrongdoing." | "I did this mainly because I hankered after money and fame. I've been used. I've realised my wrongdoing." |
| State media said he had confessed to taking bribes, but did not report who might have paid the bribes. | State media said he had confessed to taking bribes, but did not report who might have paid the bribes. |
| His case attracted huge attention after the New Express twice used its front page to call for his release. | His case attracted huge attention after the New Express twice used its front page to call for his release. |
| The newspaper has not yet commented on the confession. | The newspaper has not yet commented on the confession. |
| Censorship rows | |
| Media monitoring group China Digital Times reported that the Communist Party's propaganda department had barred newspapers from reporting the story. | |
| An instruction from the department also warned papers to monitor reporters' individual social-media accounts. | |
| But many newspapers have continued to cover the story. | |
| The Southern Metropolis Daily published an editorial accusing officials in Zoomlion's hometown of Changsha of abuse of power over the case. | |
| According to the Hong Kong-based China Media Project, the paper had to pull an earlier editorial under pressure from censors. | |
| China's newspaper industry is tightly controlled by a system of local censors carrying out party directives. | |
| But there have been several high-profile rows over censorship. | |
| Earlier this year staff at the Guangzhou-based Southern Weekly paper went on strike after a new-year editorial calling for reform was censored. |