More than 20 journalists were jailed in China last year for extortion and taking illicit payments, state press said yesterday, citing the nation’s publishing watchdog.
“We must strengthen the scope of our efforts in dealing with these odious extortion cases in our media,” the Beijing Youth Daily quoted Li Dongdong (李東東), vice head of the General Administration of Press and Publications, as saying.
Last year, the administration received 76 reports of journalists receiving illicit payments for news or extorting potential newsmakers, resulting in arrest and criminal punishment for at least 20 journalists, she said.
No details of the cases were given.
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