China Shuts Down Newspaper Supplement

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | The New York Times
January 25, 2006

BEIJING (AP) -- Employees said Wednesday that China has shut down a newspaper supplement known for its in-depth reporting on sensitive issues, the latest measure by the communist government to tighten control over the media.

Production of Bing Dian, a four-page weekly supplement of the state-run China Youth Daily, was halted until further notice late Tuesday, the eve before its latest issue was to appear, the employees said.

Chief editor Li Datong said he was called into a meeting at 8 p.m. and notified of the shutdown without being given a reason. ''I'm very angry,'' said Li, the supplement's founder. ''We'll be going through regular channels to appeal.''

The 11-year-old publication had become a must-read among China's educated elite, running penetrating articles on topical issues such as a chemical spill that polluted a major river last year. Its closure reflects growing tensions between the Chinese leadership and media outlets that have been pushing the limits of official tolerance in part to capture greater market share.

Staff at Bing Dian -- which means ''Freezing Point'' -- expressed bewilderment with the closure. ''It's so unfair,'' said a woman in the Bing Dian office who declined to give her name because of the sensitivity of the situation. ''It's hard to tell how long this will last but we were told it can be resumed 'after improvements.'''

Employees said officials did not say what would happen to Bing Dian's staff of five editors and eight reporters.

In an attempt to reassert its authority, the government has recently fired aggressive editors and intimidated and even jailed enterprising reporters. According to government figures, authorities banned 79 newspapers deemed illegal in a nationwide crackdown last year.

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