In China, journalists are punished for publishing unverified news. (Photo : Reuters)
China has formed commissions tasked to monitor media practices in 16 provinces and cities, according to the Global Times.
The media ethics commissions are aimed at improving the oversight on media networks and, with the help of public reports, penalize personalities and companies found to be violating government-imposed regulations.
These offenses include false reporting, indecent advertisements and paid news.
In September, Zhai Huisheng, the Communist Party secretary of the China Journalists' Association, was reported as saying that stepping up supervision and regulation of the media is "part of the central goverment's efforts to push forward the rule of law and fight corruption . . . and to build a good media image to the public."
Five provinces and regions were the first to have media ethics commissions assigned in their jurisdictions in 2013. These include Hebei, Zhejiang and Shandong.
Earlier this year, commissions were set up in eight more provinces and regions. Twenty members, who are from different sectors including the media, constitute each commission.
As of Nov. 15, the commission assigned in Shaanxi has had 38 complaints filed since July, with 28 of them now resolved, according to local officials.
