China will be granting reporting rights to online media through press credentials given to staff of news portals, China Daily reported.
In a circular issued on Wednesday by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), the first group to be furnished with the credentials is required to work for news sites that have received approval from the CAC.
The review and issuance of credentials will be done annually, said Jiang Jun, a spokesperson for the administration.
The staff must also have more than one year of experience in news reporting in order to qualify for reporting rights, according to the circular.
Before the directive, online media could do no more than edit and publish news from traditional media.
"Press cards for online media staff will be the same as those held by traditional media staff in order to achieve unified standards and management," Jiang said.
The training and evaluation of those aspiring to secure credentials will be performed by the CAC, with the SAPPRFT issuing the credentials thereafter, the spokesperson added.
Jiang asked for the help of news website regulators with reviewing the qualifications of applicants.
A previous ban on online news reporting by websites was revoked by the new directive. However, it does not include news producers of "self-media," or the subscription-based accounts that have gained a following on messaging service WeChat.