The following examples of censorship instructions, issued to the media and/or Internet companies by various central (and sometimes local) government authorities, have been leaked and distributed online. Chinese journalists and bloggers often refer to those instructions as “Directives from the Ministry of Truth.” CDT has collected the selections we translate here from a variety of sources and has checked them against official Chinese media reports to confirm their implementation
State Council Information Office: Article from China-Tibet Web
March 18, 2011
From the State Council Information Office: All websites are requested to repost, in its entirety and in a prominent location, the article from China-Tibet Web, “Can Seeds of Enmity Bear Fruits of Harmony?” It is not permitted to change the title, and the article must remain up until March 19, 10:00 am.
国新办：中国西藏网文章
国新办：请各地网站在首页最醒目区统一转发中国西藏网的《仇恨的种子能结出和谐的果实吗》一文，不可改标题，并且保留到19日10时。
State Council Information Office: Radiation Levels in Urban Areas
March 16, 2011
From the State Council Information Office: Starting on March 17, all websites are requested to prominently repost on their front pages information regarding radiation levels in main urban areas, provided by the Environmental Protection Department. This information must be placed in a fixed location, and note that it must be updated every day. All provincial-level Internet surveillance and propaganda Departments are requested to strictly examine websites under their jurisdiction, and strictly enforce the demands of this notice.
Every day, all websites that provide cell-phone reports must also issue, “Daily Radiation Levels in Main Urban Areas From the Environmental Protection Department (Office of National Nuclear Safety).” All mobile phone companies must understand that this is a political duty, and immediately implement it.
国新办：城市环境辐射水平
国新办：所有网站请从3月17日起在首页要闻区突出转发环保部发布的全国主要城市环境辐射水平信息，此信息必须置于固定位置，注意每日必须进行更新。各省网管，网宣部门请严格检查属地网站，对照本要求严格执行。
所有设有手机报的网站，也需要每天转发“环境保护部（国家核安全局）发布每日全国主要城市环境辐射水平”。所有手机运营商必须理解这是政治任务，立即执行。
Central Propaganda Department: Property Taxes
March 14, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: Regarding Shanghai’s and Chongqing’s experiments with initiating property taxes, opinions that property taxes steal money are not to be reported or hyped.
国新办：房产税
中宣部：对上海重庆启动房产税试点，说房产税是抢钱的言论不报道不炒作
State Council Information Office: Unilateralism, Hillary Clinton style
March 14, 2011
From the State Council Information Office: All websites are requested to repost, on the front page and in a prominent position, the story, “Internet Freedom: Unilateralism, Hillary Clinton style.” It is not permitted to change the title, and the article must stay on the front page until March 15, 6:00 am.
国新办：希拉里式的单边主义
国新办：请各网站在首页最醒目位置转载“互联网自由：希拉里式的单边主义”，不可以改标题，文章必须保持在首页至3月15日晚6时。
State Council Information Office: Concern and Love for Tibetan Students
State Council Information Office: Concern and Love for Tibetan Students
State Council Information Office: All websites must post on their front page news section the article, “For 33 years, 75-year-old Professor Yang Changlin has Shown Concern and Love for Tibetan College Students in Almost 10,000 Instances.” Leave this article up until the day after tomorrow (the 15th) at 6 pm.
国新办：请各网站在首页要闻区突出转发《75岁教授杨昌林33年如一日关爱高校藏族学生近万人次》，保留至后天（15日）下午六时。
March 13, 2011
From the State Council Information Office:
Central Propaganda Department: Large Earthquake in Japan
March 13, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: Media must solidly grasp reporting on disaster conditions after the large earthquake in Japan, and objectively and quickly report on trends as they develop. Place particular emphasis on grasping the relationship between anti-seismic and relief efforts for the Japan and Yunnan earthquakes and propaganda reporting for the national meetings of the “Two Congresses.” Do not weaken the theme of reporting on the Two Congresses.
We must fully propagandize the state of the rescue work that our teams have initiated in Japan. We must closely follow the circumstances of Chinese people and overseas Chinese in Japan.
Do not deliberately criticize or champion the actions of the Japanese government, and do not make any comparisons with anti-seismic and rescue efforts in our country. Give scientific explanations of the explosions and leaks at the nuclear facilities. Do not play up or casually speculate and analyze the influence of leaks on China.
中宣部：日本特大地震
中宣部：媒体要稳妥把握对日本特大地震灾情报道，客观，及时报道灾情动态信息。注意把握好日本地震和云南地震的抗震救灾和全国两会宣传报道的关系。不要冲淡了两会报道的主题。
要充分宣传好我救援队在日本开展救援的情况。要密切关注我在日华人，华侨的情况。
不要刻意批评或赞扬日政府的有关行为，不要和我国的抗震救灾对比。对日核设施泄露及爆炸要做科学解读。不过分渲染，不随意猜测和分析泄露对我国的影响。
Central Propaganda Department: An Illegal Gathering in Shandong
March 12, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: On March 13, there will possibly be illegal gatherings and activities in Jinan, Qingdao, Yantai, Weifang, and Rizhao. Do not give interviews or reports.
中宣部：山东非法集会
中宣部：3月13日济南、青岛、烟台、潍坊、日照可能有非法集会活动，不采访不报道
Central Propaganda Department: The Super Moon
March 12, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: Media are not to hype the super moon. It is not permitted to draw connections between the moon, earthquake, fires, and other natural disasters. It is allowed to use scientific explanations circulated by the Xinhua News Agency, and purely astronomical information issued by expert Departments can be published.
中宣部：超级月亮
中宣部：媒体不要炒作超级月亮。不可把超级月亮与地震，火灾等自然灾害相联系。可用新华社所发稿件做科学解读，权威部门发布的纯天文学内容可刊发。
Central Propaganda Department: Housing Rationing in Shenzhen
March 12, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: Media are not to hype questions about housing rationing in Qiaoxiang Village and Shenyun Village, Shenzhen. Related information should use information from Shenzhen authorities as the standard. Do not give independent interviews or commentary.
中宣部：深圳房屋配售
中宣部：媒体不炒作深圳侨乡村，深云村房屋配售问题，有关情况以深圳权威部门的信息为准，不自行采访和评论
Central Propaganda Department: The Yunnan Earthquake and the Two Congresses
March 12, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: For the Yunnan earthquake, we must mainly report on the active rescue activities of political leaders. We absolutely must not allow the earthquakes to dilute the message of the Two Congresses. We cannot report on representative members being absent from the meetings.
中宣部：云南地震和两会
中宣部：云南地震必须主要报道领导人积极救灾；必须不能让地震冲淡两会；必须不能报道代表委员开会缺席。
Central Propaganda Department: Cultural Industrialization
March 12, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: In related reports, media cannot use the term “cultural industrialization.”
中宣部：文化产业化
中宣部： 媒体在有关报道中不要使用文化产业化的提法
Central Propaganda Department: Family Planning
March 12, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: Media are not to hype family planning problems. Do not report on the issue of having two children. Policy changes on famiy planning will use information issued by authorities as the standard.
中宣部：计划生育
中宣部：媒体不得炒作计划生育问题，生二胎话题不做报道。计划生育在政策调整以权威部门发布信息为准。
The State Administration of Radio Film and Television: Direct Television Broadcasts From Outside our Borders
March 12, 2011
From The State Administration of Radio Film and Television: It is not allowed to directly broadcast television programs originating from outside our borders. If there are currently any such broadcasts reporting on the earthquake in Japan, immediately cut them off.
广电总局：境外电视直播
广电总局：不得直播境外电视节目。如有正在进行的日本大地震相关的境外直播，请立即下线。
Central Propaganda Department: The Earthquakes in Yunnan and Japan
March 12, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: When reporting on the current earthquakes, media are not to compare the earthquake in Yunnan with the earthquake in Japan.
中宣部：云南和日本地震
中宣部：各媒体在报道目前地震事件的时候不得把云南地震跟日本地震做比较。
Shanghai Propaganda Department: Han Han
March 12, 2011
Shanghai Party Committee Propaganda Department: Activities and comments related to Han Han, beyond his car racing, are not to be reported.
上海宣传部：韩寒
上海市委宣传部：有关韩寒的活动和言论，除了赛车以外的不报道。
Central Propaganda Department: He Hongsang, Macau Gambling King
March 11, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: Do not report on the partitioning of household assets of He Hongsang, the gambling king of Macau.
中宣部：澳门赌王何鸿桑
中宣部：不报道澳门赌王何鸿桑家庭财产分割案。
Central Propaganda Department: Taxi Strike in Lanzhou
March 11, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: Do not report on the taxi strike in Lanzhou.
中宣部：兰州出租罢运
中宣部：不报道兰州出租车罢运事件。
Central Propaganda Department: Exchange Student in Norway Injured While Parachuting
March 11, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: Do not report on the incident of an exchange student in Norway injuring himself after parachuting from a tower at the Chinese Academy of Science.
中宣部：挪威留学生跳伞受伤
中宣部：不报道挪威籍留学生在中科院高塔跳伞受伤一事
Central Propaganda Department: Xu Commits Suicide
March 11, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: Do not report on the suicide and death of Xu, Assistant Director of the Testing Center at the National Administration College.
中宣部：徐某自杀
中宣部：不报道国家行政学院考试中心副主任徐某自杀身亡事件
Central Propaganda Department: Delegate Absences at the Two Congresses
March 11, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: Do not report on the absences of delegates from the Two Congresses.
中宣部：两会代表缺席
中宣部：不报道两会的代表委员开会缺席一事
Central Propaganda Department: Tax Evasion by Ma Zhongqi
March 11, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: Do not report on the case of tax evasion by Ma Zhongqi in Huaiyuan county, Ningxia.
中宣部：马衷琦逃税案
中宣部：不报道宁夏海源县马衷琦逃税案
Central Propaganda Department: Standardization of Proposals at the Two Congresses
March 11, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: Do not report on the need to standardize responses to proposals and motions at the Two Congresses.
中宣部：两会议案程序化
中宣部：不报道需将两会议案和提案回复程序化的话题
Central Propaganda Department: Coal Mining in Shanxi
March 11, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: Do not report on the sinkholes caused by coal mining in Shanxi.
中宣部：山西采煤
中宣部：不报道山西因采煤引发的地陷。
Central Propaganda Bureau: Mismanagement of the Automobile Industry
March 11, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: On March 9, China Management Report (Zhongguo jingying bao) and Southern Metropolis (Nanfang dushi bao) report on Huang Qifang’s criticism that some people have mismanaged the automobile industry. All newspapers are not to re-publish or report the story.
中宣部：胡搞汽车业
中宣部：三月九日中国经营报和南方都市报报道黄奇帆批评有人胡搞汽车业的稿件，各报不转不报
Central Propaganda Department: Chunxiao Gas Field
March 10, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Department: Do not report on extractions in the Chunxiao gas field by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (Zhonghaiyou).
中宣部：春晓油田
中宣部：对中海油在春晓油田开采一事不做报道
In China, several political bodies are in charge of Internet content control. At the highest level, there is the Central Propaganda Department, which ensures that media and cultural content follows the official line as mandated by the CCP. Then there is the State Council Information Office (SCIO), which has established an “Internet Affairs Bureau” to oversee all Websites that publish news, including the official sites of news organizations as well as independent sites that post news content.
This “Internet Affairs Bureau,” sends out very specific instructions to all large news websites daily, and often multiple times per day. Those instructions do not always mean that related contents are completely banned online, but they instruct websites to highlight or suppress certain type of opinions or information in a very detailed manner.
Chinese journalists and bloggers often refer to those instructions, as well as other type of censorship orders to media and websites, as “Directives from the Ministry of Truth.” The Ministry of Truth (or Minitrue, in Newspeak) is one of the four ministries that govern Oceania in George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. In the Chinese blogosphere, it is the online nickname for the Central Propaganda Department and generally speaking, all other subordinate propaganda agencies including Internet supervision departments.
Today, it’s been said that news does not break, it tweets. For the officials in the the Ministry of Truth, the news is that their supposedly confidential instructions get tweeted as well.
