Ministry of Truth: Flights and Floods

Ministry of Truth: Flights and Floods

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.

Since directives are sometimes communicated orally to journalists and editors, who then leak them online, the wording published here may not be exact. The original publication date is noted after the directives; the date given may indicate when the directive was leaked, rather than when it was issued. CDT does its utmost to verify dates and wording, but also takes precautions to protect the source.

Central Propaganda Department: No media will report, comment or republish information on the vice-governor of Jiangxi Province who arrived late for his scheduled flight, causing the flight to leave after its scheduled departure, and who fought with passengers. (October 26, 2012)

中宣部:对网传江西一副省长因迟到致航班延误并与乘客发生纠纷一事,各媒体不报道不评论不转载。

Central Propaganda Department: All media must use Xinhua wire copy in relation to the 70 boats lost in a flash flood in Guangxi Province. Do not sensationalize the story. (October 30, 2012)

中宣部:对广西因山洪爆发致70条船失踪一事,各媒体一律采用新华社通稿,不炒作。

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