From Beijing News, translated by EastSouthWestNorth:
In January 2007, China Trade News Shanxi bureau employee Lan Chengzhang was beaten to death in Datong city by people on the orders of a mine owner. At the same time, the local government issued a notice directed against “fake reporters.” These became the focus of attention of the public.
In a medium-sized city such as Datong, there are all sorts of news bureaus and offices, with around a thousand self-proclaimed “reporters” who show up at mining accident scenes and leaving after they receive money from mine owners.
The wave of fake reporters began at least as early as year 200. The local phenomenon of illegal coal mines and government-coal mine collusion was fertile soil for the proliferation of fake reporters. [Full Text]
