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.
An angry employee set fire to a Shantou factory on December 4. 14 people died in the blaze.
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.
Guangdong Propaganda Department: Without exception, do not report or comment on the villager sit-in at the municipal government in Liantang Township, Shantou on the afternoon of December 3. (December 4, 2012)
广东省委宣传部：12月3日上午汕头莲塘镇部分村民到市委门前聚集静坐一事，一律不做报道评论。
Guangdong Propaganda Department: This afternoon (December 4) a fire broke out in a lingerie factory in Xinxixi Village, Zhendian Township, Chaonan District, Shantou City. If reporting on this incident, all media are to publish and broadcast according to the wire copy issued by the Shantou Municipal Propaganda Department. Do not exaggerate or play up the story. (December 4, 2012)
广东省委宣传部：今天（4日）下午汕头市朝南区陈店镇新溪西村乡一文胸厂发生火灾，造成人员伤亡。各媒体如报道，按汕头市委宣传部发布的通稿刊播，不渲染炒作。
Central Propaganda Department: Regarding the serious aviation accident in the Jinping district of Shantou City on December 4, all media are to report strictly according to Xinhua wire copy. Do not put this news on the front page and do not lure readers to the story. Do not accompany reports with photos. Do not produce any other form of report or commentary on this. (December 4, 2012)
中宣部：4日汕头市金平区严重飞行事故，各媒体及网站严格按新华社通稿刊播，不上头版导读，不配照片，不做其他任何形式的报道评论。
