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Chinese newspaper New Express, which made front-page appeals for the release of its journalist Chen Yongzhou, has issued an apology over his report.
The Guangdong-based New Express said a preliminary police investigation found that Chen Yongzhou had accepted money to publish numerous false reports.
Chen Yongzhou was arrested over claims he defamed a partly state-owned firm in articles exposing alleged corruption.
The paper’s front-page apology came after the journalist confessed to wrongdoing on state TV.
“I’m willing to admit my guilt and to show repentance,” Chen Yongzhou said in a statement broadcast on Saturday.
The New Express had previously backed him with unusually bold front-page appeals for his release.
But in a statement on Sunday’s front page, the newspaper said it had failed to properly check his reports.
Chen Yongzhou was arrested over claims he defamed a partly state-owned firm in articles exposing alleged corruption
“This newspaper was not strict enough about thoroughly fact-checking the draft of the report,” it said.
“After the incident occurred the newspaper took inappropriate measures, seriously harming the public trust of the media.”
The paper promised to better ensure that its reporters and editors “comply with professional journalistic ethics and regulations”.
The turn-around came one day after Chen Yongzhou appeared on state television in a green prison uniform to confess to writing false stories for money.
Several high-profile suspects have made televised confessions recently.
Experts say confessions are still routinely coerced, despite a change in the law earlier this year banning the authorities from forcing anyone to incriminate themselves.
Chen Yongzhou wrote several articles for the New Express alleging financial irregularities at a construction-equipment company called Zoomlion. The company denies the allegations.
“In this case I’ve caused damages to Zoomlion and also the whole news media industry and its ability to earn the public’s trust,” he told state broadcaster CCTV.
“I did this mainly because I hankered after money and fame. I’ve been used. I’ve realised my wrongdoing.”
State media said Chen Yongzhou had confessed to taking bribes, but did not report who might have paid the bribes.
His case attracted huge attention after the New Express twice used its front page to call for his release.
Media monitoring group China Digital Times reported that the Communist Party’s propaganda department had barred newspapers from reporting the story.
However, many newspapers have continued to cover it.
China’s newspaper industry is tightly controlled by a system of local censors carrying out party directives.
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Imprisoned Chinese journalist Chen Yongzhou, whose newspaper New Express has made front-page appeals for his release, has confessed to wrongdoing on state TV.
“I’m willing to admit my guilt and to show repentance,” said reporter Chen Yongzhou, arrested over claims he defamed a partly state-owned firm.
State media said he had admitted writing false stories for money.
Analysts say there have been a number of televised confessions recently in high-profile or politicized cases.
Imprisoned Chinese journalist Chen Yongzhou has confessed to wrongdoing on state TV
But campaigners have frequently criticized the practice, saying they are often made under duress and violate rights to due process.
Chen Yongzhou wrote several articles for the Guangdong-based New Express alleging financial irregularities at a construction-equipment company called Zoomlion.
“In this case I’ve caused damages to Zoomlion and also the whole news media industry and its ability to earn the public’s trust,” he told state broadcaster CCTV.
“I did this mainly because I hankered after money and fame. I’ve been used. I’ve realized my wrongdoing.”
State media said Chen Yongzhou had confessed to taking bribes, but did not report who might have paid the bribes.
Chen Yongzhou’s case attracted huge attention after the New Express twice used its front page to call for his release.
The New Express has not yet commented on the confession.
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Chinese newspaper The New Express has published a second front-page plea for the release of its journalist Chen Yongzhou held by police.
The New Express called for a second time in two days Chen Yongzhou to be freed.
Chen Yongzhou was taken away by police after he wrote about a part state-owned construction equipment company.
In a rare move, China’s publishing regulator has also voiced its concern over his detention.
The New Express, based in the southern city Guangzhou, published on the bottom of its front page a large four-character headline that read: “Again: Please Release Him.”
On Tuesday, the paper filled its front page with a three-character headline that read “Please Release Him.”
The New Express has published a second front-page plea for the release of its journalist Chen Yongzhou
The New Express also accompanied the second day’s plea with a call to resolve matters under the rule of law.
“[Police] cannot take way people first and question them later,” the paper said.
Correspondents say the paper’s move is rare and bold at a time when the government is tightening control over the media and the internet.
Meanwhile, China’s publishing regulator, the General Association of Press and Publishing (GAPP), has voiced its concern over Chen Yongzhou’s detention.
GAPP “resolutely supports the news media conducting normal interviewing and reporting activities and resolutely protects journalists’ normal and legal rights to interview,” the China Press and Publishing Journal said, citing a GAPP official.
“At the same time, it resolutely opposes any abuse of the right to conduct interviews,” said the journal which is overseen by GAPP.
The article said the association was paying “close attention” to the matter.
Earlier this year, Chen Yongzhou wrote several reports about Zoomlion, which is partly owned by the Hunan provincial government.
Zoomlion issued a statement after one New Express article, which alleged it had improperly accounted for sales, caused its share price to drop.
In a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange in late May, the company called the claims “false, groundless and misleading”.
Like all Chinese newspapers, the New Express comes under strict state control, but it has nonetheless gained a reputation for investigative journalism.
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Chinese newspaper The New Express, based in Guangzhou, has published a rare front-page plea for the release of one of its journalists held by police.
The New Express called for Chen Yongzhou, who was detained last week, to be freed.
The paper said Chen Yongzhou’s detention was linked to reports he wrote about a part state-owned construction equipment company based in Hunan.
Police in Hunan have confirmed the journalist has been detained for “damage to business reputation”.
The New Express has published a rare front-page plea for the release of journalist Chen Yongzhou held by police
Earlier this year, Chen Yongzhou wrote several reports about Zoomlion, which is partly owned by the Hunan provincial government.
Zoomlion issued a statement after one New Express article, which alleged it had improperly accounted for sales, caused its share price to drop.
In a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange in late May, the company called the claims “false, groundless and misleading”.
Chen Yongzhou’s detention was linked to reports he wrote about a part state-owned construction equipment company based in Hunan
The New Express led its article with a large three-character headline that read “Please Release Him”.
It said it had remained quiet so far because it feared Chen Yongzhou, who was detained on October 19, might be mistreated.
“We always thought that as long as we report responsibly then there would be no problem; and even in the event of a problem, we can publish corrections and apologise; if it is really serious, and we lose a court case, we will pay or shut down if we have to,” the editorial said.
“But the fact is, we are too naive. Chen Yongzhou had spent three days and three nights [in custody] before he saw a lawyer,” it added.
Like all Chinese newspapers, the New Express comes under strict state control, but it has nonetheless gained a reputation for investigative journalism.
“We are a small newspaper, but we have the backbone no matter how poor we are,” the paper said in its piece.
Recent years have seen sporadic clashes between Chinese media outlets and the authorities.
In January, journalists at the Guangdong-based Southern Weekly newspaper called for a propaganda chief to quit, after he changed an editorial into a Communist Party tribute.
The row sparked small protests and displays of solidarity from other media outlets before the issue was resolved.
There have been strong reactions to the news of Chen Yongzhou’s detention from users of Weibo, China’s version of Twitter.
Around 30 lawyers have put forward their names to rally support for Chen Yongzhou and organized a virtual body – “Observation Group on the Detention of New Express Reporter Chen Yongzhou”. But the group has not disclosed any planned actions.
Media professionals, including journalists, are also using Weibo to join the call for police to release Chen Younzhou.
An editor from Dongfang Jinbao, a Henan-based newspaper, wrote: “Support New Express to safeguard the rights of its journalists. The bottom line of consensus in today’s society is rule of law. Why did the police arrest Mr. Chen? On what legal basis? Is it detention or arrest?”
Weibo users have also commented on the censorship of the news of Chen Yongzhou’s detention.
Another journalist from Henan province added: Within 10 minutes, all major internet portals like Sina, Sohu, Tencent and others have withdrawn the story from their home pages. This is a moment of shame for all (except a few) journalists in China.
Other users, however, are urging restraint, saying that it is not good to jump to any conclusions now.
