For mass media, mass murder not a story
It is believed to be the most horrific case of mass murder in recent Chinese history, but for the major mainland media outlets, the case of Yang Zhiya, the 'Monster Killer' who is believed to have murdered 65 people, is not news.
Yang, an ex-convict who reportedly severely injured five other people, was arrested in a nightclub in Cangzhou, Hebei province, two weeks ago after police realised he was on the nation's most-wanted list.
His arrest was first reported on Friday in the Yanzhao Metropolitan Daily and was later picked up by some mainland websites. But a mainland reporter close to the paper said several websites carrying the reports soon 'killed' the story.
The official media - Xinhua, China Central Television and the People's Daily - did not carry any reports on the gruesome killing spree that allegedly took place in four provinces: Hebei, Henan, Anhui and Shandong.
Observers believe officials have imposed a nationwide media blackout to avoid presenting China in a bad light.
In marked contrast to the silence regarding the domestic killer, mainland media had a field day early this month with detailed reports on the trial of American serial killer Gary Ridgway, who has pleaded guilty to killing 48 women in Seattle during the 1980s.
The journalist said the state-run media would not carry reports on the local murder case because officials would feel it would reflect badly on the country's security situation.
The story leaked out on Friday after journalists in Cangzhou heard rumours about the case from several sources. 'There is a saying that says no wall is totally wind-proof,' one journalist said. 'Some of the Cangzhou people knew about the case but the police had sealed their mouths on the report.'
It was not until the story had been published that officials from police departments from Henan, Anhui and Shandong confirmed details of the case to the South China Morning Post.
The treatment of the Yang case is not unusual. Families of the victims in a Shenzhen serial murder case have been warned by police not to talk to the media lest they paint the city in bad light, relatives have said, and media coverage of the case has been muted.
The families have been told that two suspects are expected to go on trial around November 25 on charges of robbing and murdering 12 young women.
