The mainland's media watchdog has said reporters' rights to 'exercise checks and balances' in public matters must be protected - a stance that analysts say might produce an environment for a freer press, at least for exposing business scandals.
The statement was made in an article published yesterday in the China Press and Publishing Journal, the mouthpiece for the General Administration of Press and Publication (Gapp), and carried on its website.
'The government has suggested that journalists' rights could be better protected, compared to the past where they were constantly suppressed,' said Hu Xingdou , a professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology. 'We might see a better future and freedom for the 'fourth power'.'
A spokesman from Gapp's newspaper division said that media outlets 'are protected by law to exercise their rights in informing, interviewing, publishing, criticising and overseeing, and media workers' reporting activities are protected, as well.'
The support came after police in Zhejiang scrapped a detention warrant for Qiu Ziming, a Shanghai-based journalist for the Economic Observer who had exposed apparent insider trading and wrongdoing at Kan Specialty Materials, a Zhejiang company that manufactures paper and batteries.
Police and local government officials made an official apology to the newspaper in Beijing on Friday, while Qiu was on holiday after having been in hiding.
Wang Shengzhong, the newspaper's deputy editor-in-chief, applauded Gapp's move, calling it a 'very good beginning' for a greater press freedom. Even so, the press needed more than official support, he said. Public recognition is key to reporting in remote areas.