Chinese newspaper editors fined over ‘major political error’ – putting three extra characters into Xi Jinping Thought
- Two Shaanxi Daily editors had to pay US$1,440 and US$720 for adding three characters to the 16-character political philosophy of President Xi Jinping
- The words ‘Zong Shu Ji’ – meaning the general secretary – were put on ‘Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era’
Political mistakes are costly in China: not only for Communist Party officials, but for the editors of its official media.
Two Shaanxi Daily editors received fines of 10,000 and 5,000 yuan (US$1,440 and US$720) for allowing three extra Chinese characters into the 16-character political philosophy of President Xi Jinping.
One of them, Liu Hui, added “Zong Shu Ji” – meaning general secretary – to the official term “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era”, in a story about a meeting of the Shaanxi Artists Association, on November 15.
The proofreading team spotted the mistake on the morning after the editor in charge, Wang Gehua, had approved the page for publication.
In an internal memo obtained by the South China Morning Post, the paper’s staff appraisal office termed the decision to add the characters a “major political error”. As the editor in charge, Wang received the bigger fine of 10,000 yuan. Liu was fined 5,000 yuan.