Deadlines aren't only danger for reporters

• Source: Global Times
• [03:09 November 09 2009]
• Comments

Yao Haiying, a Hubei reporter who questioned how a procurator handled a business crime case, lost his job after he refused to respond to the legal summon under the reason of anti-corruption with the annoyed procurator.

A provincial investigation proved that he was innocent of corruption after the central authority learned about the case. The procurator was forced to apologize but Yao still was not re-hired, Nanfang Weekly reported.

"Reporters, who often help others seek justice, are at a disadvantage and find it hard to protect themselves in these cases," Zhou said.

Zhou said reporters should learn how to do objective and balanced reporting, especially when it comes to investigative reporting and show respect to every party concerned.

Both central and local governments have put forward regulations on protection of journalists' rights to do their jobs.

No organization or individual should interfere or prevent news agencies or reporters from conducting interviews for their work, according to the rule issued by the General Administration of Press and Publication, which was carried out since October 15.

People who were helped by reporters expressed their respect to them Sunday.

One of them was Zhang Haichao, a worker who had an open chest surgery performed earlier this year to confirm he had lung disease for getting compensation from his employer.

He sent text blessing messages to reporters who covered his case.