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Sloppy Censorship in the PRC
Sunday, April 24, 2005-12:08 AM
If there is anybody in China who hasn't yet learned about the anti-Japanese demonstrations from their friends or computers, they might have learned something tonight.
That is, if they speak English and happen to have been watching the late news from Hong Kong which is broadcast here in Guangzhou. Surprisngly, the anchor was able to utter the words "mob violence" without the censors pulling the plug.
I think the censors must be relaxing a little, or getting lazy. Prior to this story, an entire piece on the new Pope was broadcast uninterrupted. Maybe the Pope isn't such a big problem now that relations with Japan have capture the world's attention.
After the Pope story finished, the graphic showed a Japanese and Chinese flag. I thought for sure they were going to break into an unscheduled commercial. It didn't happen.
I guessed that was perhaps because the anchor hadn't yet referred to the China-Japan problems yet. But, eventually she started hammering away at that, and still, the broadcast carried on.
Then I heard her say the words "mob violence". "It's a done deal," I thought. "I'm not gonna see this story finished."
The seconds ticked away but the program continued.
Finally, they showed pictures of demonstrators. It only took a few seconds. The English broadcast quickly transformed into a Chinese commercial.
My advice to Hong Kong: use long English words to confuse the censors and don't show any graphic video until the end of the piece so those of us in Guangzhou can get the news.
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