Related: Mysterious confession fuels fears of Beijing's influence on Hong Kong's top newspaperSuch independent journalism had “seriously violated regulations and had a completely vile effect,” the watchdog’s Beijing operation said, according to Reuters. Top Chinese internet portals had been forbidden from producing original reporting on politically sensitive topics in what experts say is the latest step in President Xi Jinping’s battle to bring Chinese journalism under control. Qiao, the journalism professor, said he expected further moves from the Communist party as it fought to rein in the media. “This has not been a quiet summer … authorities are worried that [such] reporting might have an effect on social stability,” he said. The move was widely interpreted as the latest step in the Communist party’s bid to bring China’s already tightly controlled media to heel.

Source: The Guardian July 26, 2016 03:00 UTC