BBC accuses China of World News censorship
May 4, 2012
The BBC has accused Chinese authorities of attempting to censor its World News channel’s coverage of the prominent dissident Chen Guangcheng.
Peter Horrocks, the BBC’s head of global news, said that the corporation’s international news channel had been deliberately “jammed” by Beijing authorities in recent days.
Horrocks said the BBC was targeted over its coverage of Guangcheng, the blind Chinese activist who escaped house arrest and fled to the US embassy in Beijing.
“Today is World Press Freedom Day and during recent days we have learnt that BBC World News, our 24/7 international news channel, has been jammed by Chinese authorities during stories they regard as sensitive,” said Horrocks in a blogpost on the BBC’s website. “This deliberate electronic interference of the channel’s distribution signal is just the latest in a long line of examples to block our impartial news and prevent it reaching audiences.”