For whose eyes only?: China's journalistic internal reference and its legal and political implications

Abstract

Journalistic internal reference is a highly secretive system that allows reporters in China to submit investigative journalism exclusively to party and government leaders. The article explores how the system was established and how it operates in today's communication, legal, and political environments. In particular, the article investigates the method's legal and political implications, with a special focus on examining the conflicts the concept and practice of journalistic internal reports may have with China's first freedom of information law, and the unfairness secretive journalism may bring to enforcement of libel law. Furthermore, the article identifies news media internal reports' failure to hold party and government accountable and its inappropriate role as think tank for senior party and government leaders. Despite recent party and government efforts to revitalize the system, the article proposes an eventual elimination of the century-long practice of sealing newsworthy information. The article argues that phasing out journalistic internal reference would create a better international image for the Chinese state, ensure more transparent and accountable governance, facilitate freer flow of information, guarantee better exercise of people's right to know, and help to establish more credible media institutions.