Media told to eradicate blackmailing behavior

Journalists and news organizations on Sunday called for more efforts to eradicate blackmailing behaviors in order to safeguard the image of the profession, according to an All-China Journalists Association symposium.

The call follows a scandal involving Chen Yongzhou, a former reporter for Guangzhou-based daily newspaper New Express.

He was arrested last week for allegedly causing damage to the commercial reputation of Zoomlion, an engineering company in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province. He confessed to blackmailing the company as well as fabricating a series of reports targeting the firm.

On Thursday, the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television revoked Chen's press card and ordered the newspaper to carry out a full rectification and correct its procedures.

Attendees of the symposium denounced Chen's behavior and supported the provincial department's decision, saying that the former reporter's case severely damaged the credibility of the media and the image of journalists.

They called on all media organizations and reporters to draw a lesson from the case and fully understand the consequences of blackmailing.

The symposium said journalists should strictly abide by laws and regulations and exercise their rights by reporting in a scientific, accurate and legal manner.