China's Journalists' Day, set this year for November 8th, is a time for the country to appreciate and praise the hard work of the members of the Fourth Estate. 

But in a sort of backhanded pat on the back, this year's 15th annual Journalists' Day has been preceded by a vaguely ominous reminder from the Chinese government about not reporting lies. Jounralists must also highlight the nation's progress and people's real life, said Liu Yunshan president of the Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

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China has been cracking down on so-called rumor-mongering in recent months, which many have criticized as a veiled attempt to limit criticism against the government. Reuters reports that some high-profile bloggers in China have held back sensitive postings out of fear of being arrested or detained.

In August Liu Hu, an investigative reporter with Guangzhou-based newspaper New Express who had accused officials of corruption, was arrested on suspicion of "fabricating and spreading rumors," according to his lawyer.

Zhou Ze, Hu's lawyer Zhou, referred to the charge against his client as a "speech crime," and suggested that Hu was arrested in retaliation to allegations he made against several senior government officials.

In June, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television announced a new rule forbidding the publishing of critical reports without the approval of their employer. Journalists who violate the rules will be stripped of their license to report.

Journalists are also forbidden from setting up their own websites, video sites or writing internal reports with critical content.

The government did not define what critical content is or which subjects journalists cannot criticize. The rules also prohibit journalists from conducting interviews or writing reports outside their assigned fields of coverage.

Despite concerns that the government could be issuing the new restrictions in order to gain more control over what is said about it publicly, there is a real problem of corruption among journalists in China.

Some Chinese media organizations have been accused of extorting vulnerable businesses, forcing the to buy advertising in exchange for favorable coverage, or for negative coverage to be downplayed or suppressed.

In September, the editor in chief of The 21st Century Business Herald's website, and one of his deputies, as well as six others were detained for allegedly extorting money from companies in return for positive coverage.

The journalists were accused of collaborating with two public relations firms to target companies considering an initial public offering, restructuring, or other significant changes. They would allegedly charge large fees to publish overly positive coverage or bury bad news, according to Xinhua. Dozens of businesses in Guangdong Province, Shanghai and Beijing were targeted, investigators told the state news agency.

In fact, more than 25 people from Chinese media have been arrested so far this year for alleged scams in which they extorted money from companies in return for favorable reporting.

Tags15th annual Chinese Journalists' Day, Liu Yunshan, Party School of the Communist Party of China, CPC, Liu Hu, Zhou Ze, State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television