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This story is a couple of weeks old now, though it's been developing steadily. This "article" from the Washington Post made me feel like bringing the topic here, though. I put "article" in quotes not because I think it's shoddy reporting but because I think it is outstanding reporting: It simply relays a primary source to the reader when the primary source speaks for itself. This was the memo that the Chinese central government sent out to domestic media outlets regarding how to cover (or not cover) the Google incident:
The Chinese Central Government wrote
All chief editors and managers:Google has officially announced its withdrawal from the China market. This is a high-impact incident. It has triggered netizens' discussions which are not limited to a commercial level. Therefore please pay strict attention to the following content requirements during this period:
A. News section:
1. Only use Central Government main media (website) content; do not use content from other sources.
2. Reposting must not change title.
3. News recommendations should refer to Central government main media websites.
4. Do not produce relevant topic pages; do not set discussion sessions; do not conduct related investigative reporting.
5. Online programs with experts and scholars on this matter must apply for permission ahead of time. This type of self-initiated program production is strictly forbidden.
6. Carefully manage the commentary posts under news items.
B. Forums, blogs and other interactive media sections:
1. It is not permitted to hold discussions or investigations on the Google topic.
2. Interactive sections do not recommend this topic, do not place this topic and related comments at the top.
3. All websites please clean up text, images and sound and videos which attack the Party, State, government agencies, Internet policies with the excuse of this event.
4. All websites please clean up text, images and sound and videos which support Google, dedicate flowers to Google, ask Google to stay, cheer for Google and others have a different tune from government policy.
5. On topics related to Google, carefully manage the information in exchanges, comments and other interactive sessions.
6. Chief managers in different regions please assign specific manpower to monitor Google-related information; if there is information about mass incidents, please report it in a timely manner.
We ask the Monitoring and Control Group to immediately follow up monitoring and control actions along the above directions; once any problems are discovered, please communicate with respected sessions in a timely manner.
Addition[al] guidelines:
-- Do not participate in and report Google's information/press releases.
-- Do not report about Google exerting pressure on our country via people or events.
-- Related reports need to put [our story/perspective/information] in the center, do not provide materials for Google to attack relevant policies of our country.
-- Use talking points about Google withdrawing from China published by relevant departments.
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