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China gives reporter 1 year for cardboard-stuffed dumpling story
Zi Beijia, a Chinese reporter who fabricated a TV news saying that Beijing dumpling makers used cardboard as a filling, was Sunday sentenced to one year behind bars with a fine of 1,000 yuan for the crime of "infringing commodity reputation".Zi hid the truth to the Beijing Television Station, enabling his program to be aired in a slot known as "Transparency" on July 8 at the Live Channel of the station. The program caused baneful social effects and severely ruined the reputation of the relevant commodities, according to the court ruling. Because China doesn't have a reputation for shoddy products. Zi pledged guilty at the court and said he was muddled-head at that moment, which cheated Beijing Television Station and the audience. Actually, it was a great hoax, as many people, including myself, were not surprised at all. I could easily see a dumpling vendor substituting ingredients. Here in my town, if you buy a fish at a restaurant, you make a mark on it or something, to make sure the same fish comes back to your table. There have been verified incidents where they substitute a cheaper fish after you pay for the expensive one. He really touched a nerve with his story, otherwise he would have gotten away with an otherwise commonplace journalistic invention. The government's solution to the problem is to denounce the messenger, not start an intensive food safety campaign. Likewise this summer when all the tainted products were found in America, the Chinese government denied everything and came up with excuses to return imported products, thus assuaging damaged national pride. Zi made a sincere apology to the audience, Beijing Television Station and the people concerned. He advised journalistic staff to learn lessons from him and follow obey journalistic ethics. The commies are really big on the self-criticism and confession. Posted by: gromky 2007-11-15 |
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