According to a report by the official China News Service, a journalist in Hebei’s Baoding City was stopped by a local official when trying to film a major fire that broke out at a warehouse on the morning of March 19, 2012. The official reportedly said to the journalist: “The fire has not caused any death, and there isn’t much financial loss. There’s no news value here.” When the reporter then asked who the warehouse belonged to and what was stored there, the official shut his mouth and refused to respond. In this cartoon, posted by artist Shang Haichun (商海春) to QQ.com, a television news reporter attempts to film a blazing fire. An official stands angrily between the reporter and the fire, his hand thrust out, and shouts: “There’s no news value!”


David Bandurski

CMP Director

Latest Articles