China cracks down on fake journalists

China has dealt with 84 cases involving fake journalists and media outlets since a campaign against pornographic and illegal publications was launched in June.

A recent case publicized by the National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications on Monday revealed a fake reporter surnamed Ma in north China's Hebei Province was given six years imprisonment and fined 100,000 yuan (15,000 U.S. dollars) for racketeering.

Ma is said to have demanded hush money from victims by threatening to publish negative stories about them on more than 20 occasions.

Another case under investigation revealed five suspects involved in the making of counterfeit reporter licenses and even setting up a copycat official reporter database..

The campaign also saw 670,000 illegal newspapers and magazines seized. Endi