Press authority scolds false reporting

China's media administrator on Thursday criticized six newspapers for running false news reports, warning all news outlets to improve their systems.

The six newspapers, including Xin'an Evening, Guangzhou Daily and Legal Weekly, have all been given punishments ranging from warning to a fine of 30,000 yuan (4,400 U.S. dollars), according to the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT).

Journalists and editors involved in the false reports were also warned, suspended from their posts or fined.

In one case, the Xin'an Evening newspaper carried an article "where is my right kidney" in May, reporting that a man lost one of his kidneys after a surgery in a hospital in Xuzhou. The man was injured after falling on his bicycle. The report stirred up public debate, with many speculating that the hospital had stolen patients' kidney.

Final investigations found the patient's kidney was still there but atrophied. The reporter had not understood the medical language and failed to make a thorough investigation.

"These false reports have brought adverse social impact and seriously damaged news media's credibility and the journalists' image," the SAPPRFT said in a statement.

The administration asked news outlets not to release unconfirmed information from Internet sources. Endit