From the Readers

Illegal mines breed fake scribes

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-26 07:51

Illegal mines breed fake scribes

Many unemployed youths in Xinzhou, Shanxi province, make a living by posing as journalists. They visit illegal coal mines and threaten their owners or managers with "exposure" unless they grease their palms.

Since the mines are illegal and do not have even the basic safety level, their owners are afraid of being jailed if exposed and usually pay the fake journalists money to keep their mouth shut.

The illegal coal mines are the main reason why fake journalists have mushroomed in Xinzhou villages. Had the mines been operating legally with good working conditions, their owners would not have been afraid of even real journalists, let alone fake ones. The illegal mines should be closed or upgraded to ensure safe working conditions for the miners and rooting out sham journalists. Another factor that has created fake journalists is the negligence of the local authorities: They often turn a blind eye to the illegal coal mines and crack down on them only when a major mine accident takes place. This, too, has to stop to ensure safe and healthy working conditions in mines and eliminate the menace of fake journalists.

Lin A via e-mail

(China Daily 03/26/2010 page9)