"Navigating Media Rules in China," American Lawyer Media
On Sept. 10, China pro-mulgated new regulations that restrict the manner in which foreign news agencies may distribute their news and information in China. These regulations have been blasted by Western critics as yet another effort by the Chinese government to tighten its control over the dissemination of information to the Chinese people. At the very same time, China is being touted by Western media analysts as one of the top spots set to drive global media growth in the near future. With a population of 1.3 billion, a print and TV advertising market of $23.3 billion, the upcoming 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2010 World’s Fair in Shanghai, China’s media market has been described as “explosive.” Media giants from the West cannot afford to ignore China. Yet the Chinese regulatory system is a minefield.