links for 2008-05-16

• China relaxes grip on internet and media after quake | The Australian
  I'm quoted in this article explaining why there hasn't been so much censorship on quake coverage compared to other recent disasters.
  (tags: china earthquake media journalism censorship freespeech internet)
• China Media Project » Qian Gang: the government must be have a tolerant approach to social tension in the disaster area
  David Bandurski translates an essay in Caijing by Chinese journalist Qian Gang, author of the seminal book on the Tangshan Earthquake.
  (tags: china earthquake freespeech humanrights journalism media censorship propaganda)
• China Digital Times » Chinese Bloggers on the History and Influence of the “Fifty Cent Party”
  "The “Fifty Cent Party,” (”五毛党”) professional Internet commentators hired by provincial and local authorities, have become one mechanism to eliminate the online opinions that are critical of the government."
  (tags: china internet chineseinternetresearch propaganda freespeech blogs bbs)
• China Digital Times » Chinese Intellectuals Contemplate the Earthquake: Lessons We Are Learning
  Several "compared the government’s openness during the current earthquake with its hiding of information during Tangshan Earthquake in 1976."
  (tags: china earthquake media journalism propaganda censorship freespeech)
• EastSouthWestNorth: Daily Brief Comments May 11-10, 2008
  A new form of Chinese micro-journalism: QQ reporting. One journalist uses QQ to report on the Sichuan earthquake aftermath.
  (tags: earthquake china journalism internet newmedia QQ tencent freespeech)
• EastSouthWestNorth: Sorry, But I'll Have To Hurt Your Feelings
  Yang Hengjun explains why criticism of official relief response is justified and necessary.
  (tags: earthquake china journalism internet freespeech nationalism blogs blogging)