China: CFWIJ condemns the beating of a female journalist

Photo Credit: Global Times

January 24, 2021, Shandong — A female reporter was beaten and injured by men in the city of Qixia in China’s Shandong province. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the brutal treatment of a journalist working in the field.

On January 10, a gold mine collapsed after an explosion in Qixia, leaving 22 miners trapped. Ten of the trapped miners were killed in the accident, while 11 others survived and one remains missing. According to the Chinese media, the reporter was on-site to interview the survivors of the devastating blast that garnered international attention. 

Photo Credit: Global Times

In a video widely circulated online, the journalist is heard screaming for help while the men approached her, trying to snatch her camera. The journalist, identified as Cui in one publication, was stopped from entering the hospital to interview the survivors. 

The reporter from Shandong Radio and Television Station had gone to the hospital for an interview when a police car stopped at the scene and several men in uniform rushed towards her to stop her from filming. She screamed, but the men continued to beat her. They also asked her to stop recording. The next day, the female reporter was diagnosed with several injuries, including fractured bones. 

CFWIJ is disturbed by the brutal attack against the female reporter.  We demand the authorities take action to find the perpetrators responsible and ensure the safety of journalists reporting in the field.