Chinese journalism rules criticized

BEIJING, June 10 (UPI) -- Paris-based Reporters Without Borders Tuesday criticized new rules China has implemented to regulate foreign journalists covering the upcoming Summer Olympics.

The organization said it also condemns increased police efforts to control foreign journalists covering protests by Chinese parents whose children were killed when schools collapsed in the Sichuan earthquake.

"Any hope of seeing China calmly open up ahead of the Olympic Games is gradually vanishing," Reporters Without Borders said in a news release. "The authorities have introduced regulations hostile to foreigners, who are suspected of wanting to disrupt the games, and are trying to impose greater controls on Chinese citizens working for foreign reporters."

The journalism group said the measures "are bordering on paranoia and are a long way from the One World, One Dream slogan."

Under the new rules, Chinese citizens working for foreign news media must register with the authorities, the group said. Foreign journalists who want to hire their own local journalists must go through a formal approval process.

Reporters Without Borders also said there is a directive telling journalists to submit precise information about coverage plans in China, including the places they want to visit and the people they want to interview.