TWO SUSPECTED swindlers in northwest China thought they had come across the perfect scam – soliciting bribes from government officials for positive propaganda in their fictitious magazine.
Police in Yinchuan city last week arrested Xu Shuwen, who was "deputy editor-in-chief", and Han Quantong, a "journalist" at the China Social Survey, a magazine covering environmental issues. It might do, if it existed.
The story highlights a practice common among less-ethical journalists in China – seeking bribes for spinning a story positively, or in an attempt to blackmail wrongdoers. It happens a lot in the unlicensed mining industry, and there have been stories of “journalists” disappearing when trying to shake down mine owners in rural areas.
Journalists at press conferences often get an envelope of cash to ensure a positive spin on the story.
In March, Mr Han went to the Xixia District Environmental Protection Bureau, saying he was a China Social Survey journalist. He said some factories in the district were not observing environmental standards, and hoped to get a response from the bureau.
The watchdog said the firms had already been dealt with.
Mr Han again got in touch, saying he could spin an article into “positive propaganda” if the bureau coughed up. Buying two magazine sections, he said, would cost 96,000 yuan (€10,000).
The officials contacted the local Public Security Bureau, which detained Ms Xu and Mr Han and three others. The magazine was found not to be registered, while Ms Xu and Mr Han were holding fake press cards.