ABC’s World Newser Blog Blocked in China
EmailEditor's Note: This blog – The World Newser – appears to be blocked in China today. Try to access it and a message pops up saying: “Oops. This link appears to be broken.” Why? The Chinese government rarely, if ever, offers an explanation. Upon further investigation, it turns out other ABC News blogs are blocked today too – including Jake Tapper’s “Political Punch” and George Stephanopoulos’ “Bottom Line”. CNN’s blogs look to be blocked too. Most of FOX News’ blogs are accessible but their “Breaking News” blog is offline. Others, such as the Huffington Post – which was blocked during the recent Tiananmen anniversary – are accessible today. No one knows the mind of the Chinese Government’s internet censors or what their beef with our blog might be. Maybe the World Newser has been caught up in some sort of dragnet of U.S. based blogs that report on China? Maybe it’s our reporting from the Chinese city of Urumqi in Xianjiang province during the ethnic violence that erupted there earlier this month? We broadcast clashes between Uighurs and Han Chinese. An angry mob turned on our crew and we blogged about it. The Chinese government has been very controlling of the flow of information about the unrest. When Chinese search Google for “Uighur violence Xinjiang” only about half the links are live. Today, the Chinese state run Xinhua news agency reported that the number of internet users in China now exceeds the entire population of America. And so the cat and mouse game with the Chinese government goes on. Facebook, YouTube and Twitter are often blocked. Add the World Newser to the list.
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Why is this news? If you want to cover a decent story about internet censorship then how about reporting on Saudi Arabia?
Our “ally” has one of the most restrictive internet policies in the world. Or how about Cuba? Cuba has no access outside the country. They only have “intranet”.
What about Iran? While they do have to continue the internet, lest they suffer economically, they do censor and block sites. Ask Iranians if they can get into their Facebook or Twitter accounts?
Please,…..next time, do a REAL story about REAL censorship. Your job is to inform the reader.
Posted by: littleleers | July 27, 2009, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
littleleers ———–> Must ABC keep every soul reader satisfied. There was basically no need to attack this article because you think better news are out there to report on. Frankly, I was informed by reading this article which “will” help me decide where to study abroad. So, please to do not abuse your freedom of speech because your argument shows how opinionated you are.
Posted by: Justin | July 27, 2009, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
Am glad to hear they’re blocking ABC’s blogs. I’d be embarrassed to have the Chinese read the idiotic rants placed up here by those right of center.
Posted by: Eric | July 27, 2009, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
ABCNews is crying about censorship? Reader comments disappear on a regular basis (anti-Obama comments in particular) and now I’m supposed to care that China’s blocking ABCNews? Pfft!
Posted by: Ed | July 27, 2009, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
Bravo Ed! I’ve not had a comment that I have made about Big O censored, but I have been at the receiving in of some censoring that would border on being idiotic on the part of the censors. Good post.
Posted by: Ted | July 27, 2009, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm
Thank you China! ABC news is all about being politically correct.
I can’t tell you how many of my posts have not made it because I might, just might, hurt somebody’s feelings.
If they can’t take the truth then they
shouldn’t read the posts.
Posted by: JJ | July 27, 2009, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
Given that we (U.S.) are selective with our media content irrespective of which side of the political fence one is on and considering that we are selective in our depiction of other areas in the world, I say good for the Chinese for having two big ones. I am of Nigerian heritage and routinely pained by the depiction of Africa in the media. But what can I do? Resort to whiny comments on blogs. I say again, good for China till we engage other people’s opinions regardless of our perspective!
Posted by: Naijamerican | July 27, 2009, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
So many take for granted free press, even if the perception of the press is marginal or worse, so many countries keep their peace by not letting people know how trynical they are.
We as Americans assume we will always have it, but might have to fight for it again not unlike how the NRA has to constantly fight for rights to own guns.
With the media reshaping as we speak, with corporations taking ownership, metro newspapers in trouble, most local newspapers folding, the news that we enjoy might one day be controlled to some extent, even by foreign interest who are in a position to start buying our news agencies.
Posted by: Quincy Brown | July 27, 2009, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
The Chinese are primitive. When we want to shut down a media outlet in Iraq for example, we just drop a bomb to it. Simple and permanent.
Posted by: Sam | July 27, 2009, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
Well if ABC was censored, surely CBS was knocked offline as well? If not, they should be.
Posted by: John Jake | July 27, 2009, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
Some ABC blogs are blocked by ABC!
Posted by: LongT | July 27, 2009, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm
This post is a test. My last two posts seem to have disappeared in spite of the fact this web site says they have been posted.
Posted by: Wisdom | July 27, 2009, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm
Hey, Jack and George — maybe a PhD in computer science would be useful! Fall semester starts soon — will the two of you be joining me in class?
Posted by: Wisdom | July 27, 2009, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm
Also, while you’re checking out the cause of this downtime — could you manage to obtain a tape of the Opening Ceremonies of last summer’s Olympics? Stills aren’t all that inspiring and I’d like to see what I missed. That, I would call — censorship of what was, in my mind, supposed to be a peaceful event in lieu of war games.
Posted by: Wisdom | July 27, 2009, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
ABC News blogs are off in China, whoopie. In the US the ABC News Site looks more like and advertizement for their TV shows and the drones that star in them. And the news is no longer read this or that its now “Watch the Video”. This site is becomming more like a tabloid that a news outlet. Either they think most people are idiots or they think all people are idiots. For that I visit this site much less often, let the idiots embellish on its high culture articles.
Posted by: Carrie | July 27, 2009, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
Well if it were I I’d initiate a conference to Steve Wadsworth, President, Disney Interactive Media Group,
Ronald L. Iden Senior Vice President, Global Security and Andy Bird
Chairman, Walt Disney International and ask them see if the problem of the ABC World News division has the same root cause as their sister division is having at — the Disney-China web site. I tested it. That’s not working either! This leads us to the question, is the root cause of the communication’s glitch on our continent or on their continent or is it somewhere in the middle? That is, is this a software problem or is it a hardware problem or is it a wireless transmission problem?
Posted by: Wisdom | July 27, 2009, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm
So what happen to the guy commenting on here claiming that he was blogging from China and could access ABC World newswer from there? I don’t know who to believe now. ABC, did you delete the comment posted by that kind gentlemen from China.
Posted by: Justin | July 27, 2009, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm
3:41 P.M. Well if it were concerned about my work being posted on time, I’d initiate a conference call to Steve Wadsworth, President, Disney Interactive Media Group, Ronald L. Iden Senior Vice President, Global Security and Andy Bird
Chairman, Walt Disney International and ask them see if the problem of the ABC World News division has the same root cause your sister division is having at — the Disney-China web site. I tested it. That’s not working either! This leads us to the question, is the root cause of the communications glitch on our continent or on their continent or is it somewhere in the middle? That is, is this a software problem or is it a hardware problem or is it a wireless transmission problem? Also, where along the transmission route do you and Huffington Post share technology? Are their any solar flares which are particularly disruptive right now That is a known root cause for some types of signal transmission problems. Disney-China is finally working is finally working as of 3:43 p.m. EDT.
Posted by: WISDOM | July 27, 2009, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm
Good that it is blocked. Who are your intended audiences anyway?
Posted by: Joe | July 27, 2009, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
Thats funny all the conservatives in the US want to block ABC blogs too.
Posted by: jon jay IV | July 27, 2009, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm
There is an error in the front-page lead for this article. There is a missing word after ‘during’. Not a bad idea to provide a path for comments that don’t need to be publicly displayed.
Posted by: John | July 27, 2009, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
He he he..ABC gets a taste of how we feel….
Posted by: Freedom. | July 27, 2009, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
I don’t know why ABC News would be upset about this. How many ABC story blogs does it block from its website in this country. Personally I can think of three so obviously freedom of speech or expression is not an issue.
Posted by: soboje | July 27, 2009, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
You all seem to be missing the point.
China, via a cooperative Google, can and will block any sites they don’t like.
Since none in our Government will ever address this get ready for it here in the US next. China is close to owning US.
Posted by: Wally | July 27, 2009, 5:06 pm 5:06 pm
Why does everyone have to assume something is a conspiracy? Could be …as WISDOM says…a technology proglem.
Posted by: FiveStarMama | July 27, 2009, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
I frankly don’t support blocking just any country or question about what other people are doing. The internet is designed to collaborate to support the world in ways that we never had before. The Chinese citizens who strive for freedom are not doing anything wrong but trying to earn a decent living. It seems we are facing to start up another brew with another country as US Citizens as what is stated the Chinese over taking sites to block of communication. Why does news like this have to be so negative about other countries. We need to take a good look at ourselves and start asking real questions. Cultural Diversity has always been the strongest passion for every citizen US or non-US we need to understand that humanity is the source of life. Please don’t start up any problems when we already know we have more important issues to work on rather than to point our fingers again to families who just want to reunite. That’s it be free to live their family life. Please don’t make American’s look bad, let’s not forget why we are here and help resolve, support and understand the world rather than separate humanity like what it was way back in the cold war. It is transparent to those haters of hate crime and if your study your history and to get involved, just maybe there is some compassion, and that is what American’s and all nations want to be stood for. Peace and Unity is what your focus should be on. Not another WAR.
Posted by: Cathrina | July 27, 2009, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
So what! Does anybody talk about everything behind the media here! Why don’t you call into a news brodcast on cable etc… to bitch about RF used on people etc… and see if you ever get through!I don’t mean the fakes that are on. Why don’t you ask “on air” how the american auto makers could go bankrupt after the bonus past 7 years they had. Lets see if you get through! I don’t mean the fakes they pretend are real. When you don’t ever get through try posting that somewhere like on this blog! Who you gonna tell! Someone tell me why I still stick my neck out for this country!
Posted by: Mark | July 28, 2009, 4:22 am 4:22 am
ABC gets a taste of their own medicine.
I guess karma does exist.
Posted by: Boxcar | July 29, 2009, 10:56 am 10:56 am
ABC news is all about being politically. I am agree with this. Well thanks for sharing such nice article here. I like to visit this site.
Posted by: jeux d action | September 25, 2009, 9:40 am 9:40 am