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Chinese find web news more reliable

Chinese surfers have more faith in internet news than in their country's newspapers, according to new research.

A survey by the Beijing-based Horizon Group found that the web provides the main source of information for 76.4 per cent of those surveyed, with only 11.8 per cent relying on TV and less than 10 per cent on printed news.

More than 1,500 people were surveyed through the Soyu.com website from May to July this year. Around 86 per cent of participants were under the age of 35.

The results also showed that 24.8 per cent of those surveyed felt that web news was trustworthy, compared with 49.5 per cent for TV news and just 2.6 per cent for radio.

Web users said online news offered more constantly updated content and they also felt it was more credible.

Previous research from the China Internet Network Information Center estimates that China has around 68 million web users, 60 per cent of which are male and single.

During the SARS epidemic, internet use increased by 40 per cent as people turned to online services, such as banks and messaging tools. Many Chinese also worked online from home during this period.

The Chinese government is estimated to employ around 30,000 staff to monitor the internet, operating what has been described as 'the great firewall of China'.

One US survey found that China was blocking more than 19,000 sites including news, politics and health information services. The Chinese government has struck deals with internet companies such as Yahoo to allow them to operate within the country but within strict content guidelines.

In 2002, the government blocked access to Google, one of the world’s most popular search engines, because it was thought to be politically biased. Earlier this year the web site of press freedom organisation Reporters Sans Frontiéres was also blocked within China.

Source:
http://www3.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-08/13/content_254275.htm

See also:
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story673.html
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story665.html
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story658.html
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story626.html
http://www.rsf.org

Tags (click tag to find related articles; click icon for feed):
beijing | google | yahoo | horizon group | china | united states | web users | online news | internet news | health information services | internet use | internet | search engines | main source | chinese government | reporters sans frontires | china internet network information center | firewall |

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