Media Coverage Restrictions after China's Carjack Baby Death

Mourners gathered in northeastern China to remember a two month-old baby killed after a carjacking in Changchun, Jilin province. The case has shocked the public as yet another example of a society losing its moral fiber. Even as questions roar over how the carjacker could strangle such a young baby, it appears authorities in Changchun, want to quell the discussion. This notice telling the media to restrict coverage of the story appeared on China's microblog Sina Weibo. It includes directives like: "No front page coverage," "No special reports on radio and television," and "No questioning the police's work". The authenticity of the document could not be verified but it has caught the attention of censors. The notice has been removed after each time it is posted. The case of baby Haobo began on Monday. His parents had left him in a car with the engine running. Being absent for just 10 minutes, the parents returned to an empty parking space. After a mass media appeal and manhunt, the carjacker, Zhou Xijun turned himself in to the police on Tuesday. He said he strangled the baby after hearing him cry, and buried him in the snow. Aside from the outpour of grief and anger over the baby's murder, Changchun residents have also started to ask questions. This Weibo user asks: "What I don't understand is, Changchun streets are full of surveillance cameras, but police couldn't track down one car after the incident." The media has been told to keep tightlipped on China's Skynet project, a system of security cameras covering city streets. And if citizens were hoping for a follow up article explaining the details, they are in for a disappointment. According to the Weibo post, Chinese media has been instructed to stop covering the story after the first day. For more news and videos visit ☛ http://ntd.tv Follow us on Twitter ☛   / ntdtelevision   Add us on Facebook ☛ http://on.fb.me/s5KV2C