China Prohibits Celebrity Gossip

(Shanghai, China) The communist Chinese government has put the media on notice to not publish or broadcast scandalous or sensational celebrity gossip. Celebrity scandals, salacious news, and misdeeds are strictly prohibited by the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT).

SARFT's ban notice strictly bars arts, entertainment, and interview programs from discussing society news and gossip about celebrity scandals or the private love affairs of entertainers.

Any radio or television station found to be broadcasting this type of content will be held responsible, starting with the program planner.

The notice also strictly stipulates that administrative departments and broadcast agencies shall investigate all programming under their jurisdiction to ensure that "scandal-blemished celebrities" will not pollute the airwaves and misguide the viewing and listening audience.

Chinese commenter Guo Wenjing said that the SARFT notice is merely a restatement of existing rules that have proven to be unenforceable due to a lack of specific definitions for "celebrity" and "sensationalize."

Of course, Guo Wenjing's argument will be cold comfort when men with AK-47s come after you for publishing a video of David Hasselhoff.