The following is a partial translation prepared by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China of the "Circular Regarding Strengthening the Supervision of Radio and Television Discussion Programs" issued by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television on December 10, 2004. The Chinese text was retrieved from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television Web site on December 10, 2004.
1. Radio and television broadcasters at all levels must fully comprehend the enormous importance of ensuring the correct orientation of every minute of radio and television programs. In order to ensure the proper guidance of public opinion, it is necessary to securely establish political consciousness, broad outlook consciousness, and responsibility consciousness.
2. No radio or television agency at any level may purchase and broadcast a radio or television program that was produced by an organization that does not have production operations qualifications [i.e., does not possess a government license to produce television content].
3. It is necessary to strengthen the supervision of radio and television chat programs. It is necessary to increase the strength of the supervision over such aspects as topic planning, guest selection, host guidance, and screening checks for interview programs, and strictly implement the examination and approval system for topic planning and broadcast screening system, and emphasize political orientation, emphasize social responsibility, and emphasize propaganda discipline. It is necessary to strictly grasp the political standards, moral standards, and content standards for radion and television program topics. All topics chosen must comply with propaganda requirements. . . . With respect to those few guests who hold borderline views, we should know who they are, choose them carefully, and control them firmly. It is necessary to strengthen the proper guidance of the content of what hosts says to guests, and what hosts say generally. Uphold the principle of putting stability first, social influence first, obeying discipline first . . . .