The following is a translation prepared by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China of the "Circular Regarding Supporting Periodicals in Publishing Anti-Quake Disaster Relief Supplements" issued by the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) on May 22, 2008. The Chinese text was retrieved from the GAPP Web site on May 27, 2008.
General Administration of Press and Publication Newspaper and Periodical Publishing Department [2008] Number 194
Each press and publication administration of a province, autonomous region, or municipality under the Central Government:
On May 12, 2008, a massive earthquake occurred in Wenchuan County, Sichuan province. The Communist Party Central Committee and the State Council have taken a series of important measures in relation to anti-quake disaster relief work. People throughout the nation have vigorously thrown themselves into anti-quake disaster relief work. In the face of this sudden and major natural disaster, the press and publication system has rapidly taken action, projected the profession's comparative advantage, and brought into play its positive function amidst anti-quake disaster relief. In order to act in close coordination with the anti-quake disaster relief work facing us, further bring into play the press and publication units' important functions in the areas of public opinion guidance, information services, and support in spirit, and to better serve the people and disaster relief workers in the disaster areas, we now provide the following circular regarding the issue of periodicals publishing supplements during the anti-quake disaster relief period:
1. The press and publication administration departments of each area should vigorously support relevant units publishing periodicals to publish supplements as a complement to the anti-quake disaster relief work, including to popularize anti-quake disaster relief knowledge, guide prevention of the outbreak of disease, provide psychological assistance, etc. According to Article 34 of the Provisions on the Administration of Periodical Publishing regarding the provision that "two supplements can be published for one periodical every year," those that have published two supplements can publish an additional one to two anti-quake disaster relief supplements.
2. For periodicals applying to publish anti-quake disaster relief supplements, the administrations of press and publication of each area should attach great importance to the supplement's public opinion guidance function, strictly examine, verify, and standardize publishing, and take strict precautions against negative content appearing in supplements.
3. Those anti-quake disaster relief periodical supplements that meet the requirements for publication should be approved as soon as possible. After publication a copy will need to be timely sent to the General Administration of Press and Publication Newspaper and Periodical Publishing Department. By the end of 2008, the circumstances associated with the publication of the supplement by the periodical should be gathered and reported to the General Administration of Press and Publication.
General Administration of Press and Publication Newspaper and Periodical Publishing Department
May 22, 2008
