Chinese city officials issue a rare apology after authorities harass journalists on live TV

By SIMINA MISTREANU
Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — City officials in eastern China have apologized to local journalists after authorities were shown pushing them and trying to obstruct reporting from the site of a deadly explosion, in a rare acknowledgment of state aggression against journalists. The city of Sanhe, near Beijing, issued a public apology Thursday after authorities were shown harassing reporters from state broadcaster CCTV during a live broadcast near the site of a suspected gas leak explosion that killed seven and injured 27 on Wednesday. Harassment of journalists — especially foreign reporters — is common in China but almost never publicly acknowledged by the state.