China's Own Media Harassed by Authorities While Reporting Hebei Blast

Chinese security personnel gather to remove Chinese journalists from the scene of an explosion in Sanhe city in northern China's Hebei province, March 13, 2024. Chinese police officers intervene as journalists report from the scene of an explosion in Sanhe city in northern China's Hebei province on March 13, 2024.

Chinese reporters, often thought of as mouthpieces for Beijing, appeared to be pushed out of that role Wednesday when authorities physically intervened while several state media reporters were gathering news or doing live coverage from the scene of a deadly blast in Hebei province.