China launches campaign against rogue journalists

China on Thursday launched a nationwide campaign to crack down on fake news and ban journalists and newspapers from extorting money in return for stories.

The campaign will seek to "prevent extortion by news reporting and contain the spread of fake news," according to a statement released by its organizers.

No timetable was given for the campaign, which organizers say will involve more hotlines and online platforms for the public to report malpractice by journalists and newspapers.

The campaign, jointly launched by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and another eight government ministries and offices, will make journalists' personal information more accessible in case people need to check their identity, according to the statement.