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Red all over

From a set of regulations issued in August to the staff of China Youth Daily, a Beijing-based newspaper. Li Datong, then editor of the paper's weekly supplement, was fired for writing an email criticizing the regulations, which tie salaries to a system of points, saying they would “enslave and emasculate and vulgarize” the newspaper. The Chinese government announced they were abandoning the system after Li's letter was circulated on several Chinese blogs. Translated from the Chinese.

(1) If the Chinese Youth Communist Party's Central Committee praises an article, the author will receive 80 extra points.

(2) If the Central Propaganda Bureau praises an article, the author will receive 120 extra points; if it is singled out for praise in the Central Propaganda Bureau's “News Commentary,” the author will receive 100 extra points; if it is mentioned in the “News Commentary,” the author will receive 50 extra points.

(3) If an article is praised by the national department or a provincial committee, the author will receive 100 points; if a national department or provincial committee writes a letter praising an article, the author will receive 80 points.

(4) If an article is praised by the central leadership (members of the Politburo or higher), the author will receive 300 points.

(5) With regard to items (1) through (4), if an article was praised, the corresponding editor will receive extra points equal to 30 percent of the author's.

(6) With regard to items (1) through (4), anyone who is criticized by name will have points subtracted in the same amount.

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SEE ALSO: Career as editor; Li, Datong; Freedom of the press; Government and the press

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