IFJ Condemns Chinese Site over Fake International Press Cards
11/09/2008The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has issued a new warning to journalists to beware of bogus international press cards being sold over the internet after a Chinese language site was exposed as fraudulently advertising IFJ press cards for sale.
The IFJ says that a web site run by a group calling itself the World Chinese Journalists Association will not provide an authentic international press cards and is illegally trading on the IFJ name.
"This site is little more than a money-making scam. Journalists should have nothing to do with it," said IFJ General Secretary Aidan White. "Genuine journalists can obtain IFJ International Press Cards through their national journalist organisations."
The IFJ has written to the All China Journalists' Association, as official organisation representing media in China, to help discover who is behind the site and to ask them to make it clear to their organisations that the IFJ does not support this group and does not endorse the card being promoted.
The IFJ International Press Card, which has been a recognised international credential for travelling journalists for more than 50 years, can be obtained through the unions and associations of journalists listed on the IFJ's web site.
Earlier this year, the IFJ issued a similar warning over web-sites in Europe that sell international press cards over the internet, but which do not represent journalists and charge heavily for their cards.
"People should not be fooled by these sharp traders and make sure that any accreditation they receive comes through legitimate journalistic organisations," said White.
Click here for further information about the IFJ press card.
