The speech and Q & A will be in English.

Journalism Program Series: Jonathan Watts, Reporting in China.

A year on from the Olympics, are the foreign media any freer to report from China?

In the run up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the organizers promised foreign correspondents"complete freedom to report" on all aspects of the Games in China.
Travel restrictions were eased, some websites were unblocked and two journalists released from jail. But were these genuine steps towards more openness or a temporary, cosmetic fix?

Twelve months on, Jonathan Watts - Guardian correspondent in Beijing and former president of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of
China - will attempt to answer this question as he looks back at the sometimes strained relations between the authorities and foreign
reporters.

He will talk about China's censorship system, the FCCC's efforts to encourage more openness, the risks that sources face in talking to
foreign reporters and Beijing's efforts to boost the country's "soft power" through media reform. To illustrate these points, he will touch
on major recent news events, including the Sichuan earthquake, 1989 Tiananmen anniversary, the development of the internet and the unrest
in Tibet and Xinjiang.

The talk at Yurakucho was be a homecoming of sorts for Watts, who started his journalism career in Tokyo and served as a member of the
FCCJ board between 2000 and 2003.

Don't miss this opportunity to find out about the situation in China by a seasoned reporter.

To help us plan properly, please reserve in advance: at the Front Desk (3211-3161) or online (http://www.fccj.or.jp - please log in to reserve). The charge for members/guests is 1,750 yen/2,700 yen, tax included, and includes a buffet dinner. Reservations canceled less than 24 hours in advance will be charged in full. If you do not make a reservation or reserve late, your meal may vary from the scheduled menu.

Journalism Training Series
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