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Xinhua reporters didn’t find it wrong to collect information for government, says Bourrie

‘They saw themselves as in the information collecting business and sometimes it went to the media stuff and sometimes it went to the government. But that’s just not how Western reporters operate,’ says freelance journalist Mark Bourrie.

Photograph by Kate Malloy, The Hill Times
No thank you: Freelance journalist Mark Bourrie, who wrote for Chinese news agency Xinhua, says, ‘I’d like to see the Xinhua people stop whatever non-journalistic work they’re doing and do a good job of covering Canada.’
By LAURA RYCKEWAERT |
Published: Monday, 08/27/2012 12:00 am EDT
Last Updated: Monday, 08/27/2012 9:44 am EDT

Veteran freelance reporter, book author and former journalism teacher Mark Bourrie says he threw away a $50,000 contract with Chinese news agency Xinhua because when the agency asked him to “cover” the Dalai Lama’s visit to Ottawa in April 2012, he felt he was being used as a spy to gather intelligence for the Chinese government.

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Xinhua reporters didn’t find it wrong to collect information for government, says Bourrie

‘They saw themselves as in the information collecting business and sometimes it went to the media stuff and sometimes it went to the government. But that’s just not how Western reporters operate,’ says freelance journalist Mark Bourrie.

Photograph by Kate Malloy, The Hill Times
No thank you: Freelance journalist Mark Bourrie, who wrote for Chinese news agency Xinhua, says, ‘I’d like to see the Xinhua people stop whatever non-journalistic work they’re doing and do a good job of covering Canada.’
By LAURA RYCKEWAERT | Aug. 27, 2012

Veteran freelance reporter, book author and former journalism teacher Mark Bourrie says he threw away a $50,000 contract with Chinese news agency Xinhua because when the agency asked him to “cover” the Dalai Lama’s visit to Ottawa in April 2012, he felt he was being used as a spy to gather intelligence for the Chinese government.

HILL LIFE & PEOPLE SLIDESHOWS
The Sandbox Project 2013 June 12, 2013

The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Conservative MP Kellie Leitch makes some remarks.
The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
CHEO's Alex Munter
The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq was a sand castle judge.
The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq and Conservative MP Colin Carrie discuss sand castles.
The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
NDP MP Linda Duncan
The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Rx&D's Hugh Scott
The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Defence Minister Peter MacKay
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Conservative MP Ted Opitz rolls up his pants to support the Sandbox Project.
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Conservative MP Ted Opitz helps build a sand castle.
The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Conservative MP Chris Alexander plays in the sand.
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Laureen Harper helps build a sand castle.
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Democratic Reform Minister of State Tim Uppal and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.
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Democratic Reform Minister of State Tim Uppal and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.
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Conservative MP Wai Young, Laureen Harper, and CTV's Don Martin and Craig Oliver.
The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Conservative MP Wai Young, Laureen Harper, and CTV's Don Martin and Craig Oliver.
The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Conservative MP Wai Young, Laureen Harper, and CTV's Don Martin and Craig Oliver.
The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Laureen Harper
The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May
The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney.
The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Democratic Reform Minister of State Tim Uppal.
The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
The Sandbox Project

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