Bush Criticized for Interviews With State-Run Chinese Media

President Bush sat down yesterday for interviews with foreign journalists, including two unusual media outlets: the People's Daily newspaper and the Central China Television network, both controlled by China's ruling Communist Party. The two state-run organizations were subject to the same rules as independent media companies, meaning they may edit the interviews as they wish, White House officials said yesterday. The CCTV's report on the interview is scheduled to be broadcast today, U.S. officials said. The arrangement raises concerns among activist groups on both the right and the left that criticize Beijing's heavy media censorship. It came on the same day China announced that journalists will be restricted in the Internet sites they can access while covering the Olympics.