Originally published by The Washington Post, 1 February 2010

BEIJING — China tried to increase control over its domestic media in 2009, issuing orders not to cover several topics including ethnic rioting in Xinjiang and corruption by government officials, an international press freedom group said.

In the report released Sunday by the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists, the group gave details on 62 specific orders issued to local media between January and November 2009 that illustrate the wide range of subjects deemed sensitive by the Chinese government.

Banned topics included sensitive anniversaries such as the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown and mass protests in western Xinjiang.

The orders detailed increased efforts by authorities since early 2009 to control online content and commentary, the 18-page report said in its assessment of restrictions faced by local and foreign journalists in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Among the instructions:

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