Michael Bloomberg, the founder of Bloomberg LP and the current New York mayor, replied in a news conference Tuesday when asked to respond to a New York Times article stating Bloomberg News had killed articles in China for fear of government retribution, reports Colin Campbell of the New York Observer.
Campbell writes, “Asked about the report at an unrelated press conference earlier today, Mr. Bloomberg slammed any insinuation that his media company self-censors.
“‘Nobody thinks that we’re wusses and not willing to stand up and write stories that are of interest to the public and that are factually correct,’ Mr. Bloomberg told the New Tang Dynasty reporter who asked the question.
“‘And if you could get your facts right, then we could have another news service that does it,’ he further declared.
“Last Friday, the Times reported that Bloomberg News had quietly shelved two stories: one on the financial ties between one of the wealthiest men in China and the families of top Chinese leaders and the other on the children of senior Chinese officials employed by foreign banks. Bloomberg News strongly pushed back and denied the allegations, which the mayor reiterated today.
“‘Bloomberg did not do that. The editors said that was just not the case,’ Mr. Bloomberg said, pointing to the fact that the Bloomberg News website is currently blocked in China and touting tough stories the publication has printed on the Chinese government in the past.”
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