报纸出版管理规定

新闻出版总署署长：石言源
二00五年九月三十日

报纸出版管理规定

第一章　总则

第一条　为促进我国报业的发展与繁荣，规范报纸出版活动，加强报纸出版管理，根据国务院《出版管理条例》及相关法律法规，制定本规定。

第二条　在中华人民共和国境内从事报纸出版活动，适用本规定。

报纸由依法设立的报纸出版单位出版。报纸出版单位出版报纸，必须经新闻出版总署批准，持有国内统一连续出版物号，领取《报纸出版许可证》。

本规定所称报纸，是指有固定名称、刊期、开版，以新闻与时事评论为主要内容，每周至少出版一期的散页连续出版物。

本规定所称报纸出版单位，是指依照国家有关规定设立，经新闻出版总署批准并履行登记注册手续的报社。法人出版报纸不设立报社的，其设立的报纸编辑部视为报纸出版单位。

第三条　报纸出版必须坚持马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想、邓小平理论和"三个代表"重要思想，坚持正确的舆论导向和出版方向，坚持把社会效益放在首位、社会效益和经济效益相统一和贴近实际、贴近群众、贴近生活的原则，为建设中国特色社会主义营造良好氛围，丰富广大人民群众的精神文化生活。

第四条　新闻出版总署负责全国报纸出版活动的监督管理工作，制定并实施全国报纸出版的总量、结构、布局的规划，建立健全报纸出版质量综合评估制度、报纸年度核验制度以及报纸出版退出机制等监督管理制度。

地方各级新闻出版行政部门负责本行政区域内的报纸出版活动的监督管理工作。

第五条　报纸出版单位负责报纸的编辑、出版等报纸出版活动。

报纸出版单位合法的出版活动受法律保护。任何组织和个人不得非法干扰、阻止、破坏报纸的出版。

第六条　新闻出版总署对为我国报业繁荣和发展做出突出贡献的报纸出版单位及个人实施奖励。

第七条　报纸出版行业的社会团体按照其章程，在新闻出版行政部门的指导下，实行自律管理。

第二章　报纸创办与报纸出版单位设立

第八条　创办报纸、设立报纸出版单位，应当具备下列条件：

（一）有确定的、不与已有报纸重复的名称；

（二）有报纸出版单位的名称、章程；

（三）有符合新闻出版总署认定条件的主管、主办单位；

（四）有确定的报纸出版业务范围；

（五）有30万元以上的注册资本；

（六）有适应业务范围需要的组织机构和符合国家规定资格条件的新闻采编专业人员；

（七）有与主办单位在同一行政区域的固定的工作场所；

（八）有符合规定的法定代表人或者主要负责人，该法定代表人或者主要负责人必须是在境内长久居住的中国公民；

（九）法律、行政法规规定的其他条件。

除前款所列条件外，还须符合国家对报纸及报纸出版单位总量、结构、布局的规划。

第九条　中央在京单位创办报纸并设立报纸出版单位，经主管单位同意后，由主办单位报新闻出版总署审批。

中国人民解放军和中国人民武装警察部队系统创办报纸并设立报纸出版单位，由中国人民解放军总政治部宣传部新闻出版局审核同意后报新闻出版总署审批。

其他单位创办报纸并设立报纸出版单位，经主管单位同意后，由主办单位向所在地省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门提出申请，省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门审核同意后，报新闻出版总署审批。

第十条　两个以上主办单位合办报纸，须确定一个主要主办单位，并由主要主办单位提出申请。

报纸的主要主办单位应为其主管单位的隶属单位。报纸出版单位和主要主办单位须在同一行政区域。

第十一条　创办报纸、设立报纸出版单位，由报纸出版单位的主办单位提出申请，并提交以下材料：

（一）按要求填写的《报纸出版申请表》；

（二）主办单位、主管单位的有关资质证明材料；

（三）拟任报纸出版单位法定代表人或者主要负责人的简历、身份证明文件及国家有关部门颁发的职业资格证书；

（四）新闻采编人员的职业资格证书；

（五）报纸出版单位办报资金来源及数额的相关证明文件；

（六）报纸出版单位的章程；

（七）工作场所使用证明；

（八）报纸出版可行性论证报告。

第十二条　新闻出版总署自收到创办报纸、设立报纸出版单位申请之日起90日内，作出批准或者不批准的决定，并直接或者由省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门书面通知主办单位；不批准的，应当说明理由。

第十三条　报纸主办单位应当自收到新闻出版总署批准决定之日起60日内办理注册登记手续：

（一）持批准文件到所在地省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门领取并填写《报纸出版登记表》，经主管单位审核签章后，报所在地省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门；

（二）《报纸出版登记表》一式五份，由报纸出版单位、主办单位、主管单位及省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门各存一份，另一份由省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门在15日内报送新闻出版总署备案；

（三）省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门对《报纸出版登记表》审核无误后，在10日内向主办单位发放《报纸出版许可证》，并编入国内统一连续出版物号；

（四）报纸出版单位持《报纸出版许可证》到工商行政管理部门办理登记手续，依法领取营业执照。

第十四条　报纸主办单位自收到新闻出版总署的批准文件之日起60日内未办理注册登记手续，批准文件自行失效，登记机关不再受理登记，报纸主办单位须把有关批准文件缴回新闻出版总署。

报纸出版单位自登记之日起满90日未出版报纸的，由新闻出版总署撤销《报纸出版许可证》，并由原登记的新闻出版行政部门注销登记。

因不可抗力或者其他正当理由发生前款所列情形的，报纸出版单位的主办单位可以向原登记的新闻出版行政部门申请延期。

第十五条　报社应当具备法人条件，经核准登记后，取得法人资格，以其全部法人财产独立承担民事责任。

报纸编辑部不具有法人资格，其民事责任由其主办单位承担。

第十六条　报纸出版单位变更名称、合并或者分立，改变资本结构，出版新的报纸，依照本规定第九条至第十三条的规定办理审批、登记手续。

第十七条　报纸变更名称、主办单位、主管单位、刊期、业务范围，依照本规定第九条至第十三条的规定办理审批、登记手续。

报纸变更刊期，新闻出版总署可以委托省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门审批。

本规定所称业务范围包括办报宗旨、文种。

第十八条　报纸变更开版，经主办单位审核同意后，由报纸出版单位报所在地省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门批准。

第十九条　报纸出版单位变更单位地址、法定代表人或者主要负责人、报纸承印单位，经其主办单位审核同意后，由报纸出版单位在15日内向所在地省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门备案。

第二十条　报纸休刊连续超过10日的，报纸出版单位须向所在地省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门办理休刊备案手续，说明休刊理由和休刊期限。

报纸休刊时间不得超过180日。报纸休刊超过180日仍不能正常出版的，由新闻出版总署撤销《报纸出版许可证》，并由所在地省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门注销登记。

第二十一条　报纸出版单位终止出版活动的，经主管单位同意后，由主办单位向所在地省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门办理注销登记，并由省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门报新闻出版总署备案。

第二十二条　报纸注销登记，以同一名称设立的报纸出版单位须与报纸同时注销，并到原登记的工商行政管理部门办理注销登记。

注销登记的报纸和报纸出版单位不得再以该名称从事出版、经营活动。

第二十三条　中央报纸出版单位组建报业集团，由新闻出版总署批准；地方报纸出版单位组建报业集团，向所在地省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门提出申请，经审核同意后，报新闻出版总署批准。

第三章　报纸的出版

第二十四条　报纸出版实行编辑责任制度，保障报纸刊载内容符合国家法律、法规的规定。

第二十五条　报纸不得刊载《出版管理条例》和其他有关法律、法规以及国家规定的禁止内容。

第二十六条　报纸开展新闻报道必须坚持真实、全面、客观、公正的原则，不得刊载虚假、失实报道。

报纸刊载虚假、失实报道，致使公民、法人或者其他组织的合法权益受到侵害的，其出版单位应当公开更正，消除影响，并依法承担相应民事责任。

报纸刊载虚假、失实报道，致使公民、法人或者其他组织的合法权益受到侵害的，当事人有权要求更正或者答辩，报纸应当予以发表；拒绝发表的，当事人可以向人民法院提出诉讼。

报纸因刊载虚假、失实报道而发表的更正或者答辩应自虚假、失实报道发现或者当事人要求之日起，在其最近出版的一期报纸的相同版位上发表。

报纸刊载虚假或者失实报道，损害公共利益的，新闻出版总署或者省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门可以责令该报纸出版单位更正。

第二十七条　报纸发表或者摘转涉及国家重大政策、民族宗教、外交、军事、保密等内容，应严格遵守有关规定。

报纸转载、摘编互联网上的内容，必须按照有关规定对其内容进行核实，并在刊发的明显位置标明下载文件网址、下载日期等。

第二十八条　报纸发表新闻报道，必须刊载作者的真实姓名。

第二十九条　报纸出版质量须符合国家标准和行业标准。报纸使用语言文字须符合国家有关规定。

第三十条　报纸出版须与《报纸出版许可证》的登记项目相符，变更登记项目须按本规定办理审批或者备案手续。

第三十一条　报纸出版时须在每期固定位置标示以下版本记录：

（一）报纸名称；

（二）报纸出版单位、主办单位、主管单位名称；

（三）国内统一连续出版物号；

（四）总编辑（社长）姓名；

（五）出版日期、总期号、版数、版序；

（六）报纸出版单位地址、电话、邮政编码；

（七）报纸定价（号外须注明"免费赠阅"字样）；

（八）印刷单位名称、地址；

（九）广告经营许可证号；

（十）国家规定的涉及公共利益或者行业标准的其他标识。

第三十二条　一个国内统一连续出版物号只能对应出版一种报纸，不得用同一国内统一连续出版物号出版不同版本的报纸。

出版报纸地方版、少数民族文字版、外文版等不同版本（文种）的报纸，须按创办新报纸办理审批手续。

第三十三条　同一种报纸不得以不同开版出版。

报纸所有版页须作为一个整体出版发行，各版页不得单独发行。

第三十四条　报纸专版、专刊的内容应与报纸的宗旨、业务范围相一致，专版、专刊的刊头字样不得明显于报纸名称。

第三十五条　报纸在正常刊期之外可出版增期。出版增期应按变更刊期办理审批手续。

增期的内容应与报纸的业务范围相一致；增期的开版、文种、发行范围、印数应与主报一致，并随主报发行。

第三十六条　报纸出版单位因重大事件可出版号外；出版号外须在报头注明"号外"字样，号外连续出版不得超过3天。

报纸出版单位须在号外出版后15日内向所在地省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门备案，并提交所有号外样报。

第三十七条　报纸出版单位不得出卖、出租、转让本单位名称及所出版报纸的刊号、名称、版面，不得转借、转让、出租和出卖《报纸出版许可证》。

第三十八条　报纸刊登广告须在报纸明显位置注明"广告"字样，不得以新闻形式刊登广告。

报纸出版单位发布广告应依据法律、行政法规查验有关证明文件，核实广告内容，不得刊登有害的、虚假的等违法广告。

报纸的广告经营者限于在合法授权范围内开展广告经营、代理业务，不得参与报纸的采访、编辑等出版活动。

第三十九条　报纸出版单位不得在报纸上刊登任何形式的有偿新闻。

报纸出版单位及其工作人员不得利用新闻报道牟取不正当利益，不得索取、接受采访报道对象及其利害关系人的财物或者其他利益。

第四十条　报纸采编业务和经营业务必须严格分开。

新闻采编业务部门及其工作人员不得从事报纸发行、广告等经营活动；经营部门及其工作人员不得介入新闻采编业务。

第四十一条　报纸出版单位的新闻采编人员从事新闻采访活动，必须持有新闻出版总署统一核发的新闻记者证，并遵守新闻出版总署《新闻记者证管理办法》的有关规定。

第四十二条　报纸出版单位根据新闻采访工作的需要，可以依照新闻出版总署《报社记者站管理办法》设立记者站，开展新闻业务活动。

第四十三条　报纸出版单位不得以不正当竞争行为或者方式开展经营活动，不得利用权力摊派发行报纸。

第四十四条　报纸出版单位须遵守国家统计法规，依法向新闻出版行政部门报送统计资料。

报纸出版单位应配合国家认定的出版物发行数据调查机构进行报纸发行量数据调查，提供真实的报纸发行数据。

第四十五条　报纸出版单位须按照国家有关规定向国家图书馆、中国版本图书馆和新闻出版总署以及所在地省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门缴送报纸样本。

第四章　监督管理

第四十六条　报纸出版活动的监督管理实行属地原则。

省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门依法负责本行政区域报纸和报纸出版单位的登记、年度核验、质量评估、行政处罚等工作，对本行政区域的报纸出版活动进行监督管理。

其他地方新闻出版行政部门依法对本行政区域内报纸出版单位及其报纸出版活动进行监督管理。

第四十七条　报纸出版管理实施报纸出版事后审读制度、报纸出版质量评估制度、报纸出版年度核验制度和报纸出版从业人员资格管理制度。

报纸出版单位应当按照新闻出版总署的规定，将从事报纸出版活动的情况向新闻出版行政部门提出书面报告。

第四十八条　新闻出版总署负责全国报纸审读工作。地方各级新闻出版行政部门负责对本行政区域内出版的报纸进行审读。下级新闻出版行政部门要定期向上一级新闻出版行政部门提交审读报告。

主管单位须对其主管的报纸进行审读，定期向所在地新闻出版行政部门报送审读报告。

报纸出版单位应建立报纸阅评制度，定期写出阅评报告。新闻出版行政部门根据管理工作需要，可以随时调阅、检查报纸出版单位的阅评报告。

第四十九条　新闻出版总署制定报纸出版质量综合评估标准体系，对报纸出版质量进行全面评估。

经报纸出版质量综合评估，报纸出版质量未达到规定标准或者不能维持正常出版活动的，由新闻出版总署撤销《报纸出版许可证》，所在地省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门注销登记。

第五十条　省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门负责对本行政区域的报纸出版单位实施年度核验。年度核验内容包括报纸出版单位及其所出版报纸登记项目、出版质量、遵纪守法情况、新闻记者证和记者站管理等。

第五十一条　年度核验按照以下程序进行：

（一）报纸出版单位提出年度自检报告，填写由新闻出版总署统一印制的《报纸出版年度核验表》，经报纸主办单位、主管单位审核盖章后，连同核验之日前连续出版的30期样报，在规定时间内报所在地省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门；

（二）省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门对报纸出版单位自检报告、《报纸出版年度核验表》等送检材料审核查验；

（三）经核验符合规定标准的，省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门在其《报纸出版许可证》上加盖年度核验章；《报纸出版许可证》上加盖年度核验章即为通过年度核验，报纸出版单位可以继续从事报纸出版活动；

（四）省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门自完成报纸出版年度核验工作后的30日内，向新闻出版总署提交报纸年度核验工作报告。

第五十二条　有下列情形之一的，暂缓年度核验：

（一）正在限期停刊整顿的；

（二）经审核发现有违法情况应予处罚的；

（三）主管单位、主办单位未履行管理责任，导致报纸出版管理混乱的；

（四）存在其他违法嫌疑需要进一步核查的。

暂缓年度核验的期限由省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门确定，报新闻出版总署备案。缓验期满，按照本规定第五十条、第五十一条重新办理年度核验。

第五十三条　有下列情形之一的，不予通过年度核验：

（一）违法行为被查处后拒不改正或者没有明显整改效果的；

（二）报纸出版质量长期达不到规定标准的；

（三）经营恶化已经资不抵债的；

（四）已经不具备本规定第八条规定条件的。

不予通过年度核验的，由新闻出版总署撤销《报纸出版许可证》，所在地省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门注销登记。

未通过年度核验的，报纸出版单位自第二年起停止出版该报纸。

第五十四条　《报纸出版许可证》加盖年度核验章后方可继续使用。有关部门在办理报纸出版、印刷、发行等手续时，对未加盖年度核验章的《报纸出版许可证》不予采用。

不按规定参加年度核验的报纸出版单位，经催告仍未参加年度核验的，由新闻出版总署撤销《报纸出版许可证》，所在地省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门注销登记。

第五十五条　年度核验结果，核验机关可以向社会公布。

第五十六条　报纸出版从业人员，应具备国家规定的新闻出版职业资格条件。

第五十七条　报纸出版单位的社长、总编辑须符合国家规定的任职资格和条件。

报纸出版单位的社长、总编辑须参加新闻出版行政部门组织的岗位培训。

报纸出版单位的新任社长、总编辑须经过岗位培训合格后才能上岗。

第五章　法律责任

第五十八条　报纸出版单位违反本规定的，新闻出版行政部门视其情节轻重，可采取下列行政措施：

（一）下达警示通知书；

（二）通报批评；

（三）责令公开检讨；

（四）责令改正；

（五）责令停止印制、发行报纸；

（六）责令收回报纸；

（七）责成主办单位、主管单位监督报纸出版单位整改。

警示通知书由新闻出版总署制定统一格式，由新闻出版总署或者省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门下达给违法的报纸出版单位，并抄送违法报纸出版单位的主办单位及其主管单位。

本条所列行政措施可以并用。

第五十九条　未经批准，擅自设立报纸出版单位，或者擅自从事报纸出版业务，假冒报纸出版单位名称或者伪造、假冒报纸名称出版报纸的，依照《出版管理条例》第五十五条处罚。

第六十条　出版含有《出版管理条例》和其他有关法律、法规以及国家规定禁载内容报纸的，依照《出版管理条例》第五十六条处罚。

第六十一条　报纸出版单位违反本规定第三十七条的，依照《出版管理条例》第六十条处罚。

报纸出版单位允许或者默认广告经营者参与报纸的采访、编辑等出版活动，按前款处罚。

第六十二条　报纸出版单位有下列行为之一的，依照《出版管理条例》第六十一条处罚：

（一）报纸出版单位变更名称、合并或者分立，改变资本结构，出版新的报纸，未依照本规定办理审批手续的；

（二）报纸变更名称、主办单位、主管单位、刊期、业务范围、开版，未依照本规定办理审批手续的；

（三）报纸出版单位未依照本规定缴送报纸样本的。

第六十三条　报纸出版单位有下列行为之一的，由新闻出版总署或者省、自治区、直辖市新闻出版行政部门给予警告，并处3万元以下罚款：

（一）报纸出版单位变更单位地址、法定代表人或者主要负责人、承印单位，未按照本规定第十九条报送备案的；

（二）报纸休刊，未按照本规定第二十条报送备案的；

（三）刊载损害公共利益的虚假或者失实报道，拒不执行新闻出版行政部门更正命令的；

（四）在其报纸上发表新闻报道未登载作者真实姓名的；

（五）违反本规定第二十七条发表或者摘转有关文章的；

（六）未按照本规定第三十一条刊登报纸版本记录的；

（七）违反本规定第三十二条，"一号多版"的；

（八）违反本规定第三十三条，出版不同开版的报纸或者部分版页单独发行的；

（九）违反本规定关于出版报纸专版、专刊、增期、号外的规定的；

（十）报纸刊登广告未在明显位置注明"广告"字样，或者以新闻形式刊登广告的；

（十一）刊登有偿新闻或者违反本规定第三十九条其他规定的；

（十二）违反本规定第四十三条，以不正当竞争行为开展经营活动或者利用权力摊派发行的。

第六十四条　报纸出版单位新闻采编人员违反新闻记者证的有关规定，依照新闻出版总署《新闻记者证管理办法》的规定处罚。

第六十五条　报纸出版单位违反报社记者站的有关规定，依照新闻出版总署《报社记者站管理办法》的规定处罚。

第六十六条　对报纸出版单位做出行政处罚，应告知其主办单位和主管单位，可以通过媒体向社会公布。

对报纸出版单位做出行政处罚，新闻出版行政部门可以建议其主办单位或者主管单位对直接责任人和主要负责人予以行政处分或者调离岗位。

第六章　附则

第六十七条　以非新闻性内容为主或者出版周期超过一周，持有国内统一连续出版物号的其他散页连续出版物，也适用本规定。

第六十八条　本规定施行后，新闻出版署《报纸管理暂行规定》同时废止，此前新闻出版行政部门对报纸出版活动的其他规定，凡与本规定不一致的，以本规定为准。

第六十九条　本规定自2005年12月1日起施行。

Regulations for Administration of Newspaper Publication

Chapter I General Provision

Article 1 These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the "Regulations on Publication Administration" promulgated by the State Council and related laws and regulations for the purpose of developing and promoting our country's newspaper cause, standardizing and strengthening newspaper publication.

Article 2 These Regulations shall apply to the newspaper publishing activities conducted in the territory of the People's Republic of China.

Newspapers shall be published by publishing units established according to law. To publish newspapers, a publishing unit must get approval of the Press and Publication Administration, national unified publication number and newspaper publication license.

The "newspaper" used in these regulations refers to any loose-leaf publication with fixed name, number of issues and format size and with news and current events survey as the main content that is continuously published at least one issue a weak.

The "newspaper publishing unit" used in these regulations refers to any newspaper office established in accordance with relative provisions of the state as approved by the Press and Publication Administration. Where a legal person publishes a newspaper without setting up a newspaper office the editorial department established by the legal person for the newspaper shall be deemed to be a publishing unit.

Article 3 Newspaper publication must adhere to Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "three representatives", follow correct guideline of public opinions and publication orientation and persist in the principle of giving first priority to the social benefits, achieving combination of social benefits and economic returns, leaning close to the practice, the masses and the life, fostering a good atmosphere for building socialism with Chinese characteristics and enriching the cultural life of the broad masses of the people.

Article 4 The Press and Publication Administration shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of publishing activities nationwide, make and implement plans for the total number, structure and distribution of newspaper publishing units nationwide and establish and perfect supervision and management systems such as comprehensive quality assessment system for newspaper publication nationwide, annual newspaper check and examination system and newspaper publication withdrawal system.

The local press and publication administration departments at different level shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of newspaper publishing activities within their own administrative areas.

Article 5 Newspaper publishing units shall responsible for the publishing activities including editing and publication.

Lawful publication activities of newspaper publishing units shall be protected by law. No organization or individual shall illegally interfere with, prevent or disrupt the publishing of newspapers.

Article 6 The Press and Publications Administration shall reward the units and individuals who have made contribution to the development and flourishing of the newspaper cause of the country.

Article 7 The social organization of the newspaper publishing industry shall carry out self-regulation in conformity with the articles of association and under the guidance of press and publication administration department.

Chapter II Establishment of Newspapers and Newspaper Publishing Units

Article 8 For establishment, a publishing unit shall meet the following conditions:

（I） possessing a name different with that of any other exiting newspaper

（II） possessing a name and the articles of association of the publishing unit;

（III） possessing a sponsoring unit which is recognized by the Press and Publication administration of the State Council, and the competent agency at the higher level;

（IV） possessing a well-defined scope of business;

（V） possessing a registered capital of more than 300,000 yuan;

（VI） possessing an organizational structure which meets the needs of its scope of business and editorial and publishing professionals conforming to qualifications stipulated by the State;

（VII） possessing a fixed premise located in the same administrative area of the sponsor;

（VIII） possessing legal representative or major responsible person who must be a Chinese citizen permanently residing in Chinese territory; and

（IX） other requirements prescribed by the laws and administrative regulations.

In addition to the conditions listed in the preceding paragraphs, the approval of the establishment of a publishing unit shall also accord with the plan of the State for the total number, structure and distribution of newspaper publishing units.

Article 9 For a central department located in Beijing to establish newspaper or newspaper publishing unit, the sponsoring unit shall apply to the Press and Publication Administration for approval after getting approval from the host unit.

For the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Chinese People's Armed Police Forces to establish a newpaper and a publishing unit, the sponsoring unit shall make an application to the Press and Publication Bureau of the Propaganda Department under the General Political Department; the said bureau shall upon examination and consent, submit it to the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council for examination and approval.

For other department to establish a newspaper and publishing unit, after approved by its host unit, the sponsoring unit shall make an application to press and publication administration department the province, autonomous region or municipality where it is located; the said publication administration department shall, upon examination and consent, submit it to the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council for examination and approval.

For two or more than two units to establish a newspaper, there must be a major sponsoring unit that shall make application.

The major sponsoring unit of a newspaper shall be a subordinate unit of its host unit; the publishing unit of a newspaper shall be located at the same area of the major sponsoring unit.

Article 11 For establishment of a newspaper and a newspaper publishing unit, the sponsoring unit shall make an application with the following materials:

（I） a "Form of Application for Newspaper Publication";

（II） certificates about the qualification and competence of the sponsoring unit and host unit;

（III） the resume, identification documents and professional qualification certificates of the proposed legal representative or major responsible person of the newspaper publishing unit;

（IV） qualification certificates of editorial and publishing professionals

（V） relative certificate documents about the sources and amount of the fund used for newspaper publishing

（VI） the articles of association of the publishing unit;

（VII） certificate of premise used;

（VIII） feasibility study report on newspaper publishing.

Article 12 The Press and Publication Administration under the State Council shall make a decision of approval or disapproval within 90 days from the date of receipt of the application for the establishment of a newspaper and publishing unit, and press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region or municipality shall inform the sponsoring unit of the decision in written form; reasons shall be given where a decision of disapproval is made.

Article 13 The sponsoring unit establishing a newspaper shall go through the formalities of registration within 60 days from the date of receipt of the information on the approval decision of the Press and Publication Administration.

（I） The sponsoring unit shall take the approval documents to press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region or municipality where it is located to obtain a "Registration Form of Newspaper Publication" and fill it. After examined and signed by the host unit, the form shall be submitted to press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region or municipality where it is located

（II） The "Registration Form of Newspaper Publication" shall have five copies. Each of them shall be held by the publishing unit, sponsoring unit, host unit and press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region or municipality where it is located; the last copy shall be submitted by press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region or municipality within 15 day to the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council for record.

（III） After examining the "Registration Form of Newspaper Publication" as correct, press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region or municipality shall issue "Newspaper Publishing License" to the sponsoring unit within 10 days and list the newspaper into the national unified publication number.

（IV） The sponsoring unit thus shall apply to the administrative department for industry and commerce for a business license on the basis of "Registration Form of Newspaper Publication".

Article 14 The sponsoring unit of a newspaper shall go through the formalities of registration within 60 days from the date of receipt of the approval document from the Press and Publication Administration; otherwise, the approval document will be invalid, and the registration department would refuse its registration and the sponsoring unit shall return the approval documents back to the Press and Publication Administration.

Where a newspaper publishing unit has not published any newspaper within 90 days from the date of registration, the Press and Publication Administration shall revoke the "Newspaper Publishing License" and the original publication administration department shall cancel the registration.

Where the situation listed in the preceding paragraph is due to force majeur or for other justified reasons, the publishing unit may apply to press and publication administration department for an extension of the said time limit.

Article 15 A newspaper office shall satisfy the requisite conditions of a legal person, obtain the qualifications of a legal person through verification and registration, and undertake civil liabilities independently with all its legal person property.

The editorial department does not have the qualifications of a legal person, and its civil liabilities shall therefore be undertaken by its sponsoring unit.

Article 16 Where a publishing unit changes its name, carries out merger or separation, changes its capital structure or publishes a new newspaper it shall go through the procedures of examination, approval and registration in accordance with the provisions of Articles 9 to Article 13 of these Regulations.

Article 17 Where a newspaper changes its name, sponsoring unit or competent agency at the higher level, number of issues or scope of business, it shall go it shall go through the procedures of examination, approval and registration in accordance with the provisions of Articles 9 to Article 13 of these Regulations.

Where a newspaper changes its number of issues, the Press and Publication Administration can entrust press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region and municipality to make examination and approval.

The scope of business used in these regulations includes the aim and the language used.

Article 18 Where a newspaper changes its size, its publishing unit shall, upon examination and content of its sponsoring unit, apply for approval of the change to press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region or municipality where it is located

Article 19 Where a newspaper publishing unit changes its address, the legal representative or major responsible person or the printing unit, it unit shall, upon examination and content of its sponsoring unit, be registers with press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region or municipality where it is located within 15 days.

Article 20 Where a newspaper suspends for more than 20 successive days, the publishing unit shall go through the suspension formalities with press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region or municipality where it is located and explain the reason and period of the suspension.

The suspension period of a newspaper should not exceed 180 days. If there is no normal publication for more than 180 days the Press and Publication Administration shall revoke its "Newspaper Publishing License", and press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region and municipality shall cancel the registration.

Article 21 Where a newspaper publishing unit terminates its publishing activities, it shall, upon examination and content of its sponsoring unit, go through registration of cancellation at press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region or municipality where it is located, which shall make a report to the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council for the record.

Article 22 The publishing unit established with the same name of the newspaper cancelled shall be cancelled at the same time and shall go through registration of cancellation at the administrative department for industry and commerce where the original registration was conducted

The cancelled newspaper and its publishing unit should no longer conduct publishing and business activities with the same name.

Article 23 For central newspaper publishing units to establish a newspaper group, the approval should be given by the Press and Publication Administration; for local central newspaper publishing units to establish a newspaper group, application be submitted to press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region and municipality where they are located and upon examination and content reported to the Press and Publication Administration for approval.

Chapter III Publishing of Newspapers

Article 24 Newspaper publishing shall adopt a system of editor's responsibility to ensure that the contents of the newspapers conform to the provisions of the state laws and regulations.

Article 25 No newspaper shall contain the contents which are prohibited by the "Regulations on Publication Administration" and other laws and regulations or by the state.

Article 26 Newspaper must adhere to the principle of real, overall, objective and just and should not contain false contents inconsistent with the facts.

Where the lawful rights and interests of a citizen, a legal person or some other organizations are infringed upon due to the false and untruthful contents of a newspaper, its publishing unit shall make public corrections, eliminate the effects, and bear civil liabilities according to law.

Where the lawful rights and interests of a citizen, a legal person or some other organizations are infringed upon due to the false or untruthful contents of the report published in a newspaper, the party concerned shall have the right to require to make corrections or make a reply, and the relevant publishing unit shall publish the corrections or reply in its newspaper; in case of refusal to make publication, the party concerned may bring a suit in a people's court.

The corrections or reply to the false and untruthful contents of the report shall be published in the latest issue of the newspaper after the mistakes are found and on the same position where they are found.

Where the public benefits are infringed upon due to the false or untruthful contents of the report published in a newspaper, the Press and Publication Administration or the press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region and municipality can instructed the publishing unit to make corrections.

Article 27 Any newspaper shall abide by relative regulations when carries or reprinted the contents with relation to the important state policy, national and religion affairs, diplomacy, military and secrecy of the state.

For any newspaper to reprint and abstract contents from the Internet, the contents must be verified according to relative provisions; the website where the contents are unloaded and the date when they are loaded must be marked in obvious position.

Article 28 For newspaper to carry news report, the real name of the author must be clearly indicated.

Article 29 The quality of newspaper publishing shall meet the national and industrial standards; the language the newspaper uses shall accord with relative provisions of the state.

Article 30 The newspaper publishing shall accord with the registered items in the "Newspaper Publication License"; change of the registered items shall be applied for approval or go through recording formalities.

Article 31 Each issue of the newspaper shall be marked with following edition records on a fixed position when published:

（I） Name of the newspaper;

（II） Names of the publishing unit, sponsoring unit and host unit;

（III） Consecutive national unified publication number;

（IV） Name of the editor-in-chief （director general）;

（V） Publication date, general issue number, pages, and series;

（VI） Address, telephone and zip code of the publishing unit;

（VII） Price of the newspaper （extra shall be marked with "free to read"）;

（VIII） Name and address of the printing unit;

（IX） Number of advertising business license;

（X） Other marks with relation to public benefits or industrial standards as stipulated by the sate.

Article 32 One consecutive national unified publication number only can be used by one newspaper and cannot be use for the publication of different newspapers.

For the publication of a newspaper in different editions （languages） such as local edition, minority nationality language edition and foreign language edition, the application formalities shall be gone through as for creating a new newspaper.

Article 33 One newspaper cannot be published with different sizes.

All the pages of a newspaper shall be issued as a whole and cannot be issued respectively.

Article 34 The special page or special issue of a newspaper shall accord with the aim and business scope of the newspaper; the headline characters of the special page or special issue shall not be larger than the name of the newspaper.

Article 35 In addition to normal issues, extra issue can be published. Application formalities for extra issues shall be gone as changing the number of issues.

The contents of extra issue shall accord with the business scope of the newspaper; the size, language, range of distribution and number of copies shall accord with the main newspaper; the extra newspaper shall be issued along with the main newspaper.

Article 36 Newspaper publishing unit can issue extra for important events; the extra issue shall be market with "Extra" on the head and cannot be published for more than 3 consecutive days.

The publishing unit that issues extra shall register with the press and publication administrative department of the province, autonomous region and municipality where it is located and submit all the sample copies of the extra newspapers within 15 days after publishing.

Article 37 A publishing unit should not sell, lease or transfer its name and the edition number, name and edition layout of its newspaper; and should not lend, transfer, lease and sell the "Newspaper Publication License".

Article 38 For publishing advertisement, the characters of "Advertisement" shall be market on the distinct position of the newspaper; advertisement should not be published in the form of news.

For newspaper to cover advertisement, relative certificates should be checked according to laws and administrative regulations; the contents of the advertisement shall be verified; pernicious, false and illegal advertisement identified should not be published.

Advertisement business of a newspaper shall be limited to advertisement service and advertisement agency within the authorized legal scope and should not be involved in the news gathering, editing and other publishing activities of the newspaper.

Article 39 A newspaper publishing unit should not cover any payable news in the newspaper.

A newspaper publishing unit and its staff should not use news coverage to seek irregular profits for themselves, and should not ask for and accept any property or other benefit from the covered or the interested person.

Article 40 The editorial and publishing operations of a newspaper must be divided with the business operation.

The editorial and publishing department and its staff should not get involved in the business activities with relation to the newspaper distribution and advertisement; the business department and its staff should not get involved in the covering and editing works.

Article 41 The editorial and publishing persons of a newspaper publishing unit who conduct news gathering activities must hold press card verified and issued by the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council and follow relative provisions of the "Measures for Management of Press Card" formulated by the Press and Publication Administration.

Article 42 Based on the demands of news gathering, a newspaper publishing unit can establish press stations in accordance with the "Measures for Management of Press Card" formulated by the Press and Publication Administration to conduct press activities.

Article 43 Newspaper publishing unit should not conduct business activities through illicit competition or with illicit form, and should not apportion distribution of newspapers by taking advantages of its power.

Article 44 Newspaper publishing units shall submit statistics data to the press and publication administration department according to the statistics laws and regulations of the state.

Newspaper publishing units shall cooperate with the publication distribution data investigation body certified by the state to conduct investigation on the distribution number of newspapers and provide real data on newspaper distribution.

Article 45 Newspaper publishing units shall send free sample copies to the National Library of China, China Library of Editions, the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council and the press and publication administration departments of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities they are located.

Chapter IV Supervision and Management

Article 46 The supervision and management of newspaper publishing activities shall be conducted under territorial principle.

The press and publication administration departments of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of newspaper publishing activities within their own administrative areas accordance to law, including registration, annual inspection, quality assessment and administrative penalty.

Other local press and publication administration departments shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of newspaper publishing units and their newspaper publishing activities within their own administrative areas.

Article 47 Newspaper publication management shall carry out newspaper re-reading system, quality assessment system, annual inspection system and press staff competency management system.

Newspaper publishing units shall submit written report on newspaper publishing activities to the press and publication administration departments according to the provision of the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council.

Article 48 The Press and Publication Administration under the State Council shall be responsible for the re-reading of national newspapers. Local press and publication administration departments at different level shall be responsible for the re-reading of the newspapers published in their own administrative areas. The press and publication administration departments at lower level shall submit report on re-reading to the press and publication administration departments at higher level.

The host units shall re-read the newspapers under their control and submit re-reading reports to the press and publication administration departments where they are located regularly.

Newspaper publishing units shall establish newspaper reading and assessment system and prepare reading and assessment report regularly. The press and publication administration departments can read and inspect the reading and assessment reports of the publishing units at any time based on the requirements for management.

Article 49 The Press and Publication Administration under the State Council shall formulate the comprehensive assessment system for newspaper publishing quality to conduct overall assessment on the publishing quality.

In case the results of the quality comprehensive assessment on a newspaper shows that the quality of the newspaper fails to reach the defined standard or cannot maintain normal publishing activities, the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council shall revoke its "Newspaper Publishing License" and the registration with the press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region and municipality it is located shall be cancelled.

Article 50 The press and publication administration departments of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities shall conduct annual verification and examination to the newspaper publishing units located in their administrative areas. The contents of annual verification and examination shall include newspaper publishing unit and the registered items of the newspapers they published, publishing quality, situation of the observance of disciplines and law, management of press cards and press stations etc.

Article 51 Annual verification and examination shall be conducted according to the following procedure:

（I） A newspaper publishing units shall submit annual self-examination report and fill in the unified "Newspaper Publishing Annual Examination Format" printed by the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council; after verified and sealed by the sponsoring and host units, the self-examination report, along with 30 sample copies consecutively published before the date of examination, to the press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region and municipality where it is located.

（II） The press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region and municipality shall conduct verification and examination of the self-examination report, the "Newspaper Publishing Annual Examination Format" and other data and materials submitted by the publishing unit.

（III） If a publishing passes the examination as meeting the defined standard, the press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region and municipality shall stamp the annual examination seal on the "Newspaper Publishing Annual Examination Format". Once the Format stamped, the publishing unit shall go on its newspaper publishing activities.

（IV） The press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region and municipality shall submit an annual examination report to the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council within 30 days after completing the newspaper publishing annual examination.

Article 52 Under one of the following circumstances, the annual examination shall be deferred:

（I） in the process of rectifying and reform within a prescribed time limit of stopping publishing;

（II） being found of unlawful practice constituting penalty;

（III） with host and sponsoring units' failure to implement their responsibility for management leading confusion in management of the newspaper publishing;

（IV） on suspicion of other illegal acts ought to be further verified.

The deferring period of the annual examination shall be decided by the press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region and municipality and be submitted to the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council for record. After the deferring period, the annual examination shall be recovered in accordance with Article 50 and Article 51 of these Regulations.

Article 53 Under one of the following circumstances, the annual examination should not be passed:

（I） violating law but refusing to rectify after being investigated and prosecuted or without obvious results of rectification;

（II） failure to meet the standard defined for publishing quality for long time;

（III） in insolvency because of worsening operation;

（IV） already unable to meet the conditions prescribed in Article 8 of these Regulations.

Failing to pass the annual examination, the publishing unit's "Newspaper Publishing License" shall be revoked by the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council and the registration shall be cancelled by the press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region and municipality where it is located.

Failing to pass the annual examination, the newspaper publishing unit shall stop publishing newspaper starting from the next years.

Article 54 After being stamped with the annual examination seal, the "Newspaper Publishing License" can be used continuously. For relative departments to go through formalities of newspaper publishing, printing and distribution, the "Newspaper Publishing License" without annual examination seal cannot be used.

Where any newspaper publishing unit does not participate annual examination and still refuse to participate under ask, the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council shall revoke its "Newspaper Publishing License", and the press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region and municipality where it is located shall cancel its registration.

Article 55 Organs in charge of the examination can publicize the results of the annual examination to the society.

Article 56 Professionals involved in newspaper publishing shall meet the occupational requirements for press publication prescribed by the state.

Article 57 The director general and editor-in-chief of a newspaper publishing unit shall meet the occupational requirements prescribed by the state.

The director general and editor-in-chief of a newspaper publishing unit shall take part in the occupational training organized by the press and publication administration department.

The new director general and editor-in-chief of a newspaper publishing shall accept occupational training and pass the examination before take their positions.

Chapter V Legal Liabilities

Article 58 Any newspaper publishing unit that violates these Regulations shall be imposed on following administrative countermeasures by the press and publication administration department based on the actual situation:

（I） circulating notice of warning;

（II） circulating notice of criticism；

（III） order to make public self-criticism;

（IV） order to rectify;

（V） order to stop publishing and distributing the newspaper;

（VI） order to retract the newspapers;

（VII） oder the sponsoring and host units to supervise the publishing unit's rectification.

The notice of warning shall take the unified form stipulated by the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council and be sent to the law-breaking newspaper publishing unit by the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council or the press and publication administration department of the province, autonomous region and municipality where it is located, with a copy sent to the sponsoring and host units of the newspaper publishing unit.

The administration measures prescribed in this article can be used in combination.

Article 59 Without approval, any unauthorized establishment or any activity to engage in the unauthorized publication, or to forge or counterfeit the name of a publishing unit, or of a newspaper to publish newspaper, shall be punished in accordance with Article 55 of "the Regulations on Administration of Publication".

Article 60 Publishing newspapers which contain the contents prohibited by "the Regulations on Administration of Publication", other laws and regulations or provisions of the state shall be punished in accordance with Article 55 of "the Regulations on Administration of Publication".

Article 61 Newspaper publishing unit that breaks Article 37 of these regulations shall be punished in accordance with Article 60 of "the Regulations on Administration of Publication".

Newspaper publishing unit that permit or acquiesce in advertisement operators to engage in the publishing activities including covering and editing shall be punished in accordance with the preceding item.

Article 62 A newspaper publishing unit that commits one of the following acts shall be punished in accordance with Article 61 of "the Regulations on Administration of Publication".

（I） A newspaper publishing unit fails to follow these regulations to go through the formalities of examination and approval of change of its name, merger or separation, change of its capital structure, publishing new newspapers;

（II） A newspaper fails to follow these regulation to go through the formalities of examination and approval of changes at its name, sponsoring unit, host unit, number of issues, scope of business and size;

Article 63 Where any newspaper publishing unit commits one of the following acts, the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council or the press and publication department of the province, autonomous region and municipality shall give a warning and impose a fine of no more than RMB 30,000 yuan:

（I） failing to follow Article 19 of these regulations to report for record the changes of address, or legal representative or major responsible person, or printing unit;

（II） failing to follow Article 20 of these regulations to report for record the suspension of publishing;

（III） covering false or inaccurate reports harming public interests and refusing to implement the rectifying order of the press and publication administration department;

（IV） failing to carry the real name of the author when cover report on the newspaper;

（V） covering or abstracting relative articles against Article 27 of these regulations;

（VI） failing to carry editorial record of the newspaper according to Article 31 of these regulations;

（VII） publishing several editions of newspapers with a single number against Article 32 of these regulations;

（VIII） publishing different editions of newspapers or distributing some pages respectively against Article 33 of these regulations;

（IX） violating the provisions of these regulations on publishing special page, special issue, additional issue or extra;

（X） failing to mark the word "advertisement" on the distinct position when covering advertisement or covering advertisement in news form;

（XI） covering payable news or violating other provisions of Article 39 of these regulations;

（XII） conducting business activities through illicit competition or imposing distribution with power against Article 43 of these regulations.

Article 64 Any news gathering persons of a newspaper publishing unit that violates related provisions on Press Card shall be punished in accordance with the "Measures for Administration of Press Cards" formulated by the Press and Publication Administration under the State Council.

Article 65 Any newspaper publishing unit that violates related provisions on press stations shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of the "Measures for Administration of Newspaper Press Stations";

Article 66 Any administrative punishment on a newspaper publishing unit shall be noticed to the sponsoring and host units of the newspaper and can be announced to the public through media.

Where administrative punishment is imposed on a newspaper publishing unit, the press and publication administration department shall recommend its sponsoring unit or host unit to give administrative sanction to the direct and major responsible persons or dismiss them.

Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions

Article 67 These regulations also apply to other individual-paged publications possessing national unified consecutive publication number with non-news stories as the major contents or with publishing period over one week.

Article 68 The Provisional Regulations for Administration of Newspaper Publication promulgated by Press and Publication Administration under the State Council shall be repealed simultaneously when these regulations come into effective. Other prior provisions on the administration of newspaper publication activities stipulated by the press and publication administration department that may have conflict with these regulations shall subject to these regulations.

Article 69 These Regulations shall be effective on December 1, 2005.