China reporter Chen Yongzhou 'confesses on TV'
Chen Yongzhou appeared on state TV in his prison uniform
An imprisoned Chinese journalist whose newspaper has made front-page appeals for his release has confessed to wrongdoing on state TV.
"I'm willing to admit my guilt and to show repentance," said reporter Chen Yongzhou, arrested over claims he defamed a partly state-owned firm.
State media said he had admitted writing false stories for money.
Analysts say there have been a number of televised confessions recently in high-profile or politicised cases.
But campaigners have frequently criticised the practice, saying the confessions are often made under duress and violate rights to due process.
'Hankered after money'
Mr Chen wrote several articles for the Guangdong-based New Express newspaper alleging financial irregularities at a construction-equipment company called Zoomlion.
"In this case I've caused damages to Zoomlion and also the whole news media industry and its ability to earn the public's trust," he told state broadcaster CCTV.
A screen shot of the New Express headline that reads "Please Release Him"
"I did this mainly because I hankered after money and fame. I've been used. I've realised my wrongdoing."
State media said he had confessed to taking bribes, but did not report who might have paid the bribes.
His case attracted huge attention after the New Express twice used its front page to call for his release.
The newspaper has not yet commented on the confession.
Censorship rows
Media monitoring group China Digital Times reported that the Communist Party's propaganda department had barred newspapers from reporting the story.
An instruction from the department also warned papers to monitor reporters' individual social-media accounts.
But many newspapers have continued to cover the story.
The Southern Metropolis Daily published an editorial accusing officials in Zoomlion's hometown of Changsha of abuse of power over the case.
According to the Hong Kong-based China Media Project, the paper had to pull an earlier editorial under pressure from censors.
China's newspaper industry is tightly controlled by a system of local censors carrying out party directives.
But there have been several high-profile rows over censorship.
Earlier this year staff at the Guangzhou-based Southern Weekly paper went on strike after a new-year editorial calling for reform was censored.
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