Reuters, via Yahoo News reports:

…state media said authorities were building a database of information on about 30,000 foreign journalists accredited to cover Beijing 2008.

The information would be shared with potential interviewees, to keep them from being tricked by “fake reporters,” the report in the state-run China Daily quoted the head of the General Administration of Press and Publication as saying.

This database is different than the one operated by the Olympic Committee. So it’s not about press credentials. The Beijing Olympics press center director, Li Zhanjun, explained that although he isn’t familiar with the database in question, he has a pretty good idea what its function is:

…to provide better service to you,”

…”The major purpose is to provide better service to the reporter,” he said. For instance, information on journalists’ preferences would help Olympic organizers target events to their needs.

To be fair, Mr. Li was only speculating on something he’s not personally conversant with. The ostensible reason for the database is to make sure no one is duped by fake reporters:

The information would be shared with potential interviewees, to keep them from being tricked by “fake reporters,” the report in the state-run China Daily quoted the head of the General Administration of Press and Publication as saying.

China says fake reporters use phony accreditation in scams in which they pose as journalists and try to blackmail government or business officials by threatening negative coverage.

There have been reports in China of reporters who blackmail people by threatening negative press, so this certainly fits. However, it’s rather unlikely that thousands of games and government officials will be able to use the database for a quick background check on a reporter after the first round of qualifiers for the hammer throw.

More probable is the use of reporter profiles to determine who has interview requests granted and to identify which reporters ask awkward questions. That’s not very fair, but it is a common practice around the world.

In any case, I’m sure the kayaking correspondent for the Riyadh Daily will get all the event information he or she needs. Now if only the reporters were able to reserve seats for the inevitable protests - that really would be good service.

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