The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) says China has intensified its efforts over the past year to control what the media can say. It says hundreds of regulations have been introduced since the Beijing Olympics in 2008 to restrict reporters writing on social unrest or scandals. Journalists have been told they could only use the official Xinhua news agency as a source for coverage of the tainted baby milk powder scandal. They were also told not to travel to report on the Sichuan quake in 2008. China particularly targeted online media and chatter, often refusing online journalists’ official accreditation.<br/>Social networking sites organising public protest gatherings have particularly unnerved the Chinese authorities. According to the report, foreign journalists encountered violence and their equipment was destroyed in some cases. China has so far made no public comment on the IFJ report.