Recently, some netizens and media have criticized several media organizations for bringing more sorrow by interviewing victims of the Sichuan earthquake. On Monday, the State Education Bureau issued a ban on multiple interviews on students affected by the earthquake. In today's Media Spin, we will look at public responses on the new guideline.

An opinion in Chinese Business View comments that the new guideline announced shows that the Chinese government has put the interests of the victims as the priority. As 90 percent of the students in quake-hit areas have lost either family members or friends in the quake, psychological assistance is no less important than rebuilding homes and providing materials. Multiple interviews require the students to recall the horror and misery again and again, which would deepen their psychological wounds. Therefore, the ban is essential in protecting the victims from further emotional disturbance.

An online commentary on hubei.com praises reporters working in the quake-hit regions for their bravery in bringing first-hand reports from the quake-hit areas for the public. However, when being interviewed, the victims have to recall the scenes of the earthquake, recalling the horror and unbearable sorrow. The statement issued by the Education Bureau reminds us that most of the victims are vulnerable and they need special psychological care. The writer urges the reporters to avoid asking the victims sensitive questions, to shorten their interviews, or even give up the interviews if the interviewees appear to be emotionally unstable.