Internet users in China and Zimbabwe have been blocked from viewing Channel 4 News online videos in an act of self-censorship by the news organization, Guardian.co.uk is reporting.

The fear of "reprisals" against the subjects of online investigative videos sparked the channel to restrict access in the countries where subjects live, said Tim Lambon, assistant foreign editor of Channel 4 News. The move also legally protects the station.

Blocking the servers was deemed appropriate by the broadcaster if there was a "significant risk" to local people involved in making the reports, Lambon said. Although the move is not "foolproof," as there are ways for the videos to get into the country, Lambon hopes it reduces the risk.

"The whole idea is to get it out there so that people can be aware of those stories," Lambon said, but the result often puts those involved with the videos in "jeopardy."

Clients such as CNN and NBC, who are also restricted from running the online videos, have often been "annoyed" by the action, Lambon said, especially when the content is strong.

British media is seeing a "partial renaissance" of investigative journalism, as the News Xchange 2008, a session covering journalism in the UK, determined. The attitude by Channel 4 and its employer, ITN, has been "responsible," Lambon said at the session.

Source: Guardian.co.uk