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Web marketer stands trial amid China crackdown

By WTOP Staff

LOUISE WATT
Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) — The founder of a web marketing company has pleaded guilty to helping delete Internet posts and spreading false information to make money and gain followers, Chinese media reported Friday, using the case to praise a government crackdown on online expression.

Yang Xiuyu, 41, is accused of making up information to lure followers on Sina Weibo’s microblogging site, the official Xinhua News Agency said, adding that the court had yet to announce a sentence.

Yang and one of his employees were arrested last August soon after authorities launched an intensified campaign to clean up rumors, negativity and unruliness from social media — a rare platform for Chinese to express themselves to a large audience in a country where all traditional media are state-controlled. While critics say the campaign has suppressed criticism of the government and ruling Communist Party, commentaries in state media Friday leapt on Yang’s case to argue that a cleanup is needed.

“Unbecoming behavior that is criticized in the real world will not be tolerated in cyber space either,” said the Legal Daily.

It is not uncommon in China for companies to pay others to generate online activity publicity for them, help promote their reputations or damage those of their competitors by commenting in forums or creating fictitious followers, for example.

Yang admitted that his Erma Company earned 531,200 yuan ($86,000) through removing information or releasing false information online for its clients from 2008 to 2013, the Beijing Chaoyang District Court said on its own microblog late Thursday. Its clients included an international travel agency, a pharmaceutical company and a construction company based in Jiangsu province in China’s east, according to the statement which omitted the companies’ names.

Yang used a Weibo account to write that a model and her “sugar daddy,” an official who didn’t exist, had spent 8.88 million yuan ($1.4 million) chartering a jet to come to London for the 2012 Olympics. Public outrage ensued before it was revealed to have been a publicity stunt for a travel agent. The company had paid Erma 190,000 yuan ($31,000) because it wanted people to know about its “luxury tour service,” the court said on its microblog, adding that the model was in on the plot.

A former employee of Yang’s, Qin Zhihui, confessed to spreading rumors about Chinese celebrities and the government at a trial in April and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, Xinhua said.

In the crackdown launched last summer, authorities also have detained dozens of other people for spreading rumors — including many that critics say were targeted for political reasons in cases that have had a chilling effect on online discourse. Authorities also have created new penalties for people who post libelous information and warned celebrity bloggers to be mindful of what they repost.

Last week, the government announced that only established media companies would be allowed to release political and social news on mobile messaging services.

At the same time, government agencies at all levels have boosted their online presence to control the message in cyberspace.

____

AP news assistant Zhao Liang contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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