Reporters will now be included in inspection teams in Sichuan province, according to Yuan Jian, information officer for the provincial Discipline Inspection Commission.

The decision was made after a successful trial in which six reporters joined inspection teams in looking at government organizations. In May, three teams went to Panzhihua, Deyang as well as the Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture. The teams covered the provincial departments of agriculture and water conservancy; bureau of press, publication, radio and television; three institutions of higher learning; and three State-owned enterprises.

Yuan said two reporters found problems that might have otherwise evaded the teams.