BEIJING - China's top press watchdog has reiterated that no organization or individual has the right to bar journalists from reporting on them and urged government departments to make their administrative affairs more open to the public.

Governmental departments should not put barriers in the way of journalists wanting to do interviews or create so-called "blacklists of journalists", the General Administration of Press and Publications (GAPP) said in a statement on Monday.

GAPP also stressed that the media in many overseas countries is an inalienable force that ensures democracy and social development. The administration also said it will severely punish any media professionals or institutions involved in misconduct, including the fabrication of reports.

The statement came after a media officer from the Ministry of Health warned journalists they would be blacklisted if they were found to be "misleading" the public with inaccurate or distorted reporting about food safety problems.

Mao Qun'an, director of the publicity and news center under the health ministry, proposed the establishment of such a blacklist at a forum addressing the food additive issue on June 13.

The GAPP statement followed criticism from the International Federation of Journalists about the "blacklist" remarks.

An official from GAPP said that media supervision is indispensable in promoting democracy and civilization and also helps improve social management.

As to potentially flawed or erroneous reports, GAPP called on government agencies and the public not to be too harsh on reporters. It said relevant government agencies should disclose information to the public in a timely manner.

A GAPP official cited the rules on the management of the press, saying reporters' lawful practices are protected by law. He said governments at all levels and its functionaries should facilitate the work of reporters.

Additionally, the official said reporters involved in misconduct, such as the fabrication of stories or blackmail, will face severe punishment.

Pu Xingzu, a professor with the School of International Relations and Public Affairs at the Shanghai-based Fudan University, criticized some government officials' conservative attitude toward journalists and said the media should instead be encouraged to discover social problems.

"The government is important but not a single actor in social governance, the media and non-governmental organizations should also be allowed to participate in public affairs, then society will function well," Pu told China Daily on Tuesday.

Feng Yongfeng, a senior journalist from the Beijing-based Guangming Daily, said the Chinese government has become more and more open toward journalists during his 16-year career.

However, some officials still try to control journalists or refuse interviews connected to negative stories such as strikes and environmental pollution, Feng said.

Zhan Jiang, a professor of journalism at the School of English and International Studies under the Beijing Foreign Studies University, urged China to speed up legislation to protect journalists' right to report.

To date, there has only been one regulation, the rules on the management of the press, issued by GAPP in 2009, that sets out that journalists' rights should be protected. Zhan said it has little binding power.

Xinhua contributed to this story.