Fifty-eight people who were paid hush money not to report on a fatal coal mine accident in Shanxi province in September have been punished, the General Administration of Press and Publication said yesterday.

Four journalists, 26 media workers and 28 bogus reporters were paid a total of 319,300 yuan ($47,000) not to report on a mining accident on Sept 20 in Hongtong, Shanxi, in which one man died, the administration said in a circular.

The four genuine reporters, who were paid 35,000 yuan, have been sacked or had their press passes revoked, the administration said.