Amid a national crackdown on violations by media and journalists, China's anti-pornography and illegal-publications office Tuesday published eight cases involving fake and paid news.

A campaign launched this year targets fake news organizations and journalists as well as news blackmailing and paid news reporting, said the National Anti-Pornography and Anti-Illegal Publications Office.

In one case, five people from north China's Shanxi Province were convicted for extorting money from local businesses and individuals by threatening to expose their improper practices. They were engaged in five blackmailing cases involving 375,000 yuan (about 57,400 U.S. dollars).