一本題為《瘸腿豬和五環馬戲》（Limp Pigs and the five-ring circus, Pen Press）的書，1月在英國出版，作者馬克．紐漢姆（Mark Newham）是一名英國記者。馬克2004年去北京新華社總部當過一年「專家」，目睹了中共當局用政權捆綁媒體，欺騙世界的行為。回國後，他把他的中國 經歷寫成了書，向世界「解密」中共宣傳機器的中樞——新華社。
倫敦BBC英國廣播電臺國際臺採訪馬克時，他說，他用英式幽默《瘸腿豬》表達了身處一種體制的束縛而產生的激憤、惱怒感。
馬克想藉此傳遞一個信息：大家都說中國變了，但本質上什麼都沒變；在媒體行業實際上控制更嚴，反而倒退了。新華社的經歷給他留下了「心理陰影」，得找心理諮詢專家幫助調理。
BBC 中文網報導，馬克．紐漢姆（Mark Newham）是自由撰稿人。雖然書名是《瘸腿豬和五環馬戲》，但馬克說，主題跟殘疾豬和馬戲沒有關係，他表示，他在這本書中記錄了他作為一個西方資深記 者在中國最高級別的宣傳機構--新華社的工作經歷、見聞、感受，以及一些思考。
馬克表示，《瘸腿豬》的主題是「憤怒」，是一種感到被欺騙的憤怒。
在馬克看來，中國政治和社會沒有變。那些西方媒體和撰寫出版中國題材論著的西方人，大都只看見都市繁華，以為浦東代表了中國，下筆「太客氣」。
而持有新華社工作證的他能看到一般外國人看不到的地方和事物，看到的是遊客不去或者不許去的真實中國。
他在書中寫到：2008北京奧運會前一段時間中國官方媒體的新聞報導有所放開，但是，隨著2008逐漸隱入歷史，煙塵捲土重來，媒體自由的控制重新佔領北京的大街小巷和中國的網際網路。
奧運期間中國對外國媒體和「有害網站」開禁，「鬆綁」期截止10月17號，而16號政府宣布鬆綁成為永久政策；在外國記者還沒來得及慶賀，就有人注意到外國記者去西藏和新疆採訪仍然需要許可證。
馬克說，在經濟方面，中國有變化，而政治和社會架構好像跟經濟軌道脫節，進展緩慢或者在原地踏步，甚至倒退。
他認為原因在於權力架構。英美政客要顧及選民和選票，而中國的官不是選出來的。
一名為Jane的網友說：一般來說，外國人即便在中國生活很久也很難瞭解這個國家，因為在外國人面前，這裡幾乎所有的人都在演戲。...我曾是北京的一名記者，我知道每一天謊言怎樣被印成漂亮的鉛字。
湖北黃石的地方電視臺採訪群眾時，拿寫好的內容要求被採訪人照著念。
2001 年1月23號，中共中央電視臺聲稱法輪功學員在北京天安門廣場集體自焚。幾個月後，「國際教育發展組織」於2001年8月14號在聯合國會議上聲明指出， 所謂「天安門自焚事件」是對法輪功的構陷，涉及驚人的陰謀與謀殺。從錄影分析表明，整個事件是「政府一手導演的」。
British reporter demystifies Xinhua News Agency
A new book titled 「Limp Pigs and the Five-ring Circus」
by British reporter Mark Newham was published
in the U.K. last month. Newham served as
「foreign expert」 at Xinhua News Agency in 2004,
and witnessed how the CCP controlled
propaganda to deceive the world.
His new book tells the secrets of Xinhua News Agency.
Mark Newham said to BBC, he expressed his anger
and frustration caused by a constraining system
in his book through a British sense of humor.
The book conveys a message that China has in fact
not changed, and the situation of media freedom
has even worsened.
Experiences at Xinhua New Agency
left Mark Newham with 「psychological shadow,」
which needed psychiatric counseling to clear.
Mark Newham is a freelancer. He says,
despite the title, the book is not about circus.
It is documentation of his experiences, emotions,
and reflections as a Western journalist
inside China』s propaganda machine.
He says the theme of this book is 「anger」,
the kind of anger caused by deception.
According to Mark Newham,
China has not changed on the social-political level.
Western media and writers are often blinded
by the economic growth in China, misconceiving
Shanghai』s Pudong as representative of China.
Working for Xinhua News Agency enabled Newham
to access people and places hidden from foreigners,
and allowed him to see the real China.
The book reveals that before the 2008 Olympic games,
media control in China was somewhat loosened.
However, media freedom was quickly diminished
right after the Olympic games.
China opened up to foreign media and so-called
「harmful websites」 during the Olympics till Oct. 17,2008.
On Oct. 16, the government announced such access
would become permanent.
But it was immediately noticed that foreign media still
needed permission to report in Tibet and Xinjiang.
Newham remarks that changes in China stop
on the economical level. On the socio-political level,
the development is slow or even reversed.
He believes the problem is in the power structure.
Unlike in Western countries,
government officials in China are not elected.
Internet user 「Jane」 says: 「It』s difficult for foreigners
to truly understand China even after many years of
living in this country, because everyone is putting up
a show in front of foreigners…
I was a reporter in Beijing. I know how
lies are turned into beautiful prints every day.
In Huangshi, Hubei, interviewees for news broadcasts
were asked to read prepared scripts by the TV station.
On Jan. 23, 2001, CCTV claimed that Falun Gong
practitioners were responsible for the Tiananmen
Square self-immolation incident. On Aug. 14, 2001,
International Education Development stated
at the U.N. that video analysis showed
the 「Tiananmen Square self-immolation incident」 was
「staged by the government」 to slander Falun Gong.
