Nieman Fellow in China, Defying U.S.

One of this year's Nieman Fellows has drawn the wrath of the State Department for entering Communist China in defiance of the U.S. Government's ban on travel there.

Together with two men from Look magazine, William Worthy entered China shortly before Christmas. He is representing a Baltimore weekly newspaper, Afro-American.

Before he entered at the Lowu border bridge, near Hong Kong, Worthy said he had assurances of support in any legal action against him by the United States authorities on his return. He added that he had signed documents waiving all claims against the U.S. in the event of personal injury, loss of property or detention in China. He has a Chinese visa.

The State Department has said it would revoke Worthy's passport on his return to the U.S., and was "freezing" his bank accounts here.