BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- China has launched a new round of efforts cracking down on fake journalists and news, as well as illegal information and publications.

The nationwide campaign lasts from March to November and targets those falsely claiming to be journalists and using false news stories to blackmail others, according to a statement by the National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications.

It aims to uncover people impersonating reporters for blackmail purposes or fraud, foreign journalists engaging in illegal news reporting, as well as illegal news websites and academic journals, according to the statement.

Another campaign for the same period will clean up publications using content that is harmful to minors, such as obscenity, violence, school bullying and suicide, and shut down websites and apps that disseminate harmful literature, games, and cartoons.

Chinese law enforcers will also crack down on the creation, sale and dissemination of pornographic information in live-streaming videos, instant chat services and pop-up ads, the statement said, adding that live-streaming video platforms and websites should improve systems that review content.

In the first two months of 2017, more than 1.3 million illegal publications were confiscated nationwide and over 1 million pornographic items removed.